SAN FRANCISCO — LeatherWalk returns to SoMa on Sunday, Sept. 20, opening San Francisco's Leather Week with a free community walk through the neighborhood before returning to Eagle Plaza for Leather Pride Fest.
The LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District's current 2026 schedule says participants gather at 10 a.m. at Eagle Plaza, 398 12th Street at Harrison. Remarks begin around 10:45 a.m., the walk steps off at 11 a.m., and organizers expect to return to Eagle Plaza at approximately 3 p.m..
Where does LeatherWalk 2026 start?
This year's official event page says the walk starts at Eagle Plaza, in front of the San Francisco Eagle. That is important because older pages and third-party calendars still circulate previous-year City Hall starting information.
The Cultural District says the first 300 walkers can receive a LeatherWalk 2026 pin, and coffee and entertainment are planned during the gathering period.
What is the 2026 LeatherWalk route?
The organizer has not published a complete turn-by-turn street map on its current main event page. It says the walk will move through SoMa, stopping at neighborhood venues for entertainment and refreshments before circling back to Eagle Plaza.
SF News Today is therefore not republishing an old route as if it were confirmed for 2026. The confirmed plan is: Eagle Plaza start, 11 a.m. step-off, SoMa venue stops and an approximately 3 p.m. return.
Which streets close for Leather Pride Fest?
SFMTA's current weekend event notice identifies closures around the festival area from roughly 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday, including:
- Harrison Street between 11th Street and 13th Street/Division
- 12th Street between Folsom and Harrison
- nearby alleys and minor streets around the festival footprint
The closure window lasts much longer than the walk because Eagle Plaza and surrounding streets are also used for Leather Pride Fest.
Which Muni routes may be affected?
SFMTA's event notice flags the 9 San Bruno, 12 Folsom/Pacific, 19 Polk and 27 Bryant for possible event-area delays. It does not list a planned full reroute for those routes in the festival notice.
Because the walk itself moves through SoMa, temporary traffic holds can also occur as participants cross intersections. Check live Muni service shortly before leaving.
What happens at Leather Pride Fest?
LeatherWalk returns to Eagle Plaza at about 3 p.m. for Leather Pride Fest and the raising of the Leather Pride flag. The Cultural District describes LeatherWalk as the celebratory opening of San Francisco Leather Week, which leads into the much larger Folsom Street Fair the following weekend.
Planning for the following weekend? See SF News Today's Sept. 27 traffic and transit guide for Folsom Street Fair, Portola and Giants-Dodgers.
Is LeatherWalk free?
Yes. The Cultural District says participation is always free and everyone is welcome to join. The event is also a fundraiser, so donations are encouraged but not required for participation.
What is LeatherWalk?
LeatherWalk was established in 1992 by Art Tomaszewski. The Cultural District describes it as an annual fundraiser, visibility march and celebration bringing together San Francisco's leather, kink and LGBTQ communities. The Cultural District has organized the walk since 2021.
Can you drop off donated leather gear?
Yes. The Cultural District's Gear Swap n Shop information says donations can be dropped off at Eagle Plaza on Sept. 20 during the LeatherWalk gathering and again after the walk. The Sept. 20 stop is for donation drop-off rather than shopping.
Is LeatherWalk the same as Folsom Street Fair?
No. LeatherWalk is held on the Sunday before Folsom Street Fair and opens Leather Week. The two events are separate, with different dates, footprints and transportation impacts.
What time should participants arrive?
If you want to join the walk itself, arrive between 10 and 10:30 a.m. That leaves time to gather before the 10:45 remarks and 11 a.m. step-off. People primarily interested in Leather Pride Fest can arrive later in the afternoon, but should still expect the Harrison/12th Street closure area to be active.
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