Super Bowl 60: San Francisco Events, Watch Parties & Visitor Tips

The Super Bowl is not played in San Francisco, but the city quickly becomes one of the busiest and most exciting hubs during Super Bowl week.

Super Bowl Sunday kicks off on February 8 at 3:30 pm, and this year the Bay Area welcomes fans of the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots from around the world.

As a long-time San Francisco resident, this is the second time I’ve experienced Super Bowl “mania” here, and while it’s undeniably exciting, it’s an extremely busy time to visit. Fans, media, sponsors, and visitors from around the world use San Francisco as their home base, filling hotels, restaurants, bars, and event spaces across the city.

It’s worth noting that many official Super Bowl events also take place in San Jose and other parts of the Bay Area, particularly closer to the stadium. However, this guide focuses specifically on the San Francisco experience, where many visitors choose to stay, watch the game, and take part in Super Bowl week festivities.

Crowds typically begin building the weekend before the Super Bowl, peak during the final few days leading up to the game, and then slowly taper off a few days after Super Bowl Sunday. Even if you’re not attending the game itself, you’ll feel the energy everywhere, from pop-up events and fan experiences to packed sports bars, restaurants, and streets.

This guide is designed to help you plan smartly if you’re staying in San Francisco during Super Bowl week,  whether you’re here for the football, the atmosphere, or just happen to be visiting while the city is buzzing.

I’ll continue updating this page as new events and details are announced.

Feel free to jump ahead to these sections:

• Is the Super Bowl Actually in San Francisco?
• What to Expect in San Francisco During Super Bowl Week
• Super Bowl Events & Activities in San Francisco
• Where to Watch the Super Bowl in San Francisco

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Is the Super Bowl Actually in San Francisco?

The Super Bowl itself is not played in San Francisco.

Where the Super Bowl Game Is Played

Super Bowl 60 will be played south of the city at Levi’s Stadium, which has been the official home of the San Francisco 49ers since the start of their 2014 season.

Levi’s Stadium is located in Santa Clara, about 1 hour south of San Francisco and roughly 15-20 minutes north of San Jose, depending on traffic.

Because San Francisco does not have a large NFL stadium, the game itself is hosted outside the city, even when the Bay Area is selected as the official Super Bowl host region.

However, many visitors still choose to stay in San Francisco and travel south for the game or attend Super Bowl events, watch parties, and fan experiences held throughout the city.

Why San Francisco Becomes a Super Bowl Hub

Even though the Super Bowl game itself is played south of the city, San Francisco becomes one of the main hubs for Super Bowl week, and not just because of official events.

San Francisco is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country, and many visitors use Super Bowl week as an opportunity to turn the game into a longer trip. Fans often arrive early or stay after Super Bowl Sunday to experience everything the city has to offer, from iconic landmarks to local neighborhoods.

In addition to hosting NFL-related events, media broadcasts, pop-ups, and watch parties, San Francisco draws visitors who want to see highlights like the Golden Gate Bridge, take a ferry to Alcatraz Island, explore waterfront areas, and discover some of the city’s lesser-known hidden gems.

The city also offers:

• A large concentration of hotels across multiple neighborhoods
• Walkable districts with dining, nightlife, and sightseeing close together
• Easy access to public transportation and ferries
• A wide variety of activities for travelers who may not be attending the game

For many visitors, San Francisco becomes the “experience” part of the trip, while the Super Bowl itself is just one day of a much larger Bay Area visit. That’s why hotels fill up, events pop up across the city, and the energy remains high well before kickoff, and lingers after the final whistle.

What to Expect in San Francisco During Super Bowl Week

Super Bowl week in San Francisco is exciting, energetic, and noticeably busier than usual. Even if you’re not attending the game itself, you’ll feel the impact across the city.

From my experience living here during the past Super Bowl weeks, the key is knowing when crowds build, where they concentrate, and how long the buzz lasts so you can plan around it.

When Crowds Start to Build

Super Bowl crowds don’t arrive all at once.

Most visitors begin arriving the weekend before the Super Bowl, with activity steadily increasing throughout the week. Hotels start filling up early, popular restaurants book out faster than usual, and you’ll notice more people wearing team gear, especially downtown and near the waterfront.

By Thursday and Friday, the city is fully in Super Bowl mode, with the heaviest foot traffic in areas hosting events, watch parties, and pop-ups.

