Home » **Annual Event**, *Top Pick*, Fairs & Festivals, In Person, Outdoors, San Francisco

SF’s Yerba Buena Gardens Festival 2026 Kickoff: Live Salsa Dance Party

Saturday, May 9, 2026 - 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm | Cost: FREE
Yerba Buena Gardens (Esplanade) | 773 Mission St., San Francisco, CA
San Francisco

Free / Learn More

SF’s Yerba Buena Gardens Festival 2026

Yerba Buena Gardens Festival

The 2026 Yerba Buena Gardens Festival hosts a full lineup of free outdoor music, theater, circus, dance, poetry, and children’s programs. The Festival opens on Saturday, May 9, 2026 with Hermán Olivera y Orquesta Taíno to kick off its 26th season. The Festival features over 100 free performances from May to November in Downtown San Francisco.

YBGF Festival

Yerba Buena Gardens Festival kicks off with a salsa dance party featuring the great New York sonero Hermán Olivera y Orquesta Taíno. At the center of NYC’s Latin music scene since the late 1970s, Olivera is known for keeping company with the greatest instrumentalists in salsa and Latin jazz. Among the many storied musicians he’s collaborated with are trombonist Jimmy Bosch, percussionist Manny Oquendo, bassist Andy González and pianist/composer Eddie Palmieri. Hailed as the sonero of the 21st century, Olivera and his hard-hitting Orquesta Taíno are leading practitioners of the salsa dura sound that coalesced at Fania Records. Bring your dancing shoes, because the opening act is also a powerhouse.

Season Opener: Hermán Olivera y Orquesta Taíno
Opening Set from Batey Tambó
Date: Sat, May 9, 2026
Time: 2:00pm – 4:30pm
Venue: Great Lawn, Yerba Buena Gardens
Mission St. between 3rd & 4th Sts., San Francisco, CA

Upcoming SF’s Yerba Buena Gardens Festival 2026 Events

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
Categories: **Annual Event**, *Top Pick*, Fairs & Festivals, In Person, Outdoors, San Francisco
Address: 773 Mission St., San Francisco, CA

