Eighty-nine years in, Stern Grove Festival still does what almost no one else does: world-class live music, completely free. San Francisco’s longest-running summer tradition returns June 14 through August 16, 2026, with a lineup that spans Al Green, Public Enemy, Patti LaBelle, Major Lazer, Japanese Breakfast, Violent Femmes, Suki Waterhouse, Charley Crockett, and Bomba Estéreo, among others. Free tickets are available via lottery at sterngrove.org.
The eucalyptus-lined amphitheater at Sigmund Stern Grove draws over 100,000 people across the summer, and this season more than half the lineup comes from the Bay Area itself. That’s a deliberate choice, reflecting the festival’s ongoing commitment to local artists at a moment when independent musicians are facing real economic pressure. “Stern Grove is a place where that joy is shared across generations,” says Executive Director Bob Fiedler, “where thousands of people can come together and feel something bigger than themselves.”
Founded in 1938 by Rosalie Meyer Stern on the principle that live music should be free and accessible to everyone, the festival is now stewarded by her great-great grandsons Matthew Goldman and Jason Goldman. “As we celebrate our 89th season, supporting live music feels more important than ever,” says Board Chairman Matthew Goldman. The continuity matters. So does the mission.
The season closes with The Big Picnic Weekend on August 15 and 16, a two-day fundraising finale. Public Enemy headlines Saturday, followed Sunday by Al Green with The GLIDE Ensemble and Goapele. It’s a closer that earns the name.
2026 Stern Grove Festival Lineup:
June 14 – Peter Cat Recording Co. + Marinero
June 21 – Bomba Estéreo + La Misa Negra
June 28 – Japanese Breakfast
July 5 – Major Lazer + Fijiana + DJ Bad Juuju
July 19 – Charley Crockett + Nicki Bluhm
July 26 – Suki Waterhouse
August 2 – Violent Femmes + Tune-Yards
August 9 – Patti LaBelle + Destini Wolf
August 15 – Public Enemy
August 16 – Al Green + Goapele + The GLIDE Ensemble