February is Black History Month, and San Francisco is an excellent place to honor, uplift, and celebrate Black history on both a local and international level.
If you’re looking for ways to celebrate Black culture and contributions around San Francisco, this is a great place to start. Read on for some inspiration.
1. More Than a Month at SF Public Library
Each year, the San Francisco Public Library puts on More Than A Month, a celebration of Black history and culture that spotlights Black creators. The program includes various events, including workshops, performances, and more.
You can visit the Main Library’s African American Center to see the new sneaker exhibition We’ve Got Sole through May 15th, or look into their curated selection of books for some great reads.
🌐 Learn more: SF Public Library
2. Exhibitions and activities at the Museum of the African Diaspora
San Francisco’s extraordinary Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) has served as a vital Bay Area institution since 2005. It’s one of the world’s few museums focusing solely on African Diaspora culture, and we are very lucky to enjoy it right here in San Francisco’s Yerba Buena neighborhood.
This February brings open mic nights, performances, and more. Make sure you also look into their current exhibitions including Continuum: MoAD Over Time, and Unbound: Art, Blackness, & The Universe.
Enjoy free admission on Thursday, Feb. 5th from 4-8pm and Feb. 14th from 11am-5pm.
🌐 Learn more: Museum of the African Diaspora
3. Workshops and events with the SF African American Historical & Cultural Society
The SFAAHCS is a great resource for programs, exhibits, and cultural events all year round. 2026’s festivities kick off on Friday, Feb. 6th at City Hall, alongside genealogy workshops for African Americans, a book club, and exhibits. Keep an eye on their website for more details.
🌐 Learn more: SFAAHCS
4. Events at the Ruth Williams Opera House
The Ruth Williams Opera House dates back to 1888 in the Bayview Hunters Point district, which is the most ethnically diverse community in SF. Events for this month include a Shakespeare showcase, a visuals torytelling workshop, an Afrobeats dance contest, a free community celebration, and a reggae concert.
🌐 Learn more: Ruth Williams Opera House
5. Black History Month at the Exploratorium
San Francisco’s Exploratorium has added a series of profiles throughout the museum that honor the achievements of Black scientists and innovators. Explore the exhibits to learn about cosmetics pioneer Madame C.J. Walker, “father of the blood bank” Charles Drew, astronaut Mae Jemison, and more.
🌐 Learn more: Exploratorium
6. Black Joy Parade in Oakland
The 9th annual Black Joy Parade is coming back to Oakland on February 22nd, 2026. Join over 30,000 people in a massive community celebration that kicks off at 12:30pm at Frank Ogawa Plaza. The event features 200+ Black-owned vendors, 2 stages with performances all day long, and tons of family activities.
🌐 Learn more: Black Joy Parade
7. African-American Freedom Trail
SF Travel put together a fantastic map marking local spots with connections to African-American history. It takes you through community centers, restaurants, gathering points, libraries, hotels, and more. Download the map to learn about significant locations in local Black history you may not have known about.
🌐 Learn more: SF Travel
8. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
Yerba Buena Gardens is home to the country’s second-largest memorial to Martin Luther King Jr., an enormous sculptural waterfall fountain. Water cascades over a granite walkway, blocking out the city sounds and creating a tunnel in which visitors can contemplate inscribed quotations from Dr. King’s speeches. When was the last time you visited this profound monument?
🌐 Learn more: Read our article about SFs’ MLK Jr. memorial