What the City Feels Like During Super Bowl Week

Expect a noticeable shift in energy, especially in central neighborhoods.

You’ll see:

• Busier hotels and higher nightly rates
• Packed sports bars and watch-party venues
• Increased foot traffic in downtown and waterfront areas
• More media crews, branded activations, and temporary event spaces

That said, San Francisco is a large city, and not every neighborhood feels equally crowded. Many residential and outer neighborhoods continue to feel fairly normal, especially earlier in the week or during daytime hours.

Prices, Reservations, and Availability

Super Bowl week typically brings higher prices and reduced availability, particularly for:

• Hotels
• Popular restaurants
• Tours and attractions with limited capacity

If you plan to visit major attractions like the Golden Gate Bridge, book a ferry to Alcatraz Island, or reserve a table at a well-known restaurant, it’s best to book as far in advance as possible.

Last-minute availability is possible, but flexibility helps.

What Happens After Super Bowl Sunday

One thing many visitors don’t realize is that the crowds don’t disappear immediately after the game.

Super Bowl Sunday is the peak, but the city remains busy for a few days afterward as visitors extend their trips, attend post-game events, or simply explore San Francisco before heading home.

By midweek after the Super Bowl, things gradually return to normal, and you may even find it’s a great time to sightsee with slightly lighter crowds.

Super Bowl  Events & Activities in San Francisco

Even though the Super Bowl game is played south of the city, San Francisco hosts many of the Bay Area’s largest and most accessible Super Bowl week events. From official NFL fan experiences to concerts, pop-ups, and branded activations, this is where many visitors spend most of their time before and after game day.

This section focuses specifically on events happening in San Francisco and will be updated as additional details are announced.

NFL Fan Experience at the Moscone Center

The centerpiece of Super Bowl week in San Francisco is the official NFL Fan Experience held at the Moscone Center in the city’s downtown SoMa district. It runs from Tuesday, February 3 - Saturday, February 7.

The event is open from 3 pm to 10 pm, Tuesday - Friday. On Saturday, it's from 10 am to 10 pm.

This multi-day event is designed for fans of all ages and typically includes:

• Interactive football-themed exhibits
• Player appearances and photo opportunities
• Super Bowl memorabilia and displays
• Skills challenges and virtual experiences
• Merchandise shops and sponsor activations

I expect this to be one of the most popular and heavily attended Super Bowl events in San Francisco, especially on Friday and Saturday.

Tickets start at around $40 per person.

Find tickets for the NFL Fan Experience.

The NFL Fan Experience ticket also gives you access to the BAHC Live! events at Yerba Buena Gardens, which is across the street from the Moscone Center. These events will also take place in the evenings on Tuesday - Friday, and all day from 10 am to 10 pm on Saturday. 

This event features live music, interactive art, local food, and other activities.

Concerts & Other Super Bowl Events in San Francisco

Dozens of performers and events will come to San Francisco during Super Bowl 60, and you’ll likely hear about many additional parties and pop-ups around the city.

However, a large number of Super Bowl events are invitation-only, restricted to members, or tied to private brand activations with limited access and high price tags.

The events listed here are open to the general public. Some are free to attend, while others require advance-purchased tickets. This section focuses on events that visitors can realistically plan for — without needing special invites or insider access.

I’ll continue updating this list as new public events, concerts, and fan experiences are announced leading up to Super Bowl week.

