SF’s Grace Cathedral’s “Rose Window” Laser Light Show (Sept. 21-25)

Illuminate

For five nights this September, San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral will get a seriously dramatic nighttime makeover. Grace Window returns to Nob Hill September 21-25, 2026, sending 25 laser beams from the roof of The Fairmont San Francisco across the neighborhood and directly into all 25 panels of the cathedral’s historic Rose Window.

The installation, created by San Francisco nonprofit Illuminate, runs from sunset to sunrise, so you’ll be able to spot the beams stretching roughly 720 feet across Nob Hill, over Huntington Park and the Pacific Union Club. But the best part is that you can head inside Grace Cathedral to see the Rose Window glowing from within. The cathedral will be open to the public from 8 p.m. to midnight each night, and admission is completely free.

Inside, the light show gets a soundtrack. Musician Tim Weed will lead a live, improvisational spiritual soundscape, creating the music in real time as the cathedral fills with light. It’s a pretty unusual combination of laser installation, stained glass, live music and one of San Francisco’s most distinctive indoor spaces.

Grace Window first debuted in 2023 with 12 laser beams before expanding to 25 in 2024, with one beam corresponding to each panel of the Rose Window. This year’s installation continues Illuminate’s evolving use of its Laser Space Cannon technology. No tickets are required, so you can simply stop by Nob Hill after dark and take a look. Just don’t forget to look up on your way there.

Read more at Illuminate