Weekend Sessions w/ Afro-Filipino Jazz Project (Yerba Buena Gardens Festival 2026)

SF’s Yerba Buena Gardens Festival 2026 Yerba Buena Gardens Festival The 2026 Yerba Buena Gardens Festival hosts a full lineup of free outdoor music, theater, circus, dance, poetry, and children’s programs. The Festival opens on Saturday, May 9, 2026 with Hermán Olivera y Orquesta Taíno to kick off its 26th season. The Festival features over 100 free performances from May to November in Downtown San Francisco. Yerba Buena Gardens Festival Now in its 26th year, the Festival will run throughout the week and most weekends, presenting 6 months of admission-free performances reflecting the rich cultures and creativity of the Bay Area. The 2026 full schedule has yet to be announced, but there are typically events scheduled until November. Yerba Buena Gardens is located between Mission and Howard Streets and Third and Fourth Streets in downtown San Francisco. YBG Festival presents classical, world, and jazz music, contemporary and traditional dance, theater, children’s and family programs, and cultural events reflecting the rich cultures and creativity of the region. Artistic excellence, inclusion, diversity and innovation are at the heart of our mission. As the only curated arts park fully dedicated to the long-term presentation of free arts and cultural programs, Yerba Buena Gardens has a unique place in the cultural landscape of San Francisco. Yerba Buena Gardens Festival 2026 2026 Season Opener: May 9, 2026 (Events typically scheduled until November. Full 2026 schedule TBA) Yerba Buena Gardens, Mission btwn. Third and Fourth, SoMa, SF FREE Directions & Parking | Admission-Free Seating | Performance Times | See the Full Calendar Events will include music, theater, dance, poetry, and children’s programming from May through October. Regularly occurring series include the Lunchtime Concerts, showcasing diverse musical acts every Thursday at 12:30 pm, Poetic Tuesdays, a monthly spoken word event, Yerba Buena Salsa Nights, the very popular open-air dance party with live bands and a beginner dance lesson, Outdoor Classes like poetry workshops and outdoor dance classes, and the Children’s Gardens Series with fun-filled family programming include circus acts, acrobatics and more. Annual Highlights include: Native Contemporary Arts Festival – June 20, 2026 Yerba Buena Gardens ChoreoFest 2026 – Saturday, July 25 and Saturday, August 1, 2026 Pistahan – August 8-9, 2026 Brazil in the Gardens – August 13, 2026 Litquake Out Loud + Book Fair – October 4, 2026 YBG Dance Day – October 11, 2026 Indigenous Peoples’ Day – October 12, 2026 Halloween Hoopla – October 31, 2026 2026 Festival Schedule by Month Full 2026 Schedule TBA April 2026 April 19 — Guest Presentation – Sunset Sound System May 2026 May 6 — Dance Outdoors with Rhythm & Motion May 9 — Hermán Olivera y Orquesta Taíno (Season Opener) May 12 — Poetic Tuesday May 13 — Dance Outdoors with Rhythm & Motion May 14 — Aireene & The Itch May 16 — Howard Wiley + PHER May 20 — Dance Outdoors with Rhythm & Motion May 21 — Larry & Joe May 23 — Las Cafeteras May 27 — Dance Outdoors with Rhythm & Motion May 28 — Community Music Center Neighborhood Choirs June 2026 June 5 – Manilatown Ancestral Ensemble (Kids’ Show) June 6 – Poetry Workshop with Nia Pearl June 6 – Gamelan Sekar Jaya June 7 – Pride in Yerba Buena June 11 – Camellia Boutros June 11 – Coventry & Kaluza (Kids’ Show) June 12 – All-Native Comedy Night: Good Medicine June 19 – Chelle! & Friends (Kids’ Show) June 20 – Native Contemporary Arts Festival June 26–27 – Circus Bella’s AH HA! July 2026 July 2 – Destiny Muhammad Trio July 2 – Ricardo Lemvo & Makina Loca July 4 – SF Uke Jam Summer Uke-splosion July 5 – SF Mime Troupe July 9 – Mae Powell July 10 – Mariachi San Francisco (Kids’ Show) July 11 – Lady Wray July 12 – Voices of Resistance Presented by Indigenous Justice July 14 – Poetic Tuesday July 14 – World Cup Finals Watch Party July 16 – LA GENTE SF July 17 – Toishan Lions Dance Troupe (Kids’ Show) July 23 – Iwa Daiko July 24 – René y Familia (Kids’ Show) July 24 – Bhangra & Beats Night Market July 25 – YBG ChoreoFest (Day one) July 30 – WAM Presents: Local Sirens July 31 – Unique Derique (Kids’ Show) August 2026 August 1 – YBG ChoreoFest (Day two) August 2 – Color Your Mind Festival August 6 – AfroSolo Presents: Fely Tchaco August 6 – Edgardo Cambón – 40th Anniversary August 7 – Eddie Madril (Kids’ Show) August 8–9 – Pistahan Festival August 11 – Poetic Tuesday August 13 – Brazil in the Gardens: Alexandre Ribeiro and Alessandro Penezzi August 14 – Caterpillar Puppets (Kids’ Show) August 15 – Helado Negro + Reyna Tropical September 2026 September 3 – Los Calderones September 5 – Yerba Buena Movie Night October 2026 October 3 – African Arts Festival October 4 – Litquake Out Loud + Book Fair October 8 – Quinteto Latino October 10 – Follow the Music featuring Oakland Rising October 11 – Yerba Buena Gardens Dance Day October 12 – Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration October 15 – Richard Howell’s John Coltrane Tribute October 17 – Joe Bataan October 24 – Afro-Filipino Jazz Project October 31 – Halloween Hoopla November 2026 November 13 – Bhangra & Beats Night Market Yerba Buena Gardens Festival Programs & Series 2026 Salsa Nights The popular open-air salsa dance parties return on the first Thursday of select summer months. Each evening begins with a beginner dance lesson followed by live music and social dancing. 