• Chinatown Lunar New Year Block Party: On Wednesday, February 4, Chinatown will host a Big Game Block Party. Grant Avenue will turn into a historic celebration to welcome everyone to San Francisco. It will celebrate both the Lunar New Year and the Big Game. It will include lion dancing, live performances, and other activities. It runs from 5 pm to 9 pm.
• Downtown First Thursdays (Big Game Edition): On Thursday, February 5, head over to Natoma Cabana at 90 Natoma Street for this Downtown First Thursday event. It's free and will feature three blocks of music, food, and fun. Performers include Austin Millz (7:30 pm to 9 pm), Lexapeel (6 pm to 7:30 pm), and Miles Cobb (5 pm to 6 pm). There will also be happy hour specials at the outdoor bar on 2nd between Minna and Natoma from 5 pm to 7 pm. The event starts at 5 pm and runs until 10 pm. Pick up advanced tickets here.
• BAHC Live! Concert Series at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium: Three concerts will take place at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco. Benson Boone performs on Thursday, February 5 at 8 pm (find tickets), Martin Garrix with Special Guest Lost Frequencies performs on Friday, February 6 at 8:30 pm (find tickets), and Chris Stapleton performs on Saturday, February 7 at 8 pm (find tickets).
• Ferry Building Projection Show: Thursday, February 5 - Saturday, February 7, the Ferry Building along the Embarcadero will host a projection show. This free event will take football fans back in time through the last 60 years of Super Bowls through a series of projections. Between shows, there will be some interactive elements that gauge who the crowd thinks will win this year. The event will take place each evening from 6 pm to 11 pm, from Thursday, February 5 - Saturday, February 7. This is a free event.
• Concerts at the Palace of Fine Arts: Two well-known acts will also take the stage at the Palace of Fine Arts. Sting performs on Friday, February 6 (find tickets), and The Killers perform on Saturday, February 7 (find tickets).
• Night of Champions: This is a one-night only event at the Orpheum Theatre on Tuesday, February 3 at 7:30 pm. It will feature key members of the 1989 San Francisco 49ers team, including Joe Montana, John Taylor, Ronnie Lott, Eric Wright, Tom Rathman, and Harris Barton. Find tickets.
• The Lineup at Pier 80: There are also several concerts at Pier 80 for the Super Bowl. The event kicks off on Thursday, February 5, with Illenium (find tickets). Calvin Harris with special guest Diplo and Sonny Fodera is on Friday, February 6 (find tickets), and the event finishes off with T-Pain and Sean Paul on Saturday, February 7 (find tickets).
• Taste of NFL: This event is on Saturday, February 7, at the Hibernia Bank. It's a place to meet NFL greats and enjoy dishes by some of the best chefs around. Tickets to this are pricey, but you can find them here. 
• 2026 Pro Bowl Games in San Francisco: This game will take place at the Moscone Center on Tuesday, February 3. This is a flag football game between top players in the AFC and NFC. This is a televised game and starts at 8 pm, with coverage starting at 6:30 pm.

Other Events Around San Francisco

The Super Bowl experiences are not the only events this time of year in San Francisco. Here are a few other fun events to check out during your stay.

• Dear San Francisco at Club Fugazi, an immersive acrobatic show
• Golden State Warriors Games at the Chase Center
• Nick Offerman at The Masonic, 2/7
• Dave Chappelle at the Chase Center, 2/7
• M. Butterfly at the San Francisco Playhouse, several dates

Where to Watch the Super Bowl in San Francisco

Sports Bars Showing the Super Bowl

Bars all around San Francisco will have the Super Bowl on the big screen. Here are a few places I recommend checking out, keeping in mind that all of these will be SUPER busy so make sure to get there early to grab a seat:

• Golden Gate Tap Room: Located in Union Square, with multiple TVs. Food is pretty good, and there is a huge selection of beers.
• Bartlett Hall: One of my favorite spots in Union Square. They have a huge, big screen TV with many smaller TVs behind the bar. They make their own beers and serve American dishes.
• Board Room: This spot in North Beach is often ranked among the city's top sports bars. Plus, they have a great drink selection and great food.
• San Francisco Brewing Co.: This isn't your typical sports bar, but it has several TVs throughout the venue. I love their locally brewed beers and tasty menu items. It's perfect if you are staying in Fisherman's Wharf.

>> Find more of my favorite sports bars around San Francisco

Super Bowl Watch Parties & Large Screen Events

Here are some Super Bowl watch parties:

• Thrive City: This is the official 49ers sponsored watcdh party. It's first-come, first-served, and the big game will be on their outdoor TV. There will be plenty of food and drink all around. It's free, and you can reserve a spot in advance. Doors open at 2 pm. It's at 1725 3rd Street.
• Curio Bar: This bar in the Mission will feature the game on the big screen. It's free to get in and you can get your tickets in advance. It's at 775 Valencia Street.
• The Crossing at East Cut: This is an outdoor, tailgating-style option. It's at The Crossing Beer Garden at 250 Main Street.
• Barbarossa Lounge: They will be showing the big game on their large 10-foot screen in addition to several 70-inch screens around the venue. Runs from 2 pm to 8 pm. Reserve your spot in advance. It's at 714 Montgomery Street.
• The Function SF: This comedy club and cocktail lounge will host a free event for the Super Bowl. You can also pay a little extra for a reserved seat (or quite a bit more for their VIP section). It's at 1414 Market Street.

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