June in San Francisco brings us the highly anticipated FIFA World Cup, epic citywide Pride events, Juneteenth celebrations, and the first few concerts at Stern Grove Festival!
From upcoming museum exhibitions to pop-up festivals, read on for everything you need to know to make the most of June and kick off summer 2026.
San Francisco Pride is back for another fantastic year, bringing thousands of participants from all over California. There will be events all month long celebrating Pride, but the famous parade is scheduled for the last weekend of June.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 lands in the Bay Area this month! More than 30 Fan Zones will pop up at venues including Thrive City, Pier 39, and China Basin Park, welcoming locals and out-of-towners alike.
Make sure you read our full guide to World Cup activities to make the most of this massive global event in the Bay, and if you’re new in SF, read our article for tips about how to get to Levi’s Stadium.
Here’s the official match schedule at Levi’s Stadium:
- June 13 – M8: Qatar vs. Switzerland
- June 16 – M20: Austria vs. Jordan
- June 10 – M31: Turkey vs. Paraguay
- June 22 – M44: Jordan vs. Algeria
- June 25 – M60: Paraguay vs. Australia
- July 1 – M81: 1D vs. 3BEFIJ
If you can’t make it to any World Cup matches in person, some local AMC theaters will screen Telemundo’s Spanish-language broadcasts. More on that here.
If you’re looking for a can’t-miss night out, Dear San Francisco masterfully weaves together breathtaking acrobatics, poetry, music, and movement into a powerful love letter to San Francisco’s rich history. Club Fugazi will have a rotating lineup of special guests and Pride-themed culinary experiences to take place throughout June. Tickets go fast, so we recommend getting yours soon!
The Juneteenth SF Freedom Celebration will take over eight blocks in the Fillmore District. Check it out for an afternoon of live music, carnival rides, a car show, and even a beer and wine garden. It’s a free event that is open to the public and is perfect for a family-friendly Juneteenth celebration.
AURA at Grace Cathedral is a 45-minute immersive show that blends music, visual projections, and the cathedral’s breathtaking architecture. Celebrated around the world, the experience turns the historic space into a dynamic art installation, illuminating its arches and intricate details through light and sound.
Downtown First Thursdays is a monthly block party featuring over 175 vendors, performers, and activities on 2nd Street. The enormous free events attract thousands of San Franciscans for a memorable and cost-effective night out in the city. Janelle Monáe will play a free DJ set for the June event starting at 7pm.
Take a thrilling trip across the bridge to Dinos Alive: An Immersive Experience at Oakland’s Kaiser Convention Center (near Peralta Park). Beat the summer boredom with over 40 life-sized animatronic dinosaurs that roar, move, and breathe—including a towering T-Rex and Brachiosaurus.
Beyond walking among these moving giants, cool off in ancient seas via a stunning, Virtual Aquarium. The smaller explorers can dig for fossils in the interactive “Budding Experts” space.
Whether you’re planning a June staycation or looking for the ultimate high-octane summer day trip, grab the family, hop on BART or the Bay Bridge, and kick-start your summer break with a legendary East Bay adventure! For more info and tickets, go here!
Who’s ready to see some live music?! Stern Grove Festival, a free outdoor concert series featuring a wide variety of genres, has just released its summer lineup. The first concert starts this June, so you’re going to want to mark it on your calendar.
- June 14: Peter Cat Recording Co. + Marinero
- June 21: Bomba Estéreo + La Misa Negra
- June 28: Japanese Breakfast
San Francisco celebrates its vibrant jazz history with The Jazz Room, a new show at The Palace Theater. This hour-long performance features timeless classics and improvised solos, immersing audiences in the rich musical tradition of New Orleans. Experience a captivating evening filled with beloved songs and talented local musicians, all while enjoying drinks in a setting reminiscent of iconic jazz bars
The San Francisco Standard has brought back Sundown Cinema for 2026! On select nights between June and October, you can catch free outdoor movie screenings in San Francisco parks. This month, catch The Princess Bride at Dolores Park on June 12th. The event begins around 6:30pm with the screening starting after sundown around 8:30pm.
