Happy New Year, San Francisco! Whether you plan to skip the late-night parties and celebrate with a morning hike, or you’re searching for epic night out plans, there are plenty of ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve in San Francisco. Keep reading for some of our favorite ways to celebrate the end of 2025 and start 2026 on the right note.
Visit our San Francisco event calendar for all the best events we’re looking forward to and our 2026 public holiday calendar with some tips for when to request your days off.
🚌 Public transit on NYE: Both Muni and BART will operate on a Sunday schedule on New Year’s Day (Jan. 1, 2026), and all Muni transit service will be free from 8 pm on Dec. 31 until 5 am on Jan. 1. More on that here.
1. SF Bay fireworks show
People come out in droves each year to check out an epic fireworks show over the San Francisco Bay! The display usually kicks off right at midnight and lasts about 15-20 minutes. Be sure to get there early for the best seating, which tends to be along the waterfront between the Ferry Building and the Bay Bridge.
Here are a few boat cruises where you can see the fireworks on the water:
🗓️ Date: The fireworks show usually begins at midnight on the night of Dec. 31.
📍 Location: San Francisco waterfront between the Ferry Building and the Bay Bridge
2. Downtown First Thursdays free block party
Downtown First Thursdays is hosting a free block party on New Year’s Day, featuring a performance by SF music collective Jazz Mafia. You can also expect a discoteca, local vendors, and even a pet psychic. Plus, you can also attend a free symposium titled The Circular City: How Vintage Shapes Our Future. The party is free and open to all ages, and will start at 5 pm in Downtown SF.
📍 Location: 2nd Street between Market and Howard
3. It’s a New Day + Breakfast of Champions Block Party at The Great Northern
This epic 17-hour event is the perfect way to start 2026 if you love dancing the night (and day) away. The party is in its 26th year, with over 100 DJs across 10 stages. Festivities start on January 1st at 4 am, inviting San Franciscans to dance and enjoy the music until 9 pm.
🗓️ Date: Jan. 1, 2026
📍 Location: SoMa – The Great Northern, 119 Utah St, San Francisco, CA 94103
4. R&B and Ribs at the Phoenix Hotel
The Phoenix Hotel is hosting an exciting New Year’s Day Party with R&B and Ribs. You can expect plenty of great food and music at the party, and it’s a great way to enjoy the iconic hotel before it closes. The afternoon party will take place at the hotel’s patio, complete with the well-known pool, along with indoor space. Tickets for R&B and Ribs typically sell out, so be sure to get yours soon.
5. NYE bar crawl
Enjoy an unforgettable New Year’s Eve party with the ultimate SF bar crawl on December 31st. Don your most festive 2025 outfit and enjoy admission-free entry to participating bars, plus drink specials and endless champagne toasts.
6. AURA
Grace Cathedral presents AURA, a 45-minute immersive show combining music, luminous projections, and the cathedral’s gorgeous architecture. The internationally acclaimed show transforms this historic SF venue into a contemporary work of art through light and sound.
7. Polar Bear Skate at Union Square Ice Rink
Union Square Ice Rink is the place to be all the way into January. They always celebrate the New Year with “Polar Bear Skate,” a popular Canadian tradition in which skaters don their favorite bathing suit or beach attire to “take the plunge” on the ice! Prizes will be given for the best costumes.
🗓️ Date: Jan. 1, 2026, from 2:30-3:30 pm
📍 Location: Union Square Ice Rink – 333 Post St, San Francisco, CA 94102
8. The Rocky Horror Picture Show at Balboa Theater
If you prefer a more low-key but still fun New Year’s Eve, we recommend checking out Balboa Theater’s screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The screening starts at 11:00, so you can ring in the new year while watching the iconic film. Plus, you can catch a screening of New Year’s favorite, When Harry Met Sally, earlier in the evening.
🗓️ Date: Jan. 1, 2026, from 2:30-3:30 pm
📍 Location: Balboa Theater, 3630 Balboa St, San Francisco, CA 94121
9. Clift Hotel Black Tie New Year’s Eve
The Clift Hotel is once again hosting a festive New Year’s Eve party with four DJs, a champagne toast, and even a red carpet. The party will feature plenty of music, dancing, and even some party favors.
