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2026 Golden Gate Park Band’s 144th Season: Free Sunday Symphony in the Park Kickoff

Every Sunday Through September 27th.
Sunday, April 26, 2026 - 1:00 am to 2:30 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Free, but donations are welcome.

Spreckels Temple of Music (Golden Gate Park Bandshell) | Music Concourse Dr, San Francisco, CA

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Golden Gate Park Band’s Free Symphony in the Park (2026)

The Golden Gate Park Band presents its 144th season in Golden Gate Park’s music concourse. That’s right, this 30-piece symphony has been playing free concerts in Golden Gate Park since 1882.

For 2026, the Golden Gate Park Band performs free weekly concerts most Sundays at 1 pm. Concerts are approximately 70 to 90 minutes in length. Programs are subject to change (check the website for updates). The concerts are free and open to the public.

All concerts take place between the de Young and the California Academy of Sciences and feature music of specific nationalities or cultures, including costumed guest performances from dancers, singers, and speakers, who will enlighten and entertain.

Brought to you by the Friends of the Golden Gate Park Band.

Golden Gate Park Band | 2026 Season
Kicks off April 10, 2026 (Full Schedule TBA – currently scheduled through Sept. 27, but likely there’s a finale concert TBA)
Most Sundays at 1 pm (Additional Dates – April 10, June 13, 4th of July, Labor Day)
Music Concourse, Golden Gate Park, SF
FREE

  • Concerts are free of charge and take place at the Spreckels Temple of Music in the Music Concourse in Golden Gate Park.
  • Regular Sunday concerts start at 1 pm and last for 70-90 minutes with no intermission.

2026 Concert Schedule

Subject to change – check website for updates. Last checked 3/10/26
All events Sunday at 1pm unless otherwise noted below

  • April 10 – (Friday 4:30 to 7:00 pm) In partnership Illuminate GGPB presents our annual Big Band Dance Party
  • April 26 – “SOUL OF THE CITY” SINCE 1882: An Overture for Season #144 – works of Gershwin, Robert Jager, Holst, Sousa and Bugler’s Holiday, more…
  • May 3 – Polish Cultural Celebration – works of Chopin, Moniuszko, and more with the Lowiczanie Polish Folk Ensemble of San Francisco.
  • May 10 – A Pops Mom’s Concert – on Mother’s Day in honor of Mothers everywhere. Premier of a new solo work for Clarinet by Francisco Javier de Alba with soloist Sarah E. Korneisel Jaegers,  works of Leroy Anderson, Gilbert & Sullivan and much more
  • May 17 – NO CONCERT
  • May 24 – Passionate Armenian Cultural Celebration with works by Kachaturian, Hovaness in partnership with the Hamazkayin Armenian Cultural and Educational Assoc.
  • May 31 – Songs and Dances: works of Morton Gould, Frank Ticheli, more TBA
  • June 7 – “PRIDE: A Musical Celebration” featuring  works written by LGBTQ composers with special guests TBA
  • June 14 – Golden Gate Park Band Festival with guest ensembles from around the Bay Area and beyond. The Festival starts June 13. Trombonology – featuring works that highlight our amazing low brass section.
  • June 21 A Juneteenth program celebrating Black American music including works of Joplin,  Katahj Copley, Ray Charles, Louis Armstrong and much more with special guests TBA
  • June 28 – Around the World with GGPB – featuring principal trumpet Mark Nemoyten in the Haydn Trumpet Concerto in E flat, works of Gottschalk, Saint Sans, Strauss and much more
  • July 4 – Happy 250! A 4th of July Concert with works of Joplin, Sousa, Mancini, Cohan and more..
  • July 5 – Musical Landscapes: Shenandoah by Frank Ticheli, Tropical by Morton Gould, Pacific Island Fantasy by Sammy Nestico, more TBA
  • July 12 – Disney Magic – our annual family concert featuring works made popular by Disney and Pixar
  • July 19 – Treasures of the Band World – Suite of Old American Dances by Robert Russell Bennett, On a Hymnsong of Phillip Bliss by Holsinger, more TBA
  • July 26 – Bonnie Scottish Culture Celebration with the Dunsmuir Scottish DancersLoch Lomond arr. Frank Ticheli and other Scottish favorites
  • August 2 – Honoring San Francisco First Responders – A concert in honor of Neighborhood Emergency Response Teams and First Responders . Program TBA
  • August 9– Tune Town – Music for Kids of All Age: Music from Super Mario Brothers by Koji Kondo, arr. Takashi Hoshide, Country Gardens by Percy Grainger, more TBA
  • August 16 – St Stephen’s DayCelebration of Hungarian Culture – With performers from the Hungarian Heritage Foundation, the band will play favorite Hungarian pieces.
  • August 23 – Our annual program in Solidarity with Ukraine featuring many guest performers from the Bay Area Ukrainian community and beyond.
  • August 30 – “Ole!”  The Heart of Spain featuring  guest performers from Toque Tercero Flamenco lead by Damien AlvarezEspañi Cañi by Marquina, Amparita Roca by Texidor, more
  • September 6 – All-American Program program will include: A Festive Prelude by Alfred Reed, Selections from West Side Story, music by Danny Elfman, Henry Mancini and much more.
  • September 7  Take a Break! A Labor Day Concert – Concert will include: Bayou Breakdown by Brant Karrick, On the Mall by Goldman, much more TBA
  • September 13 – ¡Viva Mexico! with guests Ballet Folklorico Mexicano de Carlos Moreno . Selections from Little Mexican Suite by Nubia Jaime Donjuan, Huapango by Mancoyo, more
  • September 21 – An Irish Celebration in partnership with the United Irish Cultural Center of San Francisco.
  • September 27 – German Day – GGPB will join this all day celebration of all things German with a special concert featuring works by German composers from Bach to Zimmer

Golden Gate Park Band Festival
June 13-14, 2026 (11am-5pm)

The Friends of the Golden Gate Park Band present the 18th annual Golden Gate Park Band Festival, June 13-14 2026 in the Spreckels Temple of Music on the Music Concourse in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park with concerts from fellow bands all around the state performing back to back concerts from 11am to 5pm. This two-day festival is presented by the Friends of the Golden Gate Park Band annually in June and features regional community concert bands.

