New year, new things to do!
Whatever you’re looking to do more of in 2026, it’s here for you this week: Run a 5K and celebrate with a cup of cocoa, get off the apps at a speed-dating event, reconnect with your inner child at the roller rink, learn something new about monarch butterflies, head to a free museum days, or watch an old favorite while the San Francisco Symphony serenades you with the score. Happy New Year!
Jump ahead to this week's top events:
Salsa your way into the new year at four weeks of progressive salsa lessons.
Experience Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon like never before.
Celebrate two music legends in one unforgettable night at a Bowie & Elvis Birthday Bash.
Show up for the last performances of Into the Woods at the SF Playhouse.
Have a good one.
Salsa your way into the new year at four weeks of progressive salsa lessons. Both beginners and seasoned dancers are welcome; Monday from 6:30pm to 11:30pm // Neck of the Woods, 406 Clement St. (Inner Richmond); tickets at eventbrite.com
See trumpet superstar Chris Botti take the stage at the SF Jazz Center. Smooth jazz fans can enjoy multiple performances by the celebrated musician; Monday through Friday at 7:30pm, Saturday at 3pm and 7:30pm, and Sunday at 3pm and 7pm // SF Jazz Center, 201 Franklin St. (Hayes Valley); tickets at sfjazz.org
Define what “eating better” means in 2026 on the iconic Ferry Building & Farmers Market Food Tour by CozyMeal. Explore local flavors, artisanal bites, and Michelin‑recognized vendors with expert guides through one of the city’s most beloved food destinations; Tuesday from 12:30pm to 3pm. // Ferry Building Marketplace, 1 Ferry Bldg. (Embarcadero); tickets eventbrite.com
Don your darkest and roll over to the Church of 8 Wheels for Alterna Goth Night. Lace up and roll to the soundtrack of the alternative music scene’s greatest hits; Tuesday, 8pm to 10pm. // Church Of 8 Wheels, 554 Fillmore St. (Lower Haight); tickets at eventbrite.com
Experience Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon like never before at Listen at Envelop SF, an immersive audio experience that places you inside the iconic album for a deep, communal listening event that blends creative impact with tech; Tuesday at 7:30pm. // 900 Marin St. (Dogpatch); tickets at eventbrite.com
Don’t miss the exciting world of Japanese comics on display at the de Young Museum, where original works from major artists chart the medium’s growth from the 1970s to today; through January 25th. // de Young Museum, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, San Francisco, CA 94118; tickets famsf.org
Catch acclaimed singer‑songwriter Madison Cunningham at iconic North Beach club, Bimbo’s; Tuesday at 6pm // Bimbo’s 365 Club, 1025 Columbus Ave (North Beach); tickets bimbos365club.com
Witness the world premiere of Eugene Onegin with San Francisco Ballet, where hearts collide, choices shatter, and consequences become destiny; running from January 23rd through February 1st. // War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave. (Civic Center), sfballet.org
Thank you to our partners at San Francisco Ballet.
Find free museum days happening all week, giving you the perfect opportunity to explore art, culture, and gardens across the city without spending a dime. The fun starts on Tuesday at the de Young, Legion of Honor, and Conservatory of Flowers, continuing Wednesday at the SF Zoo and GLBT Historical Society Museum, Thursday at the Museum of Craft and Design, and Saturday at the Museum of the African Diaspora. The Japanese Tea Garden is also free Monday, Wednesday, and Friday before 10am.
