The Castro Street Fair runs Sunday, October 4, its 52nd edition. The organizers have set the 2026 theme as “Where We Belong.” Admission works on a suggested donation of $10 to $20 at the entry gates, and the fair says nobody is turned away for lack of funds.
What to Expect
The fair fills the blocks around Castro and Market with exhibitor booths, food and stages. The 2026 stage lineups have not been posted; the organizers say they will announce them closer to October.
In 2025 the fair ran three stages. The Castro Stage opened at 11am with the SF Pride Band and the Imperial Court, then ran XOLO, Abayomi and House of MORE! through the afternoon. The Collingwood Stage ran Drag Story Hour with Per Sia, the Secret Emchy Society, Castro Magic Hour, the Fell Swoop, a drag king showcase and Puti Club with Grace Towers. The QueerAF Stage ran Broad Strokes, DJ 80085, G-Funk, Princess Bouton, Jean Omen, and Karlita back to back with ALIGN. Sundance Saloon danced all day in the parking lot at 429 Castro Street, and Cheer SF performed at the Castro and 18th Street crossing.
Money taken at the gates goes to the fair’s beneficiary nonprofits and to the cost of producing it. The fair has distributed more than $1.6 million to nonprofits in and around the Castro.
Street Closures
The organizers list four closures: Market Street from Noe to Castro, Castro Street from Market to 19th Street, 18th Street from Diamond to Noe, and 17th Street from Castro to Noe. They post updates on Instagram and Facebook.
Details
When: Sunday, October 4, 2026 Where: Castro and Market Streets and the surrounding blocks
Cost: $10 to $20 suggested donation at the gates Getting there: The K Ingleside, L Taraval, M Ocean View and S Shuttle all stop at Castro Station, which sits inside the fairgrounds. Check SFMTA for service on the day.
Source: Castro Street Fair.
Photo: JCruzTheTruth, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