🗓️ Date: Dec. 31, 2025
📍 Location: Clift Hotel, 495 Geary St, San Francisco
10. Kwanzaa and Noon Year’s Eve at Thrive City
Ring in 2025 and celebrate the culture of Kwanzaa with a midday ball drop and countdown, arts and crafts, treats, and music. The free celebration goes down at Thrive City beneath their 80-foot holiday tree, but make sure you RSVP.
🗓️ Date: Dec. 31, 2025, from 9:30 am-12:30 pm
📍 Location: Mission Bay – Thrive City, 1725 3rd St, San Francisco, CA 94158
11. New Year’s One Day Race in San Jose
In this New Year’s Day race, participants can run as many 1-mile laps as they like to celebrate the start of the new year. The biggest go-getters are known to spend the entire day running upwards of 100 laps, which is a fair motivation for those of us trying to step up our exercise in the new year. Learn more about the New Year’s One Day Race here.
🗓️ Date: Dec. 31, 2025 – Jan. 1, 2026 (24 hours straight from 9 am-9 am)
📍 Location: Hellyer County Park (Buena Vista Pavilion) – 985 Hellyer Ave, San Jose, CA 95111
12. NYE 2026 at Public Works
This multi-level SF nightclub always promises to “give the people what they want,” and this year, they’re giving us an unforgettable night with TOKiMONSTA, Sam Binga, Leonce, and more. Tickets are available for presale online, and there should also be a limited amount available at the door.
🗓️ Date: Dec. 31, 2025
📍 Location: SoMa – Public Works, 161 Erie St, San Francisco, CA 94103
13. MOANY 2026 at the Regency Ballroom
The Regency Ballroom has hosted MOANY (Mother Of All New Years) for over two decades, making for one of the most popular NYE events in San Francisco. Dance your way across three different floors, playing a variety of genres, including EDM, Reggaeton, and hip hop, with the added excitement of a balloon drop and confetti. Make sure you dress to impress and get ready for a fun night.
🗓️ Date: Dec. 31, 2025
📍 Location: 1300 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94109
14. New Year’s Day Plunge at Ocean Beach
Would you take a New Year’s Day swim at Ocean Beach? If the answer is yes, then you’re in good company. The Riptide Bar in SF’s Outer Sunset neighborhood always hosts a warm-up and after-party for the annual New Year’s Day Plunge at 12 pm on January 1st at Ocean Beach and Taraval Street.
🗓️ Date: Jan. 1, 2026 at 10:30 am
📍 Location: Outer Sunset – Ocean Beach and Taraval Street, San Francisco, CA
15. 40th annual Japanese New Year Bell-Ringing Ceremony at the Asian Art Museum
The Asian Art Museum will ring in the New Year with a community tradition dating back decades. Reverend Gengo Akiba will lead a ceremonial bell-ringing in which you can step up to ring a 2,000-pound, 16th-century Japanese temple bell. It will be rung 108 times to assuage the 108 bonno (earthly mortal desires or defilements) that Buddhist belief defines as torments to humankind.
🗓️ Date: Dec. 28, 2025
📍 Location: Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94102
16. NYE Circus in Downtown SF
Circus Bella’s big top circus tent will pop up at the Crossing at East Cut this year, and the classic troupe will have two dazzling performances on New Year’s Eve. Both shows will feature a classic countdown to 2026, plus classic acts such as jugglers, contortionists, acrobats, a six-piece band, and more.
🗓️ Date: Dec. 31, 2025, at 4 pm and 7 pm
📍 Location: Financial District – The Crossing at East Cut – 250 Main St, San Francisco, CA 94105
17. At-home NYE celebration ideas
For those of us planning on a low-key celebration, this one’s for you: Pick up some nice booze from a local wine bar or brewery; round out your charcuterie board with some nice meats and cheeses from Molinari or The Epicurean Trader; and get a new board game at SF’s Gamescape or Game Post.
See our old roundup of Covid-safe NYE activities for more inspiration.
By Jamie Ferrell and Dana Flynn