SIGN UP FOR MY EMAIL TO RECEIVE YOUR FREE SAN FRANCISCO PLANNING GUIDE.
- Home
- Alcatraz Prison Tours
- Stern Grove Festival
Stern Grove Festival San Francisco: 2026 Calendar & Tips to Attend This Popular Festival
By: Jill Loeffler • Updated: January 27, 2026
This year the Stern Grove Festival in San Francisco celebrates its 89th anniversary. The 2026 season runs every Sunday from June 14 to August 16.
The free concerts in the park are on Sundays at 2 pm during the summer months. The shows usually last two to three hours and are wildly popular.
In the past, you could just walk in. Now, you need to make reservations for entry, even though admission is still free, because capacity is strictly limited to 10,000 people.
This year, you can also pay for seating. You can either book a table for up to 10 people or you can buy a seat at a shared table.
SFTourismTips is made possible by readers like you! If you book through my links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support! Learn more.
2026 Schedule
NOTE: The full concert schedule for 2026 is TBD. I will update the page as more performers are announced.
- 6/21: Bomba Estéreo
To give you an idea of the artists who perform here, these are the ones who graced the Stern Grove stage in 2025:
- 6/15: The California Honeydrops with The Dip
- 6/22: Channel Tres with ASTU
- 6/29: Sleater-Kinney with Destroy Boys
- 7/6: SF Symphony with Taimane
- 7/13: Phantomgram with Ha Vay
- 7/20: Girl Talk Chromeo
- 7/27: Orville Peck with Jaime Wyatt
- 8/3: Michael Franti & Spearhead with Black London
- 8/10: The Pointer Sisters
- 8/16 & 8/17: The Big Picnic Weekend - Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley & Stephen Marley on Saturday, August 16; Diana Ross on Sunday, August 17
>> Visit their site to get tickets to upcoming performances
The Big Picnic
The Stern Grove Festival always ends their season with the Big Picnic. This two-day event is a great way to celebrate the last performances of this annual free concert series.
This year, the Big Picnic is on August 15 & 16.
More Details on Admission Options
The Stern Grove Festival is changing their ticketing system. It will allow you to get tickets in a few different ways.
Lottery System
You will receive two emails after you register. The first on the left is the confirmation that they received your registration. The second is the result. Unfortunately, I didn't get a spot in this lottery.Six weeks before each concert, you will have the opportunity to enter an online lottery for a chance to get tickets.
The lottery will be open for one week, so you will have plenty of time to get your name in. You can request up to four tickets.
They will then email you four weeks in advance to let you know if you did or did not get tickets.
You will then have 72 hours to claim those tickets. If you don't claim them within 72 hours, the tickets will go back into a new lottery drawing.
Community Box Offices
The day before each concert, 1,000 tickets will become available on a first-come, first-served basis at community box offices around San Francisco.
You can find these locations and other details on their website.
Volunteer with Stern Grove
You can volunteer to help with a show or two during the season. When you help out, you will receive two tickets to a future show of your choice.
You can email them at volunteer@sterngrove.org for more details.
Partner Giveaways
Many of Stern Grove's community partners and sponsors will do free giveaways. Follow Stern Grove on social to learn more and find out when they will be doing giveaways.
Reserved Tables at Stern Grove
If you have a larger group and don't mind paying for this experience, you can also book one of their VIP or Community Tables.
The VIP Tables allow you to reserve seating for up to 10 people.
The Community Tables allow you to reserve an individual seat at a shared tables.
This new system allows for more people to pay for seating without the huge expense of only buying a table. Contact them at development@sterngrove.org for more details.
Food & Drinks at Stern Grove
Stern Grove offers food and drinks for sale before and during the event. This is their offerings:
- Tante's Concessions: They offer everything from grilled sausages to vegan dishes.
- Food Trucks: They will have a variety of food trucks this year. There will be 4 food trucks each week and the vendors will change each week. They will be found in the West Meadow.
- Bars: There are two bar locations this year. All proceeds will go directly to supporting the Stern Grove Festival.
- Bring Your Own Picnic: They also allow you to bring your own food and drinks to the festival.
