Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron

Look up in the sky when you hear the roaring of jet engines and head down to SF’s northern waterfront for San Francisco’s annual Fleet Week air show and festival.

San Francisco Fleet Week returns October 4-12, 2026, bringing more than a full week of military bands, ship tours, the Parade of Ships, community events, and the big aerial spectacle over San Francisco Bay. The centerpiece is the Fleet Week Air Show, October 9-11, 2026, with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels headlining the show between the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz.

The air show is presented by United and features the Blue Angels, United Airlines 777, U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor Demo Team, U.S. Air Force Heritage Flight, U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Demo Team, U.S. Coast Guard aircraft, U.S. Navy E-6B Mercury, U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules, U-2 Dragon Lady and C-5 Super Galaxy flybys, and T-6 Texan IIs. The United 777 is billed as the only commercial airliner performing a fully choreographed act at a U.S. air show.

San Francisco Fleet Week 2026
Full Festival: October 4-12, 2026
Air Show: October 9-11, 2026, 12-4 PM
2026 Fleet Week Event Map
San Francisco Waterfront
FREE
See full air show schedule

2026 Fleet Week Schedule

Air Show

Friday, Saturday & Sunday, October 9-11, 2026 | 12-4 PM | San Francisco Waterfront
– Thursday afternoon: Each year there are typically Blue Angels “test flights” on Thursday.

Although it’s not the full airshow later in the week, typically the Blue Angels will do survey flights periodically during the time period of about 1-5 pm on Thursday. So, although it’s not guaranteed, on Thursday you should be able to see (and hear) the Blue Angels buzzing the city and over the waterfront doing their annual Survey Flights of San Francisco.

The main event returns with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels headlining three days of aerial performances over the Bay. The show runs between the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz and includes the United 777, F-22 Raptor Demo Team, Marine Corps F-35B Demo Team, Heritage Flight and a long list of military aircraft.

Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron

Parade of Ships

Friday, October 9 | 11 AM-noon | San Francisco Waterfront | FREE

Watch the visiting Fleet Week ships sail under the Golden Gate Bridge in the largest Parade of Ships on the West Coast. The procession can be viewed from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Bay Bridge, with the reviewing stand at Marina Green. The San Francisco Fire Department leads the parade with its fire boat spraying jets of water into the air.

U.S. Pacific Fleet / Flickr / CC BY-NC 2.0

Ship Tours

October 7-12, 2026 | Piers 27 & 35 | FREE

Get aboard visiting Navy ships and see what life is like for the sailors who serve at sea. Tours are available Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, with schedules varying by pier. Visiting ships and the final schedule are expected to be announced in late September.

Tours are first-come, first-served, so expect lines. Visitors should also be prepared for security screening, steep ladders and uneven surfaces aboard the ships.

U.S. Pacific Fleet / Flickr / CC BY-NC 2.0

Fleet Fest

Saturday-Sunday, October 10-11 | 9 AM-5 PM | Fisherman’s Wharf, SkyStar Wheel & Pier 27 | FREE

Fleet Fest moves to Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 27 in 2026, with local musicians, military bands, exhibitors, educational activities, food trucks and pop-up vendors. The festival also hosts the Navy’s Fleet Week flagship.

Service & Readiness Expo at Fleet Fest

October 10-11 | 10 AM-5 PM | Fleet Fest | FREE

Part of Fleet Fest, this open-air expo focuses on disaster preparedness and emergency response. Learn how military and civilian agencies prepare for earthquakes, flooding and other emergencies, meet medical, rescue and logistics teams, and get a closer look at military equipment. Exhibitors include the Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, Army, California National Guard, Cal OES, San Francisco Department of Emergency Management and San Francisco Fire Department/NERT.

STEM Center

October 10-11 | 9 AM-5 PM | Fisherman’s Wharf, next to SkyStar Wheel | FREE

The STEM Center puts a science and technology spin on Fleet Week, with exhibits and career counselors from the Navy, Marines, Army, Coast Guard, California National Guard and civilian agencies. See how military and emergency-response teams use engineering, communications, environmental science, healthcare, robotics and other STEM skills in the real world.

Career Fair

2026 details TBA

Fleet Week’s Career Fair connects visitors with career opportunities in the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Army, California National Guard, San Francisco Sheriff’s Office, San Francisco Fire Department, San Francisco Police Department, Oakland Fire Department and California Office of Emergency Services. The Navy and Army pages highlight more than 150 career paths, along with opportunities for education and skills that can transfer to civilian careers. The official 2026 page does not currently list a date, time or separate location, so check back for details.

Honor Our Fallen Concert

Thursday, October 8 | 6-7:30 PM | Marines’ Memorial Theatre, 609 Sutter St. | FREE

The U.S. Marine Corps 1st Marine Division Band performs a special tribute honoring service members who volunteered to defend their country and gave the ultimate sacrifice. Reservations are required, with reservations listed as coming soon.