Grow in 2026—or at least help something else evolve by volunteering with Garden for the Environment; Wednesday and Saturday from 10am to 3 pm. // Garden for the Environment, 1590 7th Ave. (Inner Sunset); tickets at eventbrite.com
See the best of Bay Area basketball with three games this week at the Chase Center; Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, tip-off times vary. // Chase Center, 1 Warriors Way (Mission Bay); tickets at nba.com/warriors
For once a bingo game that won’t be a total drag. Get ready for a high-energy night of laughs, prizes, and beautiful performances as Drag Bingo San Francisco turns a classic game into an extravaganza full of sass, sparkle, and bold fun; Thursday and Friday at 7pm and Saturday and Sunday at 1pm and 7pm. // 358 Ocean Ave. (Balboa Park); tickets at eventbrite.com
Check out the Rivian x Monarch Stewards Art & Film Celebration dedicated to the Western monarch butterfly. Sip drinks, explore photography by Elizabeth Weber, and hear an intimate conversation with California Energy Commission chair David Hochschild and monarch conservationist Mia Monroe. The night concludes with a short film by Ole Schell of The West Marin Monarch Sanctuary; Friday from 6pm to 8pm // Rivian San Francisco, 340 Fell St. (Hayes Valley); register for free at events.rivian.com
Ahoy symphony lovers! Grab your best mates and swashbuckle over to Davies Symphony Hall to catch Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl with a live orchestra; Friday at 7:30pm and Saturday at 2pm. // Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave. (Civic Center); tickets at sfsymphony.org
Celebrate two music legends in one unforgettable night at the Bowie & Elvis Birthday Bash. This annual San Francisco party brings together fans of both icons for a night of classic hits, rare tracks, and high-energy vibes—all spun by DJ Shindog from New Wave City; Saturday from 8pm to 11pm // Stookey’s Club Moderne, 895 Bush St. (Lower Nob Hill); register for free at eventbrite.com
Start celebrating the Lunar New Year a little early at The Box SF’s Eat Me! artisan food fair. The free weekend features local small batch foods with big taste; Saturday from 11am to 5pm and Sunday from 11am to 4pm. // The Box SF, 1069 Howard St. (SoMa), theboxsf.com
Enjoy a candlelit concert featuring artists from Vivaldi to Nirvana; Friday at 6:30pm Vivaldi’s Four Seasons & More and 8:45pm Coldplay vs. Imagine Dragons at St. Ignatius Church at St. Ignatius Church, 650 Parker Ave. (NoPa); Saturday at 8:45pm 90s Unplugged on Strings and Sunday at 6:30pm Tribute to Nirvana at International Art Museum of America, 1025 Market St. (SoMa); tickets at feverup.com
Get outside and check out the elephant seal breeding season. Massive northern elephant seals haul out on beaches to breed and give birth from December through March. At Año Nuevo State Park, guided walks let you observe seals up close in their natural habitat, and if you’re lucky, gray whales migrating south offshore; through March 31st. // Año Nuevo State Park, 1 New Years Creek Rd. (Pescadero), parks.ca.gov
Clean eating resolutions be damned. Taste your way through 31 days of specially priced menus and culinary experiences at participating eateries in five Napa Valley towns; through January 2026. // Various locations (Napa Valley); learn more at visitnapavalley.com
See Manet & Morisot are at the Legion of Honor. This major exhibition celebrates Morisot as the only woman of the movement to exhibit under her own name and the artistic dialogue between the two artists; through March 1st. // Legion of Honor, 100 34th Ave. (Outer Richmond); tickets at famsf.org
Fresh fish has a whole new meaning at Mark Akari Japanese Bistro at their third anniversary featuring a bluefin tuna cutting demonstration, followed by freshly prepared sashimi and sushi from the very same fish; Saturday at 6pm. // Akari Japanese Bistro, 1155 Folsom St. (SoMa); tickets at eventbrite.com
Set the best intentions for 2026 at Marin Manifest You, a workshop combining guided meditation, reflective journaling, and vision board creation to help you manifest your best year yet; Sunday from 10am to 1pm. // The Marin Merchant, 325 Pine St., Unit B (Sausalito); tickets at eventbrite.com
Show up for the last performances of Into the Woods at the SF Playhouse; through January 17th. // SF Playhouse, 533 Sutter St. (Union Square); tickets at sfplayhouse.org
Missed that midnight kiss this NYE? Go to a Speed Dating Party designed to help singles mix mingle. It may still be awkward, but at least it's not on an app; Sunday from 5pm to 7pm. // The Savoy Tivoli, 1434 Grant Ave. (North Beach), tickets at eventbrite.com
Laugh off the past year and start the new one with a smile at Cobb’s Secret Guest List: Free Comedy Nights, where San Francisco’s favorite local comedians take the stage; Sunday at 7pm. // Cobb’s Comedy Club, 915 Columbus Ave. (North Beach); register for free admission on eventbrite.com
Will run for hot cocoa: On your mark, get set, co-go to Golden Gate Park for San Francisco’s Skechers Hot Chocolate Run, where you can choose from 5K, 10K, or 15K and finish with rich hot chocolate and gooey fondue at a celebratory post-race party that’s as sweet as the course itself; Sunday. // 55 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr. (Golden Gate Park); tickets at hotchocolate15k.com
Last call for holiday lights! From the dazzling Garden of D’Lights in Walnut Creek, to the elegant Holidays at Filoli Estate & Gardens in Woodside, SF’s immersive Glow at the Exploratorium, the Glowfari lantern display at Oakland Zoo, and Pier 39’s Dazzling 60′ Tree Lighting Show. Whether you are just getting your first glimpse of the season or just one last look there is still magic to be had; through Sunday // Garden of D’Lights, 1552 Bancroft Rd. (Walnut Creek), ruthbancroftgarden.org; Holidays at Filoli, 86 Cañada Rd. (Woodside), filoli.org; Glow, Pier 15 at Green St. (Embarcadero), exploratorium.edu; Glowfari, 9777 Golf Links Rd. (Oakland), oaklandzoo.org