Other Events on This Day

Saturday, May 9, 2026

8:30 am   San Francisco Bike Rodeo for Kids 2026  FREE*
*Free registration is required
9:00 am   Annual 5-Block Long Garage Sale in SF (45+ Year Tradition)  FREE
9:00 am   Trail & Habitat Volunteer Work: Restoring Laguna Honda’s Lost Trails | SF  FREE
9:30 am   Free “Legion of Honor” Museum Day for Bay Area Residents (Every Saturday)  FREE*
*Free general admission to Bay Area residents. Valid ID or proof of residency required. This offer applies only to the permanent collection galleries. Timed advanced tickets required
9:30 am   Free de Young Museum Day for Bay Area Residents (Every Saturday)  FREE*
*Free general admission to Bay Area residents. Valid ID or proof of residency required. This offer applies only to the permanent collection galleries. Advanced timed tickets required.
10:00 am   Hawaiian May Day Festival 2026 at Alameda County Fairgrounds (May 9-10)  $25
10:00 am   2026 Taiwanese American Cultural Festival (Union Square)  FREE*
*Free!
10:00 am   Water Safety Fair at Coast Guard Station Golden Gate (Sausalito)  FREE*
*Fun event for the whole family with free parking
10:30 am   Golden Gate Park “Singing in the Park” Community Party (SF)  FREE*
*Completely Free
11:00 am   Free KQED Fest 2026: Open House + Block Party (SF)  FREE
11:00 am   Mother’s Day Weekend Pop Up—Up to 40% Off (Oakland)  FREE
11:00 am   “Off the Grid” Waterfront Fest + Free Ferry Rides (Treasure Island)  FREE*
*Free admission + Free Ferry with RSVP
11:00 am   SF’s “KQED Fest” Free Block Party + Open House (2026)  FREE
11:00 am   KQED Fest 2026: Free Block Party + Open House (Mission, SF)  FREE
11:00 am   The Box SF Artistica Creators Fest (May 9-10)  FREE*
*TICKETS NOT REQUIRED
11:00 am   MoAD: Museum of the African Diaspora Free Museum Day (SF)  FREE
12:00 pm   Eco SF School Farm Volunteer Work Day | SF  FREE
12:00 pm   Free Beginner Parkour “Urban Ninja” Class  FREE
12:00 pm   2026 “Duboce ParkJam” Free 5-Hour Concert Fest in the Park (SF)  FREE
12:00 pm   SF’s “Live on Larkin” AAPI Heritage Month Block Party (2026)  FREE*
*Free with RSVP
12:00 pm   The 36th Annual May Madness Car Show and Parade (San Rafael)  FREE
1:00 pm   SF’s Battle of the Bands (Cal / Stanford) at PIER 39  FREE
1:00 pm   Huge Free Waterfront Concert: Om Records 30th Anniv. Bash  FREE
1:00 pm   Youth Art Exchange Presents: Youth Art Summit (SF)  FREE*
*Free to attend
2:00 pm   “Sketchboard”: Figure Drawing Art Class & Live Music | SF  $5*
*Donation-based admission: $5-15
3:00 pm   8th Annual AAPI Fest + Free Bowling (Daly City)  FREE*
*Free to attend, free bowling with pre-registration, free live entertainment
3:00 pm   4th Annual Sip & Stroll (San Anselmo)  $25*
*$25 to $50 Wine tasting=$50. Non-alcoholic option=$25
7:00 pm   “Golden Gate Comedy Night” SF’s Most Intimate Comedy Club  FREE*
*Free with RSVP. 21+
7:00 pm   “HellaSecret” Speakeasy Comedy Show & Cocktail Night (Oakland)  FREE*
*Limited free tickets with code FUNCHEAP (donations appreciated). Otherwise use code FUNCHEAP5 for $5 off early bird and general admission tickets
7:00 pm   Tales from the Fog: Free Music Night w/ Oceanography (Bazaar Cafe)  FREE
7:00 pm   Pennywise + Circle Jerks Rock The UC Theatre (Berkeley)  $42.50
7:00 pm   “Crazy Funny Asians” Free Comedy Showcase (SF)  FREE*
*Free tickets, but RSVP Required. Donations ($5-$10) greatly appreciated. Otherwise, $25 door tickets also available
8:00 pm   “Puff Puff Laugh” SF’s Cannabis Lounge Comedy Show (Moe Greens)  FREE*
*Free with RSVP (21+ with Valid ID) - One item minimum purchase per person required, but pre-rolls start at just $7
8:00 pm   Lou Deezi  $48.34
8:00 pm   $5 Off: “The Confessional” SF’s Wild “Sins & Secrets” Improv Comedy Show  $11.94*
*$5 off with secret code FUNCHEAP (normally $17.12) No added ticketing fees. No Drink Minimum
8:30 pm   Saturday Write Fever: Insta-Plays Written & Performed | SF  FREE
9:00 pm   Free Tix: HellaSecret “Desi Comedy Night” Live in SF (7p + 9p)  FREE*
*Free with RSVP for first 100 people. $25 at door without RSVP
9:00 pm   SF Neo-Futurists “The Infinite Wrench” (30 Plays in 60 Minutes, every Fri & Sat)  $18.60*
*$13 + roll of a die at the door, OR $16 online. Group discounts—bring friends!
9:00 pm   $5 Off: “Your Fucked Up Relationship” Live in SF (Every Friday & Saturday)  $16.37*
*$5 off with secret code FUNCHEAP (normally $21.49) No added ticketing fees. No Drink Minimum
9:00 pm   “FirstClass: Departure” DJ Saturday Nights | Oakland  FREE
10:00 pm   SF’s Late Night Stand-Up Comedy Olympics (SF vs. Oakland)  FREE*
*Free with RSVP
< Friday, May 8 Sunday, May 10 >