December 1, 2025
For immediate release

Contact:
Andrew Wood: 415-399-9554 (o) 415-305-1102 (c) [email protected]
Lucho Ramirez: 415-425-0445 [email protected]

SF International Arts Festival
Announces 2026 Festival Program
Over 40 Artist Ensembles Gather
In the Mission District to Present
90 Concerts in Diverse Venues

Calendar Editors Please Note
Who: Multiple Artists
What: San Francisco International Arts Festival
Where: Multiple Venues in the Mission District
Dates: April 30 - May 10, 2026.
Tickets: FREE - $100 for festival passes.
Early Bird Tickets On-Sale February 1, 2026
Box Office and Information: https://www.sfiaf.org/2026_festival or 415-399-9554

Photos Available on Request

December 1, 2025 San Francisco: San Francisco International Arts Festival (SFIAF) is pleased to announce its 23rd annual festival program that will take place in nearly 20 venues in the City's Mission District from Thursday April 30 through Sunday May 10. In addition to the 90 concerts and performances, the multidisciplinary event will feature numerous educational and outreach activities where artists directly interact with members of the public.

The Festival's theme continues to be IN DIASPORA: I.D. for the New Majority. I.D. asks artists to contemplate the changing demographics of the United States of America and / or apply the ideas of social justice to reflect on the conditions of minority, migrant, disenfranchised and/or displaced peoples in other countries and continents.

This year the Festival is using the theme to highlight San Francisco's reputation as a civil and human rights leader. It balances providing equitable access and services to the City's residents through collaborations such as one with San Francisco Planning Department's Cultural Corridors program and its work with the local merchant associations to attract visitors and cultural tourists.

The expansion comes as the organization continues to learn to embrace the multiple rhythms and dynamics of the neighborhood since its return in 2023. In addition to the slow rebuilding of international artist participation in the Festival following the COVID-19 Pandemic, the most striking feature this year is the outreach to local businesses, several of whom have become presenting partners and non-traditional venues.

As well as non-profit theatres ad concert halls such as The Marsh, Community Music Center, Dance Mission Theater, Z Space and Theater of Yugen whom SFIAF continues to build relations with, this year's Festival will also feature performances at Abanico Coffee Roasters, Folk Yoga, Fingersnaps DJ Studio, Mission Masonic Center, Ruth's Table and the HQ of Monkeybrains, the Mission's local internet service provider.

SFIAF Director, Andrew Wood said of the expansion into non-traditional venues, "The City of San Francisco is looking to the arts to help with economic revitalization following the pandemic. Much of the onus on Grants for the Arts funding is for creating an economic impact. We are taking the issue seriously. As well as prioritizing excellence and diverse voices in the arts, we are also looking for innovative ways to cross-promote and attract new audiences by presenting artistic work in diverse and varied experimental environments that have a different clientele. Working with for-profit businesses is something we tested last year. This allowed us to develop parameters for their participation this year."

The parameters can be seen at THIS LINK.

Mission Merchants Association President Ryen Motzek expressed full support for the Festival’s partnership with local small businesses as venues, stating, “This concept is one we wholeheartedly endorse. Building connections between artists and local businesses not only revitalizes the neighborhood but also fosters cross-pollination between the Festival’s audience and the merchants’ customer base.”

The opening night of the Festival, on Thursday April 30, will feature the California debuts of Cirque Kikasse from Quebec Canada with their uproarious truck show titled SANTÉ and Dublin, Ireland based contemporary choreographer Mufutau Yusuf with an evening length modern dance duet titled Impasse.

The first week of the festival will also see the world premiere of Clouds from a Crumbling Giant by inkBoat, the return of Duane Forrest with last year's festival hit Bob Marley: How Reggae Changed the World following the show's extended run off-Broadway in New York. Melissa Cruz will initiate the festival's first performance at the Mission Masonic Center and Argentinian composer and bandoneon player, Ramiro Boero will resume his collaboration with pianist Sumi Lee following his debut at the Mondavi Center in Davis, CA.

Highlights of week two include the world premiere of Rio Journal by Bellville Productions, the much anticipated festival debuts of Orquesta Típica Tarareando and Veronica Margaret, Colombian Marimba Master, Eryen Korath continuing her residency with Neblinas del Pacifico and a special closing night performance by Conspiracy of Venus to celebrate Mothers Day.

The full list of confirmed artists to date is: Aldo Maggiora & Bob Ernst, Alexandru Salceanu, Algiin, Amy Downing Lewis & Agnes Szelag, Bellville Productions, Chris Carlsson, Cirque Kikasse, Conspiracy of Venus, Deepa Mahadevan, Duane Forrest, E. Franklin, Eddie Jen, Emma's Revolution, Enemies of Time, Eryen Korath & Neblinas del Pacifico, EveryDay Items, Guru Shradha, inkBoat, InsyncKathak, K. Sid Zhang, Kiandanda Dance Theater, Last Supper Party, Melissa Cruz Flamenco, Motion, Mufutau Yusuf, Music In-Takht, Mystic Ventures, Nikitha Sreekant & Reshma Rajeev, Orquesta Típica Tarareando, People’s Circus Theatre, Pooja Ganesh & Eve Salonen, Precita Eyes, Pulp, Ramya Shankar, Sha Sha Higby, Strange Angels Theater, Sumi Lee & Ramiro Boero, Tide and Foam, Veronica Margaret, Wandering Ensemble and Women in Jazz & World Music.

The San Francisco International Arts Festival (SFIAF), founded in 2002,  is an annual showcase of innovative and socially-engaged performing arts from around the globe. Committed to promoting cultural exchange and human rights, SFIAF brings together local and international artists across disciplines, including theater, music, and dance. Since its inception, SFIAF and over 100 presenting partners have coordinated, presented, and/or produced performances by more than 700 arts ensembles from California and over 60 countries. The festival aims to inspire, challenge, and entertain audiences with works that speak to the urgent issues of our time.

Funding Credits: San Francisco International Arts Festival is made possible in part by (among others) the support of Americans for the Arts, Creative West (formerly WESTAF with funds from the National Endowment for the Arts), California Arts Council, San Francisco Grants for the Arts, Sam Mazza Foundation, Further Foundation, Culture Ireland, Conseil des Artistes Quebecois and generous individual donors.

Calendar Editors Please Note
Who: Multiple Artists
What: San Francisco International Arts Festival
Where: Multiple Venues in the Mission District
Dates: April 30 - May 11, 2025.
Tickets: FREE - $40
Box Office and Information: https://www.sfiaf.org/2026_festival or 415-399-9554

Photos Available on Request