SF This Week
May 23 -- June 14, 2026 · A curated guide to the best things happening in San Francisco
The six events worth building your weekend around.
Outdoor / Festival
Carnaval San Francisco Weekend Pick Free
Mission District (Harrison St between 16th & 24th)
Sat-Sun, May 23-24 · 10:00 AM
The single best free event in SF this year. 400,000 people, five stages, 50 performers, 250 food vendors, and Sunday's Grand Parade with 3,000+ dancers from 20+ countries. The 2026 theme is "La Copa del Pueblo," tying the energy to World Cup season. Go early, stay late, eat everything on Harrison Street.
More info →
Comedy
Chris Redd Weekend Pick
Cobb's Comedy Club
Sat, May 23 · 7:00 PM · $45
The former SNL cast member has quietly become one of the sharpest stand-ups working right now. His timing is surgical, his crowd work is fearless, and Cobb's intimate 400-seat room is the perfect setting. Grab a seat close -- his facial expressions are half the show.
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Concert
The Adicts Weekend Pick
The Fillmore
Sat, May 23 · 8:00 PM · $35-45
British punk legends who've been at it since 1975 and still show up in full Clockwork Orange face paint. One of the most theatrical live punk acts ever, and The Fillmore's historic room is the right stage for it. Dog Party opens -- bring earplugs and energy.
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Sports
SF Giants vs Chicago White Sox Weekend Pick
Oracle Park
Sat-Sun, May 23-24 · 1:05 PM · $15-60
Weekend afternoon baseball at Oracle Park with the bay sparkling behind center field. The Giants are scuffling at 20-30 under new manager Tony Vitello, but the White Sox are one of few teams they should handle. Cheap tickets, garlic fries, perfect Saturday-Sunday plan.
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Outdoor
Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon Weekend Pick Free to spectate
Alcatraz Island / Crissy Field / San Francisco
Sat-Sun, Jun 6-7 · 7:00 AM
The bucket-list triathlon: swim 1.5 miles from Alcatraz through 55-degree Bay water, bike 18 miles through SF hills, run 8 miles along the coast. Even if you're not racing, spectating is incredible -- the Saturday expo is free and the Sunday start from Alcatraz is one of the most dramatic sights in endurance sports.
More info →
Outdoor / Music
Stern Grove Festival Season Opener Weekend Pick Free
Sigmund Stern Grove (19th Ave & Sloat Blvd)
Sun, Jun 14 · 2:00 PM
America's longest-running free music festival kicks off its 89th season under the eucalyptus canopy. This year's lineup includes Al Green, Public Enemy, Patti LaBelle, and Major Lazer across the summer. Tickets are free via lottery -- register six weeks ahead. The vibe under those giant trees is unmatched.
Enter lottery →
Yellowcard + New Found Glory + Plain White T's
Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
Wed, May 27 · 7:00 PM · $72-110
The "Up Up Down Down Tour" is the pop-punk nostalgia triple bill your high school self dreamed about. Yellowcard headlining with actual violinist energy, New Found Glory still bouncing off walls, and Plain White T's bringing "Hey There Delilah" full circle. Bill Graham's massive room will be packed and loud.
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Kes the Band
The Fillmore
Wed, Jun 3 · 8:00 PM · $35-50
Trinidad's soca king brings Caribbean carnival energy to The Fillmore on a Wednesday night. Kes packs a room like few artists can -- expect non-stop movement, brass-heavy grooves, and the kind of sweaty joy you can't manufacture. If you've never experienced soca live, start here.
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Leven Kali
Brick & Mortar Music Hall
Sun, Jun 7 · 8:00 PM · $37
LA's Leven Kali makes buttery, Stevie-influenced R&B that sounds even better in a small room. The LK99 Tour hits Brick & Mortar's intimate stage, which means you'll be close enough to feel every note. One of the most underrated voices in modern R&B -- catch him before the venues get bigger.
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Belle and Sebastian (Two-Night Album Run)
The Masonic
Wed-Thu, Jun 10-11 · 8:00 PM · $89-150
Two of the most beloved indie records ever, played front to back on consecutive nights: Tigermilk on Wednesday, If You're Feeling Sinister on Thursday, each followed by a set of classics. The Masonic's gorgeous room is the right setting for Stuart Murdoch's quiet intensity. Combined tickets available.
