San Francisco Recreation and Park Department

Free live music is back in the park.

Illuminate LIVE returns to the Golden Gate Bandshell in Golden Gate Park on Sunday, March 1, 2026, launching its sixth season of free outdoor concerts with more than 125 performances scheduled through mid-November.

The long-running series has quietly become one of San Francisco’s biggest free music traditions, drawing more than 250,000 attendees each year. Since 2020, Illuminate LIVE has presented more than 700 free concerts and welcomed nearly 1 million music fans to the historic Bandshell (also known as the Spreckels Temple of Music).

Opening Day – March 1, 2026

The season kicks off as part of SF Music Week, produced in part by the San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development and Noise Pop.

Opening day performers include:

• Lucky Break
• Grooblen
• Gloomy June

After the afternoon sets, the 2026 season of Crucial Reggae Sundays launches with resident DJs Irie Dole, Guid8nce and DJ Sep.

What to Expect in 2026

The 2026 season features more than 125 free, all-ages performances, typically held:

• Wednesdays – Midweek Melodies
• Fridays – Friday Happy Hour
• Sundays – Crucial Reggae Sundays
• Plus select Saturdays and special cultural events

In March, the series will mark International Women’s Month with 14 female-fronted shows spotlighting more than 25 local female artists. The lineup spans R&B, soul, jazz, funk, big band, string ensembles, punk, indie and psychedelic rock, singer-songwriters, reggae, Latin and electronic music, with a strong emphasis on Bay Area talent.

Originally launched during Golden Gate Park’s 150th anniversary, Illuminate LIVE has grown into a cornerstone of the city’s free public arts scene, supported by private funding, grants and partnership with the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department.

2026 Free Bandshell Concert Schedule

Catch live music in the park every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday (plus select Saturdays) through November. All shows are free and open to the public.

See the upcoming schedule (subject to change)

March 2026:

Sun 3/1 (12:00 pm-4:00 pm) – 6th Anniversary Kickoff Show (SF Music Week / Noise Pop) – 12:00 pm Speakers, 12:15 pm Lucky Break, 1:00 pm Grooblen, 2:00 pm Gloomy June
Sun 3/1 (4:30 pm-7:30 pm) – Crucial Reggae Sundays Season Kickoff with DJs Irie Dole, Guid8nce, DJ Sep
Wed 3/4 (4:00 pm-7:00 pm) – Laia, Olive Pants, Gaby
Fri 3/6 (4:30 pm-7:30 pm) – Friday Happy Hour – Ariel Marin Band (2 sets)
Sun 3/8 (4:30 pm-7:30 pm) – Crucial Reggae Sundays with guest Goddess Nette (5:30 pm-6:30 pm)
Wed 3/11 (4:00 pm-7:00 pm) – Frankie West, Maya Bennett, Jenny Haniver
Fri 3/13 (4:30 pm-7:30 pm) – St. Patrick’s Celebration – Shana Morrison & Caledonia (2 sets)
Sun 3/15 (4:30 pm-7:30 pm) – Crucial Reggae Sundays with Yung Maldita (5:30 pm-6:30 pm)
Wed 3/18 (4:00 pm-7:00 pm) – Anna May, Maya Bennett, Davia Schendel
Fri 3/20 (4:30 pm-7:30 pm) – Jean Fineberg & JAZZphoria (2 sets)
Sun 3/22 (4:30 pm-7:30 pm) – Crucial Reggae Sundays with DJ Outlaw Yoko (5:30 pm-6:30 pm)
Wed 3/25 (4:00 pm-7:00 pm) – Sara Rodenburg, Frances Ancheta, Deborah Crooks
Fri 3/27 (4:30 pm-7:30 pm) – Tracy Cruz (2 sets)
Sat 3/28 (10:30 am-1:30 pm) – Kids Festival – Charity and the JAMBand 10:30 am, Teacher Barb and Friends 12:30 pm
Sun 3/29 (4:30 pm-7:30 pm) – Crucial Reggae Sundays with Ay Qué Linda! – Words of Devine Radio (5:30 pm-6:30 pm)