What to Bring
Since these concerts are free, there are very few amenities. Here are just a few of the items you will want to bring with you.
- Blanket or Camping Chairs: You won't find chairs or other seating, so I recommend bringing along something to sit on. They allow blankets that are no larger than 5 x 7 feet. You must use low-profile lawn chairs.
- Food & Drinks: There are plenty of food options on site, but you can also bring your own to enjoy during the concerts.
- Alcohol: They will have a vendor that sells alcohol, but the park does allow you to bring your own beer and wine during the shows too.
- Warm Jackets & Clothing: Since Stern Grove is closer to the Pacific Ocean, it does get cooler here. Make sure you bring along a jacket or wear warm clothing in case the temperatures are cool during the show. You want to be prepared for the wind, fog, and even a little sunshine.
Other Things You Need to Know
Since the concerts are crowded, here are just a few other things you need to know before you arrive.
- Reservations Required: They will do this again in 2025. The system has changed this year, so make sure to read through my ticketing information second on how to get tickets.
- Arrival Time: I recommend heading over to the shows early. The gates open at 12 pm. They only allow people with advanced registration in, but you will still want to go early to grab a seat as seats are still first come/first served. I like to head over no later than 1 pm or so in order to get a good spot.
- Senior and ADA seating: It is available but it is also first come/first served, so you will want to be sure to get there as early as possible.
- Pets: No pets are allowed in this area of the park during the concerts. There are other areas open for pets, but they will not allow any within the concert seating area. Service animals are allowed.
- Personal Belongings: Make sure you keep an eye on your personal items at all times. It gets crowded (and is free!), so can attract people looking to pick up a few unattended items.
- Recording/Photography: Neither pictures nor video is permitted during the shows. I recommend leaving your camera at home or the place you are staying, so you don't have to worry about it during the performances.
More Fun Things to Do Around SF
Other Popular Festivals This Summer
Yerba Buena Gardens Festival: The Yerba Buena Gardens Festival also offers free music and other cultural programs all summer long. Performances are held several days a week between May and October.
Union Street Festival: The Union Street Festival is typically the kick-off to SF's famous summer festival season. This lively Marina District event features live music, gourmet food, and dozens of merchant booths with unique arts and crafts. You will also find a premium craft beer and wine tasting pavilion.
North Beach Street Festival: Another popular SF Street Fair is the North Beach Festival. This one also features live music, amazing street food, and several fun activities for the kids. Click here to learn more about this year's festival.
Tips to Get To Stern Grove
Stern Grove Park is on the corner of 19th Avenue and Sloat Boulevard in the city's Outer Sunset neighborhood.
Your best bet is to take public transit, since parking is very limited in this part of the city.
From Union Square
Light Rail Trains: The fastest way to get here from Union Square is by taking either the M Ocean View or K Ingleside light rail trains. You can pick them up at the underground station at Powell and 5th Streets. Make sure you hop on an 'outbound' train.
- Stop: Take either of these to the stop at St. Francis Circle. You will then walk one block west to the park. There will be plenty of other people on these trains, so just follow the crowds.
- Timing: Allow for at least 35 to 40 minutes to get to the park.
From Fisherman's Wharf
F Streetcar: Take this streetcar to the Embarcadero Station at Market and Drumm Streets.
- Light Rail Train: Head to the underground Embarcadero Station on this corner. Take either the M or K (outbound) trains to the St. Francis Circle stop. Walk one block west to the park.
- Timing: Allow at least 50 minutes to an hour to get here from Fisherman's Wharf
Hi, I’m Jill!
I’ve been sharing San Francisco travel advice since 2009 and have helped millions of people explore the city like a local. Whether you’re dreaming of sea lions, cable cars, or a great sourdough bread bowl, I’m here to help you plan an unforgettable trip with real tips from someone who actually lives here.
 |
 |
 |
 |
Comments? Questions? Suggestions?
I would love for you to join me in my private Facebook group!
It's a great place to interact with me and others who are familiar with the area.
You can ask questions, get advice for your upcoming stay, and then share your photos and advice with others when you return home. It's a great community and the fastest way to get answers to those nagging questions about your visit!