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Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers
The Palace of Fine Arts
Thu, Jun 11 · 8:00 PM · $55-95
Bruce Hornsby is a pianist's pianist who happens to also write universally loved songs. The Noisemakers are a tight, adventurous band, and the Palace of Fine Arts is one of SF's most stunning performance spaces. "The Way It Is" live, in that room, is worth the ticket alone.
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Toadies + Local H + Sparta
The Fillmore
Fri, Jun 12 · 8:00 PM · $35-55
A triple bill of 90s alt-rock bands who never stopped being good live. The Toadies still deliver "Possum Kingdom" with menacing intensity, Local H is a two-piece wrecking ball, and Sparta (the At The Drive-In offshoot) brings post-hardcore precision. This Friday night was purpose-built for flannel.
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Ron Funches
Cobb's Comedy Club
Fri, Jun 12 · 7:30 PM · $33
Ron Funches is the comedian your friend who "doesn't really like comedy" will love. His delivery is warm, his material is surprisingly sharp beneath the sweetness, and his laugh is contagious. At $33, this is the best comedy value in the city this month.
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SF Giants vs Arizona Diamondbacks (Memorial Day Series)
Oracle Park
Mon-Wed, May 25-27 · 2:05 PM (Mon) · $15-70
Memorial Day baseball at the waterfront. The D-backs bring legitimate firepower with Merrill Kelly and Eduardo Rodriguez, making this a tougher test than the White Sox series. Monday's 2:05 PM first pitch is prime day-off ballpark weather. Wednesday is a 12:45 PM getaway game -- ideal for a long lunch.
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AAPI Cocktail Week
Various SF bars and restaurants
Sun-Mon, May 24-25 · Various times · Varies by venue
Now in its fourth year, SF's AAPI Cocktail Week spotlights the Asian American and Pacific Islander bartenders behind some of the city's best drinks. Two days of special menus, pop-ups, and conversations about the culture behind the cocktails. If you care about SF's bar scene, this is essential.
More info →
Fridays on Front Street
Front Street, Downtown SF
Fri, May 29 · 5:00 PM · Free
SF's newest free block party series brings live music curated by Noise Pop, street-side beer, food pop-ups, and games to downtown on select Fridays. It's the easiest after-work plan in the city -- just show up, grab a drink, and enjoy local bands in the open air.
More info →
Memorial Day Weekend in SF Parks Free
Dolores Park / Golden Gate Park / Crissy Field
Sun-Mon, May 24-25 · All Day
Memorial Day weekend in SF means the parks are packed in the best way. Dolores Park is the scene (arrive before noon for a spot), Golden Gate Park is for the chill crowd, and Crissy Field gives you bridge views with your BBQ. Pack layers -- Karl the Fog doesn't take holidays.
More info →
Yerba Buena Gardens Festival Free
Yerba Buena Gardens (SoMa)
Weekends through November · Various times
Nearly 100 free outdoor performances across six months right in SoMa. Music, dance, theater, spoken word -- the programming is genuinely diverse and the garden setting is gorgeous. Check the weekly schedule before heading down; there's almost always something worth catching on weekends.
See schedule →
SF DocFest
Roxie Theater
Thu, May 28 - Sun, Jun 7 · Various times · $14-16 per film
SF IndieFest's documentary wing takes over the Roxie for 11 days of films that uncover serious truths wrapped in compelling stories. The programming consistently punches above its weight -- past years have surfaced films that went on to major festival runs. The Roxie itself is a treasure; support indie cinema.
See lineup →
Best of PlayGround
Potrero Stage
Sat-Sun, May 30-31 · 8:00 PM · $20-35
SF's premiere incubator for emerging playwrights showcases the best ten-minute plays from their 2025-2026 season. Writers from SF, LA, NYC, and Chicago respond to monthly themes with raw, inventive short works -- it's the best way to see what's next in American theater before anyone else does.
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Monet and Venice
de Young Museum (Golden Gate Park)
Through Jul 26 · $20 adults, free under 17
The first exhibition in over a century to reunite Monet's luminous Venice paintings. Over 30 works from his 1908 trip capture the city's light in ways that make you forget these are 120-year-old canvases. The de Young's galleries give them room to breathe. Don't skip the Water Lilies section.
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Kara Walker: Fortuna and the Immortality Garden
SFMOMA
Ongoing · $25 (museum admission)
Kara Walker's automaton garden at SFMOMA is one of the most provocative installations in any museum right now. Mechanical figures enact scenes that are beautiful, disturbing, and impossible to look away from. This is art that forces conversation. Included with museum admission.
Plan your visit →