SAN FRANCISCO — A free two-day Turkish arts and culture festival is taking over Embarcadero Plaza this weekend with 48 vendors, live performances and food from across Turkish culinary traditions.
The 3rd Annual San Francisco Turkish Festival runs 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 12–13. The Turkish American Association of California says the festival will bring together music, dance, art, food and cultural traditions from Türkiye and the wider Turkic world.
Admission is free.
What time is the San Francisco Turkish Festival?
The festival is scheduled for 11 a.m.–6 p.m. on both Saturday, Sept. 12, and Sunday, Sept. 13, at Embarcadero Plaza.
The organizer’s event listing describes two full days rather than a single evening program, so visitors can arrive during the day without needing a separate performance ticket.
Is the SF Turkish Festival free?
Yes. The organizer’s current event listing says free admission — everyone is welcome.
The festival itself does not require a paid ticket, although food, drinks, crafts and other vendor purchases are separate.
What food will be there?
The festival organizer says local Turkish restaurants and vendors will sell döner, baklava, pastries, traditional dishes, desserts and Turkish coffee, along with other food.
The broader vendor lineup totals 48 vendors and also includes handmade products, jewelry, textiles, art and crafts.
What performances are planned?
The organizer lists Turkish choir and singers, Sufi whirling, belly dance and other music and dance performances. The event listing also says performers will represent Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and the Uyghur community.
Four artists are expected to travel from Türkiye to present traditional arts and cultural heritage.
Is there a detailed Saturday and Sunday stage schedule?
Not yet on the organizer’s program page. As of this reporting, the festival says the 2026 event program is still being prepared.
We therefore are not assigning precise performance times that the organizer has not confirmed. This page will be updated if the final stage schedule is published before the weekend.
Where is the Turkish Festival?
The festival is at Embarcadero Plaza, at the foot of Market Street near the Ferry Building. The organizer lists the location as Market Street and The Embarcadero.
That makes BART and Muni practical options for visitors coming from elsewhere in San Francisco or the Bay Area.
What is the nearest BART station?
Embarcadero Station is the closest BART stop. BART says there is no parking at Embarcadero Station, so driving to that station itself is not a park-and-ride strategy.
For people coming from outside San Francisco, consider parking at an outlying BART station with parking and riding into Embarcadero instead. Check SF News Today’s live transit dashboard before leaving for current service conditions.
What should families expect?
The organizer describes the festival as family friendly and says its cultural programming is designed to introduce visitors to Turkish heritage through food, music, dance, art and hands-on experiences.
The event is outdoors at Embarcadero Plaza, so bring layers even on a sunny day: waterfront conditions can feel cooler or windier than inland neighborhoods.
Source file