The de Young Museum has announced that, due to popular demand, it will extend the spectacular Paul McCartney Photographs exhibition through October 5, 2025. After drawing 85,000 attendees in its first few weeks, the brilliant showcase can now host thousands more museumgoers well through the summer and into the fall. If you haven’t had the pleasure already, now’s the time to book tickets to see over 250 of McCartney’s recently unearthed photographs on display.
Paul McCartney Photographs 1963–64: Eyes of the Storm presents a brief glimpse of Beatlemania from the point of view of Paul, John, George, and Ringo, as they toured in the United States and England. McCartney himself took the photos between December 1963 and February 1964, but they were only recently rediscovered after spending decades in storage as unprinted negatives.
The exhibition reveals many personal photographs of the band from that time. The collection includes scenes of fans and photographers swarming the young musicians, glimpses from The Ed Sullivan Show, and photos of the band relaxing in Miami.
“It is a revelation to discover McCartney’s proficiency as a photographer,” said Thomas P. Campbell, Director and CEO of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, “…documenting everything from the band’s quieter moments and friendships to the ‘Beatlemania’ of the time.”
San Francisco’s de Young Museum is the first stop on a national tour of Paul McCartney Photographs. After opening on March 1st, the exhibition was originally scheduled to stay in SF until July 6, 2025. With the newly announced extension running through October 5, we’ll have another three months to enjoy seeing McCartney’s work right here in Golden Gate Park. Next stop: The Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto in 2026.
This week, there’s also a unique opportunity to see the exhibition during an after-hours event at the de Young museum. Late Night Editions: Isaac Julien invites guests to enjoy music, drinks, and food while exploring the new installation of Isaac Julien: I Dream a World in the Wilsey Court, and Paul McCartney Photographs 1963–64: Eyes of the Storm. On June 21, the de Young will also host a special screening of the series McCartney 3,2,1.
🗓️ Dates: Mar. 1 – Oct. 5, 2025
📍 Location: de Young Museum – 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
🎟️ Tickets: Paul McCartney Photographs requires special timed tickets to the de Young Museum.