April 2026:

Wed 4/1 (4:00 pm-7:00 pm) – Jon Bennett, Joe Andrews, The Sean Conneries
Fri 4/3 (4:30 pm-7:30 pm) – Steve Lucky & The Rhumba Bums featuring Miss Carmen Getit
Sat 4/4 (12:00 pm-4:00 pm) – Tribute to the Past – Chick Jagger, Trouble With Monkeys
Sun 4/5 (4:30 pm-7:30 pm) – Crucial Reggae Sundays with Jah Yzer
Wed 4/8 (4:30 pm-7:00 pm) – April & Monroe Grisman – AMG Band + Caroline de Lone (opener)
Fri 4/10 (Swing Dance Party) – Golden Gate Park Big Band (18-piece jazz big band)
Sat 4/11 (12:00 pm-4:00 pm) – SF Neo Psych Fest – The Spiral Electric, Bolero + TBA
Sun 4/12 (12:00 pm-4:00 pm) – Live @ The Shell – Professa Gabel, Samplov, Cynny, Brycon
Sun 4/12 (4:30 pm-7:30 pm) – Crucial Reggae Sundays with Lion Tribe (5:30 pm-6:30 pm)
Wed 4/15 (4:00 pm-7:00 pm) – Mokai, Dan Arwady, Secret Lives
Sun 4/19 (TBA) – Earth Day Reggae Takeover
Wed 4/23 (4:30 pm-7:00 pm) – John Elliott + Cowboy Beauty Queen (opener)
Sun 4/26 (4:30 pm-7:30 pm) – Crucial Reggae Sundays with DJ Veyn
Wed 4/29 (4:00 pm-7:00 pm) – Chris Ahlman, Piet Dalmolen, Zoe Fitzgerald Carter

May 2026:

Fri 5/1 (4:00 pm-7:00 pm) – Victor & The Callers, Silverset
Sat 5/2 (2:00 pm-6:00 pm) – Bay Beats at the Bandshell featuring Naked Roommate + others
Sun 5/3 (4:30 pm-7:30 pm) – Crucial Reggae Sundays with Adam 12
Wed 5/6 (4:00 pm-7:00 pm) – Alie Halla, Dan Agnello, Outer District
Fri 5/8 (4:30 pm-7:30 pm) – Oakland Jazz Funk Project
Sun 5/10 (Mother’s Day) – Rik Jam, Dalwayne
Wed 5/13 (4:00 pm-7:00 pm) – Sushi and Strawberry, Jim Bruno, Hollow Mind Band
Fri 5/15 (4:30 pm-7:30 pm) – Wreckless Strangers (2 sets)
Sat 5/16 (2:00 pm-6:00 pm) – Retro Future Review – Mitch Rocket, Miss Hits, Lazer Beam, Dinner Date
Wed 5/20 (4:00 pm-7:00 pm) – JimBo Trout, Jeff Desira, Latchkey
Fri 5/22 (4:30 pm-7:30 pm) – Maurice Tani (2 sets)
Sat 5/23 (12:00 pm-4:00 pm) – Bandshell Blues Fest – Highwater Blues Band, Stan Erhart & The Fabulous Misfits, Dennis Johnson & The Revelators
Sun 5/24 (4:30 pm-7:30 pm) – Saritah (Live Band)
Wed 5/27 (4:30 pm-7:00 pm) – Mark Karan’s Budz + Keller Sisters (opener)
Fri 5/29 (4:30 pm-7:30 pm) – Tracorum (2 sets)
Sat 5/30 (10:30 am-1:30 pm) – Kids Festival (TBD)
Sun 5/31 (Dub Mission Anniversary) – DJs Sep, Vinnie Esparza, Maneesh the Twister

 

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