The extremely popular concert series known simply as Candlelight is turning heads right now in San Francisco! The Bay Area’s top musicians perform classical covers of everything from Vivaldi to Taylor Swift, surrounded by hundreds of flickering candles. Venues include St. Ignatius Church and the International Art Museum of America.
The new Valencia LIVE! night market and neighborhood party returns to Valencia Street in the Mission District. The lively block party will take over Valencia Street on second Thursdays through October.
North Beach Festival
One of the nation’s longest-running street festivals is coming back for its 72nd rendition! The historic North Beach Festival will take over the North Beach neighborhood with live music at multiple stages, dozens of vendors selling gourmet food and arts and crafts, and gorgeous Italian street paintings called Madonnari.
Enter Madam Vee’s dazzling jungle for ‘Exotica’, an immersive aerial artistry show unlike any other in San Francisco. Witness sensual aerial artists transform into mythical beasts, moving with hypnotic power above the stage. This electrifying night promises an exploration of untamed beauty, where fantasy dances with reality. Guests can enjoy specialty cocktails and explore an interactive menagerie of characters, blurring the lines between audience and performer. Prepare for a world of seduction, danger, and wonder.
West Coast Craft Summer ’26
West Coast Craft is back with more fantastic markets this summer. The massive craft market brings together hundreds of artists who create ceramics, paintings, jewelry, clothing, and much more. It’s free to enter, and the perfect chance to support local artists.
The fifth California State Parks Week returns from June 10-14, 2026, with dozens of planned activities across the state! The program, which coincides with California’s 175th anniversary of statehood, will be accessible to the public at no additional cost beyond standard park entry fees.
One of the most iconic parts of Pride in San Francisco is the famous glowing Pink Triangle, which rests high above the City at Twin Peaks as a symbol of pride for many in the LGBTQIA+ community. The Pink Triangle opens on June 6th and will remain up for the rest of the month. Read our article for info about volunteering to help install it.
Experience the magic of the wizarding world reimagined in the clouds with a 1,200-drone spectacle.
DroneArt Show: Harry Potter™ presents a 1,200-drone performance at Santa Clara Fairgrounds on July 3-4, recreating iconic places and characters from the films with synchronized music and dialogue. Guests also receive synchronized LED wristbands, and can enjoy food, drinks and Harry Potter™-themed merchandise on site.
If you can’t make it on Fourth of July weekend, DroneArt Show heads to Sacramento’s Cal Expo Race Track on August 14-15.
A 6,200-square-foot food hall, known as The Mess Hall, is due to open in a historic building at SF’s scenic waterfront park this June 2026. It will feature three casual eateries, including Korean cuisine from Boda, fresh seafood from Dayboat Seafood, and sandwiches and burgers from Breadwinner.
Enjoy free beach movies, live shows, and the new Vertigo 360 this summer at the Boardwalk.
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is rolling out summer programming, including the new Vertigo 360 ride and a schedule of free beach movies, performances, discount nights, arcade deals, FIFA World Cup watch parties, and summer luaus.
- June 12: The Lost Boys
- June 19: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
- June 26: Kicking and Screaming
Just across the bay, the Alameda County Fair hosts the ultimate California county fair experience with carnival rides and games, a stunt show, wine tasting, and their famous pig racing.
Explore the Legion of Honor after hours with drinks, DJs, food trucks, and a VIP wine tasting room.
Attend Late Night Editions at the Legion of Honor on June 11, 2026 to celebrate The Etruscans: From the Heart of Ancient Italy with drinks, DJs, Off the Grid food trucks, and access to the museum and temporary exhibition.
As we enter a new season in San Francisco, many local museums are refreshing and replacing their temporary exhibitions. Now’s a great time to take stock and plan ahead to see some of these wonderful displays before they’re gone.