Neighborhood Concert Series

October 5-12 | FREE

Fleet Week brings military bands into neighborhoods throughout San Francisco, with performances by the Navy Band Southwest, 1st Marine Division Band, 191st Army Reserve Band of the Wild West, USAF Band of the Golden West and United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps Band of the West Division. Performances pop up everywhere from the Ferry Building and Ghirardelli Square to Union Square, Golden Gate Park, Castro, Japantown, Chinatown, West Portal and neighborhood parks.

Sunday, October 4
TBA

Monday, October 5
1:00-2:00 PM – 1st Marine Division Brass Quintet – Argonne Elementary School

Tuesday, October 6
12:30 PM – 1st Marine Division Brass Quintet – TJPA Salesforce Park
6:00 PM – 1st Marine Division Brass Band – Noe Valley Town Square

Wednesday, October 7
11:30 AM – 1st Marine Division Brass Quintet – SF VA Medical Center
2:00 PM – USAF Band of the Golden West Brass – Ghirardelli Square
3:00 PM – Navy Band Southwest Woodwind Quintet – Grace Cathedral
5:00 PM – 1st Marine Division Brass Band – Huntington Park, Nob Hill
5:00 PM – Navy Band Southwest Brass Band – Japantown, Buchanan Mall / Osaka Way
5:00 PM – USAF Band of the Golden West, Mobility – Pier 39

Thursday, October 8
12:00 PM – Navy Band Southwest Woodwind Quintet – Ferry Building, Back Plaza
1:00 PM – USAF Band of the Golden West Brass – Crab Wheel Plaza
5:00 PM – Navy Band Southwest Brass Band – Castro, Jane Warner Plaza
5:00 PM – USAF Band of the Golden West, Mobility – Pier 39
6:00 PM – 1st Marine Division Ceremonial Band / Wind Ensemble – Honor Our Fallen, Marines’ Memorial Theatre
7:00 PM – Navy Band Southwest Destroyers – Heroes Block Party by American Legion Cathay Post 384

Friday, October 9
12:00 PM – 1st Marine Division Brass Band – Hayes Valley, Patricia’s Green
12:00 PM – Navy Band Southwest Brass Band – Golden Gate Park Bandshell
12:00 PM – USAF Band of the Golden West, Mobility – Crab Wheel Plaza
12:00 PM – 191st Army Woodwind Quintet – Presidio Trust Pelosi Plaza
1:00 PM – Navy Band Southwest Woodwind Quintet – UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital
4:00 PM – 1st Marine Division Diamondbacks – Union Square
4:00 PM – Navy Band Southwest Woodwind Quintet – Glen Park Library
5:00 PM – Navy Band Southwest Destroyers – Pier 39
5:00 PM – USAF Band of the Golden West Brass – Ghirardelli Square
6:00 PM – 1st Marine Division Brass Band – Chinatown Night Market

Saturday, October 10
11:00 AM – 1st Marine Division Brass Band – Fleet Fest
11:00 AM – Navy Band Southwest Brass Band – K9 Heroes, Duboce Park
12:00 PM – USAF Band of the Golden West, Mobility – Fleet Fest
12:00 PM – 191st Army Jazz Ensemble – Ghirardelli Square
1:00 PM – USAF Band of the Golden West Travis Brass Band – Bayview India Basin Waterfront Park
2:00 PM – Navy Band Southwest Woodwind Quintet – Sunset Branch Library
4:00 PM – 1st Marine Division Brass Band / Quintet – West Portal
5:00 PM – Navy Band Southwest Brass Band – Fleet Fest
5:00 PM – Navy Band Southwest Destroyers – Pier 39
8:00 PM – 1st Marine Division Brass Band & Diamondbacks – Westwood World

Sunday, October 11
11:00 AM – USAF Band of the Golden West Travis Brass Band – Fleet Fest
12:00 PM – U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps Band of the West Division – Fleet Fest
12:30 PM – 1st Marine Division Ceremonial Band – Italian Heritage Parade
12:30 PM – Navy Band Southwest Parade Band – Italian Heritage Parade
2:00 PM – 191st Army Big Band – Fleet Fest
3:00 PM – 1st Marine Division Brass Quintet / Woodwind Quintet – San Francisco Zoo, Leaping Lemur Cafe
5:00 PM – USAF Band of the Golden West, Mobility – Pier 39

Monday, October 12
9:00 AM-12:00 PM – 1st Marine Division Ceremonial Band – Golden Gate Park Bandshell

All performances are FREE.

K9 Heroes

Saturday, October 10 | 10 AM-2 PM | Duboce Park | FREE

Fleet Week’s four-legged contingent gets its own day at Duboce Park, where regional and national K9 teams demonstrate skills including search and rescue, therapy work, detection and law enforcement. There will also be pet-service vendors and plenty of opportunities for dog lovers to meet these working heroes.

High School Band Challenge

Monday, October 12 | 9 AM-noon | Golden Gate Park Bandshell | FREE

The 1st Marine Division Band kicks off the morning before select Bay Area high school bands take the stage to compete for prize money supporting their school music programs. The 2026 competition includes a $10,000 grand prize sponsored by the Loop Community Foundation and a $6,000 Commissioner’s Award.

Fleet Week Transportation

Fleet Week recommends using public transportation, since traffic and parking can get congested around the waterfront during the festivities.