See the full 2026 Festival schedule

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.


Cost: FREE*
*Free, but donations are welcome.
Categories: *Top Pick*, In Person, Live Music, Outdoors, San Francisco
Address: Music Concourse Dr, San Francisco, CA

Sunday, April 26, 2026

All Day   Bay Area Dance Week 2026 w/ 100+ Free Events (April 24–May 3)  FREE
8:00 am   The Petaluma Spring Antique Faire (2026)  FREE
9:00 am   Bay Area Storytelling Festival 2026  $75*
*Full-day, half-day, and single session options, plus students & more.
9:30 am   SUP Yoga on the Petaluma River (North Bay Float and Flow)  $50*
*must reserve online-10 guest spots each session
10:00 am   Annual Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival 2026 (April 25-26)  FREE
10:00 am   “Manny’s Neighborhood Trash Cleanup” w/ $1 Beer & Free Yoga Classes, Free Fries (SF)  FREE*
*Sign up on this TogetherSF Mobilize page: https://www.mobilize.us/togethersf/event/444979/
10:00 am   Francisco Park’s 4th Birthday Celebration + “Cake Buffet” (SF)  FREE*
*Various Events are Free, but if you want to participate in the Cake Buffet, you have to purchase a $30 ticket. You can also purchase a picnic box from us, if you like.
10:30 am   2026 “Opening Day On The Bay” Boat Parade & “Blessing of the Fleet” (SF)  FREE
11:00 am   Sucka Flea North Beach  FREE
11:00 am   SF’s Shipyard Open Studios (2026)  FREE*
*Please RSVP to help us plan, free parking
11:00 am   SF’s Dia de los Ninos/Dia de los Libros Celebration (2026)  FREE*
*Free
11:00 am   “Lindy in the Park” Swing Dance Party (Golden Gate Park)  FREE*
*Weather permitting (rain cancels)
11:00 am   Free “Art Chalk Party” at Haight/Stanyan (Golden Gate Park)  FREE*
*This is a free event!
12:00 pm   2026 BAYCS Earth Day Festival  FREE
12:00 pm   Live Local Bands at the San Jose Flea Market  $5*
*Live music is free with admission to the San Jose Flea. Admission is $20 per car or $5 per person walk-in
12:00 pm   Downtown San Mateo Boba Day  FREE
12:00 pm   Mare Island’s 2026 One-Day Music Festival “Decked Out at The Quarters”  FREE*
*Free for all, but please RSVP
12:00 pm   SF’s “Sundays at the Beach” Free Yoga Day (Great Highway)  FREE
1:00 pm   Tea & Tiles: A Sunday Social With 13 Orphans  $22.22*
*Ticket includes entry and opportunity to learn MJ. Limited free entry for seniors
1:00 pm   4th Annual Holi D11 Street Party (SF)  FREE*
*Free Entry and Free Event - Everyone is welcome.
1:00 pm   “DayCare” Daytime Dance Party: 1-5pm (SF)  FREE
1:00 pm   Golden Gate Park Sunday Roller Disco Party (SF)  FREE
1:00 pm   Mish Mash Bash  FREE*
*Tickets are free to antendees! We accept option pay-what-you-can to help us give back to our volunteers and cover our operating costs. Those who donate get a free sticker.
1:00 pm   SF Poet Laureate Genny Lim + Youth Poet Laureates (SF Main Library)  FREE
2:00 pm   Two Teacher-Authors talk LGBTQ+ and Book Bans  FREE*
*Free admission, and guests are able to purchase either/both of the two authors' books
2:00 pm   Free “SF Opera” Spring 2026 Tour of Bay Area Parks & Plazas (Concord)  FREE*
*Registration is encouraged but not required in all locations, except for Filoli, where you must register below if you plan to attend and registration may close if capacity is reached. In all venues, registration does not guarantee seating location, which is available on a first come, first served basis.
3:00 pm   Sci-Fi Authors + Live Podcast (SF Main Library)  FREE
4:00 pm   Win Tix: Comedy Powerhouse “Jessica Kirson” Live at the Castro Theatre (SF)  FREE*
*WIN
4:30 pm   Free Reggae in the Park 2026 “Crucial Sundays” (Golden Gate Park)  FREE
6:00 pm   Live Ensemble Music and Elegant Dancing in SF  $25*
*Charity Event, Ticket $$ goes to Charity for Anxiety Veterans Support Groups
6:00 pm   “HellaSecret” Speakeasy Comedy Show & Cocktail Night (Oakland)  FREE*
*Free with RSVP
7:00 pm   FREE: “Hayes Valley Comedy Night” Sunday at The Function (SF)  FREE*
*Exclusive free tickets with Eventbrite RSVP. Otherwise $20-25 at door. Please note like most comedy clubs, there is a two drink minimum per person
7:00 pm   Gamelan Sari Raras: Javanese Wayang Kulit Shadow Play  $16*
*$12 - Seniors, faculty/staff, non-UCB students, groups 10+; $5 - UC Berkeley Students, Children under 12
8:00 pm   Benjamin Tod  $44.87
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