- Monet & Venice at the de Young
- Chiharu Shiota at the Asian Art Museum
- Video Craft at the Museum of Craft & Design
We love San Francisco for its vibrant culture, history, and resources, but it’s no secret that living here costs a pretty penny. This list shows SF museums and gardens currently offering free admission days to the general public.
San Francisco is buzzing with free music as the Civic Center Soundtrack concert series returns.
The Civic Center Soundtrack concert series in Fulton Plaza returns this spring with free live performances from local artists every Tuesday and Thursday (12–3 PM) through October 2026 and rotating food trucks.
Check out a memorable ballet performance of The Sleeping Beauty this June at SF’s Brava Theater Center. At Ballet of Lights, talented local dancers don glow-in-the-dark costumes for a captivating performance that melds classical and futuristic elements.
Every Friday from April through October, the Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) hosts OMCA Friday Nights — a free outdoor block party with Off the Grid food trucks, live music, activities, and optional late-night gallery access with a museum ticket.
If you’re looking for a sweet, summery day trip during June in San Francisco, go strawberry picking at a local farm. From April to August, local farms are overflowing with sweet, juicy strawberries that are ripe for the picking! If you’ve never had the pleasure of picking fresh strawberries straight from the plant, you’re in for a treat at these Bay Area strawberry fields.
Fort Mason Night Market returns with 50+ vendors and 25+ food trucks.
The Fort Mason Night Market returns on June 19th from 5–10 pm with over 50 craft vendors curated by West Coast Craft and 25+ food trucks from Off the Grid. The free, family-friendly outdoor market at Fort Mason Center will also feature live music and continues on Friday nights through the rest of 2026.
The Whale’s Tail, a temporary garden bar in Golden Gate Park, is once again operating every Saturday and Sunday through October. The family- and dog-friendly pop-up at 14th Avenue East Meadow offers drinks (21+), live music, food, yoga, and other activities.
SF JAZZ Summer Sessions
SFJAZZ is gearing up for an epic summer season. Make sure you mark your calendar for the annual SF Jazz Festival, showcasing dozens of concerts at the SFJAZZ Center and the Festival Tent. The SF Jazz Festival started in 1983 as a small “Jazz in the City” event, and now, over 40 years later, has grown into what the Chicago Tribune once called “The crown jewel among American jazz festivals.”
We’re looking ahead at an exciting schedule of San Francisco Bay Area concerts for 2026. Here’s what’s coming up in June:
- June 6: Louis Tomlinson at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
- June 6-10: Ariana Grande at Oakland Arena
- June 7: Pitbull at Shoreline Amphitheatre
- June 11: James Blake at The Greek Theatre
- June 11: Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band at San Jose Civic
- June 13-14: Bob Dylan at The Greek Theatre
- June 19: Young the Giant at The Greek Theatre
- June 19-20: Shakira at SAP Center
- June 20: Fuerza Regida at Oracle Park
- June 20: Diljit Dosanjh at Chase Center
- June 23: Kid Cudi at Shoreline Amphitheatre
- June 23: Madison Beer at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
- June 25: A$AP Rocky at Chase Center
- June 26: Khalid at The Greek Theatre
- June 27: Don Toliver at Oakland Arena
San Francisco’s Salesforce Park is an amazing modern marvel in the Financial District. The verdant oasis rests 70 feet above the street atop the Salesforce Transit Center, and it’s completely free and open for the public to visit at any time. It also hosts a collection of free events every week, including yoga classes, boot camps, live music, bird walks, garden tours, drum circles, and much more.
The Golden Gate Park Bandshell‘s 2026 season of free concerts runs all the way through mid-November. These weekly, family-friendly concerts are some of the most beloved events in the park. Catch over 100 performances in a variety of genres, including R&B, soul, jazz, funk, big band, strings, indie, rock, reggae, salsa, electronic, and EDM.