2026 Dates: July 2 August 6 September 3 Children’s Garden Series June through August is a great time for parents, caregivers, and camp counselors to bring kids to the Children’s Garden for sunshine and a show. The Children’s Garden Series features professional artists with expertise in engaging children under 10 and their adults. Each show features excellent performers skilled in puppetry, music, dance, acrobatics, body percussion, clowning and more! Outstanding featured groups like Ka-Hon and Duniya Dance & Drum demonstrate diverse musical and dance traditions from all over the world. With such rich cultural and artistic experiences, the Children’s Garden is the place to be in the summertime. Dates: Every Friday from June 5 through August 14, 2026 Showtimes: 11:00 am and Noon Thursday Lunchtime Concert Series Every Thursday from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm, the Lunchtime Concert Series showcases local and international performers in a relaxed outdoor setting. These midday concerts are popular with downtown workers, students, and visitors looking for a quick cultural break. 2026 Featured Dates: May 14 May 21 May 28 June 11 July 2 July 9 July 16 July 23 July 30 August 6 August 13 October 8 October 15 Poetic Tuesdays A fabulously curated line-up of poets and musicians grace Yerba Buena Gardens to share poems and songs that delight, provoke, stir and inspire. Poetic Tuesdays make for a lovely lunch. Downtown office workers, neighborhood groups, students and even out-of-towners needing downtime from the city’s hustle and bustle come down to the Gardens. Poetic Tuesdays are the perfect midday breather over line breaks. Performances are approximately 60 minutes long, at Yerba Buena Gardens on Mission Street between Third and Fourth Streets, San Francisco. 2026 Dates: May 12 July 14 August 11 Outdoor Classes San Francisco locals and visiting out-of-towners can look to these outdoor classes to refresh their body and spirit through dance, music, movement, public art and more. On any given day of the week, you can always find something Free, Outdoors and Fresh at Yerba Buena Gardens. Outdoor Classes are approximately 60 minutes long at at different spaces in Yerba Buena Gardens, on Mission Street between Third and Fourth Streets, San Francisco. Weekend Sessions The Weekend Sessions is the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival’s premier program series, highlighting touring and regional artists performing to delighted audiences. Each weekend program features a diversity of world-class artists giving thrilling performances not to be missed. Crowds of arts-lovers, Bay Area locals and out-of-towners flock to Yerba Buena Gardens for outstanding entertainment in music, dance, poetry, circus, theater or large-scale cultural festivals. Free of admission and open to the public, all are welcome to enjoy the fresh air and the truly memorable cultural experiences. Located in the cultural heart of San Francisco, Yerba Buena Gardens Festival’s Weekend Sessions make for a refreshing and inspiring weekend outing in the City. Weekend Session performances begin at 1pm (unless noted otherwise), so plan ahead and arrive early! Performances are approximately 90 minutes long, located at Yerba Buena Gardens on Mission Street between Third and Fourth Streets, San Francisco. Tips for Attending • Most performances take place outdoors on the main lawn or performance stage • Seating is generally first-come, first-served • Arrive early for popular events and festivals • Bring layers, sunscreen, and a blanket for lawn seating • Many events include pre-show music or vendor markets With dozens of performances spanning music, dance, comedy, film, and cultural celebrations, the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival continues to be one of San Francisco’s most consistent and accessible free event series. Upcoming SF’s Yerba Buena Gardens Festival 2026 Events Thu 10/8 Lunchtime Concert w/ Quinteto Latino (Yerba Buena Gardens Festival 2026)Sat 10/10 Oakland Rising “Follow the Music” Live (Yerba Buena Gardens Festival 2026)Sun 10/11 SF’s Free “Dance Day” at Yerba Buena Gardens Festival (2026)Sun 10/11 YBG Dance Day (Yerba Buena Gardens Festival 2026)Mon 10/12 SF’s Indigenous Peoples Day at Yerba Buena GardensMon 10/12 SF’s Indigenous Peoples Day at Yerba Buena Gardens Festival 2026Thu 10/15 Lunchtime Concert w/ Richard Howell (Yerba Buena Gardens Festival 2026)Sat 10/17 Weekend Sessions w/ Joe Bataan (Yerba Buena Gardens Festival 2026)Sat 10/24 Weekend Sessions w/ Afro-Filipino Jazz Project (Yerba Buena Gardens Festival 2026)Sat 10/31 SF “Halloween Hoopla” Kids’ Festival in the Park + Costume Parade (2026)Fri 11/13 Bhangra & Beats Night Market (Yerba Buena Gardens Festival 2026)Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.