Golden Gate Park Band’s Free Symphony in the Park: Spanish Cultural Celebration (2025)

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 Dancers. Loch 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 Alvarez. Españi 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