SAN FRANCISCO — Folsom Street Fair returns to SoMa on Sunday, Sept. 27, with six hours of performances, exhibitors and community programming — and a traffic footprint that begins a full day before the fair opens.
The 2026 fair runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. The organizer does not charge a fixed admission price; gate volunteers ask for a donation. People who donate $10–$20 receive a fair sticker that the organizer says provides discounts at participating bars.
For anyone traveling through SoMa rather than attending the fair, the more important time is 5 p.m. Saturday. That is when SFMTA says street closures begin for setup, continuing until 5 a.m. Monday.
Where is Folsom Street Fair?
The fair occupies a broad section of western SoMa. The organizer lists the footprint on Folsom Street between 7th and 13th streets, plus 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th streets from Howard to Harrison and Dore Street from Howard south toward Folsom.
SFMTA's operational closure is similarly broad: Folsom between 7th and Division/13th, the numbered cross streets from 8th through 12th between Howard and Harrison, and the alleys and intersections inside that area.
When do the street closures start?
Closures start at 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, and are scheduled to continue until 5 a.m. Monday, Sept. 28. That means drivers should not treat the event as a Sunday-only disruption.
SFMTA says the closure supports Saturday setup, Sunday's fair and overnight breakdown. Anyone with a Saturday-evening trip through western SoMa should expect the footprint to be in place before the public event begins.
Which Muni routes will reroute?
SFMTA plans reroutes affecting the 9 San Bruno, 12 Folsom/Pacific, 19 Polk and 27 Bryant from 4 p.m. Saturday through late Sunday. The 90 San Bruno Owl also changes during the overnight period.
The biggest concentration of missed stops is around Folsom, Harrison, Howard and the numbered streets inside the fair footprint. Riders who usually board within the closed area should check SFMTA's stop-by-stop table before leaving rather than assuming their regular corner will be served.
Key Muni stops to avoid during Folsom Street Fair
The reroutes are broad enough that riders should not simply walk one block from a closed stop and expect the same route to appear.
| Route | Important missed stops | Useful alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| 9 San Bruno inbound | 11th at Bryant, Harrison and Howard | Potrero & 15th or 11th & Market |
| 12 Folsom/Pacific inbound | Folsom at 11th, 9th, 8th and 7th | Folsom & 14th; Bryant & Division; Bryant & 9th; or 7th & Folsom |
| 19 Polk outbound | 8th at Mission, Howard and Folsom | 8th & Market or 8th & Harrison |
| 27 Bryant inbound | Folsom at 11th, 9th and 8th | Folsom & 14th; Bryant & Division; Bryant & 9th; or 7th & Folsom |
| 27 Bryant outbound | 8th at Mission, Howard and Folsom; 11th at Harrison; Folsom at 11th | 8th & Market; Harrison at 8th, 9th or 11th |
SFMTA also reroutes the 90 San Bruno Owl through the area on Sunday. Riders traveling overnight should check live stop information before leaving because the fair’s traffic controls remain in place well outside the public event hours.
Regional visitors can avoid the parking search by using BART into downtown or the Mission and connecting by Muni or walking. The fair organizer specifically points visitors toward BART for regional travel and Muni within San Francisco.
Is Folsom Street Fair free?
There is no fixed admission charge. The organizer asks for donations at the gates. A donation is not the same thing as a required ticket price.
The fair is an adult-oriented leather, kink and alternative-sexuality community event. The organizer asks attendees not to bring children under 18 and says people ages 18–20 may attend but cannot purchase alcohol. The organizer also asks visitors not to bring pets because of crowding and heat.
What rules should first-time visitors know?
The organizer says nudity is permitted inside its permitted street-fair area, while public sexual activity is not. The fairgrounds are smoke-free under San Francisco rules for permitted outdoor events.
Weapons, knives, sharps, glass bottles and cans are listed as prohibited items. Anyone going for the first time should read the organizer's current FAQ and safety guidance rather than relying on descriptions of previous years.
What about accessible parking?
The organizer says designated accessible blue-zone spaces are available around the fair, including spaces on Howard near Dore and along Harrison near 8th through 11th streets. The exact locations are shown on the organizer's fair map.
For everyone else, parking close to the footprint will be severely constrained by the street closures. Transit is the more predictable option.
Sept. 27 will be busy across San Francisco
Folsom Street Fair is only one of several large events that Sunday. Portola Music Festival is at Pier 80 and the Giants host the Dodgers at Oracle Park, creating overlapping crowds on the eastern side of the city.
SF News Today is tracking those overlaps on our Sept. 27 citywide traffic and transit planning page. If your trip crosses SoMa, Mission Bay or the southeast waterfront, build in extra time even if Folsom Street Fair is not your destination.
Where are the temporary taxi pickup and drop-off points?
SFMTA's final event notice identifies temporary taxi arrangements around the fair, including pickup and drop-off activity around 8th and Folsom streets and a temporary taxi stand at 298 7th Street. If you are using a taxi or arranging a pickup close to the fair, expect the normal curb pattern to be displaced by the closure footprint.