SF’s Citywide
Show Guide
SF LIVE is your citywide show guide. From theater and dance to concerts, exhibitions, and comedy, it’s a living calendar of cultural events happening across San Francisco. Users can search by date, filter by discipline, or get inspired by monthly guest curators: artists, creatives, and local celebrities in the know who share the events they’re most excited about.
Whether you’re an avid art enthusiast, casual concert-goer, or just looking for something fun to do this weekend, SF LIVE is here to help you find what moves you.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
A citywide show guide to live music, theater, exhibitions, dance, comedy, and more—all happening across San Francisco.
To drive awareness of San Francisco’s vibrant arts scene and increase venue attendance, ultimately contributing to a thriving and sustainable cultural sector.
The San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development, guided by a Steering Committee of local arts and entertainment organization leaders.
Check out curator picks or use the events calendar to search and filter results by keyword, date, and genre.
No, but each event links to the official site for tickets and details.
Venue recommendations from artists, creatives, and local celebrities sharing what they’re excited to see.
Listings are automatically pulled from approved venue websites. This means no cumbersome data entry for cultural venues.
Specific criteria include:
- Located in San Francisco – venues and events must be located in San Francisco.
- Frequent art showing or performance – Performance venues must have live performance every time the venue is open to the general public, or performance four or more days per week. Museums and galleries must be open to the public at least three days a week.
- Cultural events – events must feature visual art, music, theater, dance, comedy, or another form of live performance or thematic exhibition.
- Artist-focused or curated events – event marketing must focus on artistic talent (e.g., a nightlife venue promoting a named band, rather than a happy hour with an unnamed DJ) or professionally curated exhibitions (e.g., a gallery promoting a named artist, rather than a café with rotating artwork).
Contact us to learn how your venue or event can be included.
Sign up for the SF LIVE newsletter at the bottom of any page.
Provide feedback at info@sflive.art or express interest in becoming a curator at curators@sflive.art.
SF Live is a key initiative by the San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development to boost the city’s cultural and economic vitality. It’s part of a strategy to strengthen the arts and entertainment sectors by:
- Connecting cultural businesses with City resources.
- Reducing red tape and costs for the arts.
- Promoting venue sustainability and development.
- Raising public awareness of the city’s vibrant cultural scene.
Launched in Spring 2024, SF Live began as a free concert series in parks and plazas, curated with local independent venues. While starting as a post-pandemic response, its core mission was always to drive audiences back to San Francisco’s indoor arts venues, which are crucial to the city’s creative and economic resurgence.
In Summer 2024, a group of local arts leaders successfully advocated for new city funding to bolster San Francisco’s vibrant performing arts scene and expressed interest in leveraging the SF Live brand to promote music, theater, and dance venues. Working in close collaboration with these arts leaders, the San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development convened SF Live program partner, Plinth Agency, and a Steering Committee of representatives from music, theater, and dance organizations to design and implement a responsive initiative. Museum and gallery representatives joined in 2026 to advise on adding exhibitions to the project. Organizations represented on the Steering Committee include:
- American Conservatory Theater
- August Hall
- Bottom of the Hill
- California Academy of Sciences
- Dancers’ Group
- The Killowat
- Minnesota Street Project Foundation
- National Independent Venue Association, California Chapter
- ODC
- San Francisco Arts Alliance
- San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
- San Francisco Playhouse
- San Francisco Symphony
- Theatre Bay Area
This Steering Committee continues to guide the project.