San Francisco’s holiday season is announced piece by piece, and in mid-September most of it is not public yet. This page lists what is confirmed for 2026, what is free, and what has not been announced, and we update it as organizers publish dates.
Confirmed for 2026
| What | When | Cost | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lightscape, SF Botanical Garden, Golden Gate Park | 20 Nov 2026 – 3 Jan 2027, timed entry | Adults from $32; 5–17 from $20; under 5 free | Confirmed |
| Safeway Holiday Ice Rink, Union Square | Opens 4 Nov 2026 | Not yet published | Opening date confirmed |
| Conservatory of Flowers light show, Golden Gate Park | Every night, from about 30 min after sunset until midnight | Free | Year-round |
| The Bay Lights, Bay Bridge | Nightly | Free to see | Relit March 2026 |
Lightscape
A mile-long trail through the Botanical Garden lit with about a million lights. Members get a preview night on 19 November and 20% off. Buy ahead: the popular times sell out.
The Conservatory of Flowers light show
The free “Photosynthesis” show projects onto the Conservatory’s glass every night of the year, starting about half an hour after sunset. Each loop is roughly half an hour and it repeats until midnight. No tickets, no RSVP. Combine it with a walk past Lightscape’s entrance for a cheap holiday evening.
The Bay Lights
The LED sculpture on the Bay Bridge’s western span was relit on 20 March 2026, and it is the best free night-time sight in the city. Watch from the Embarcadero, anywhere south of the Ferry Building.
Not announced yet
As of 17 September 2026, these had no 2026 dates on their organizers’ own pages. We list last year’s pattern where it helps you plan, clearly as last year’s.
| What | What we know |
|---|---|
| Union Square / Macy’s Great Tree lighting | Not announced. In 2025 the tree was lit on 11 November. |
| Macy’s and SF SPCA holiday windows | Not announced. In 2025 they ran 21 November to 31 December, Wednesday to Sunday, noon to 5pm. Macy’s said in November 2025 that its Union Square store would operate through the first quarter of 2026 while the property is redeveloped (ABC7), so check before planning around the windows. |
| Winter Walk, Stockton Street | Not announced. In 2025 it ran 13–24 December between Post and O’Farrell. |
| Embarcadero Center building lighting | Not announced; its page still shows an old date. |
| Ghirardelli Square tree | Not announced. |
| PIER 39 tree | PIER 39’s page lists a lighting on Thursday 3 December and a season of 23 November to 10 January, but prints no year. 3 December is a Thursday in 2026, so this is very likely the 2026 date; confirm before you go. |
Just outside the city: the Dickens Fair
The Great Dickens Christmas Fair is at the Cow Palace, which is in Daly City, not San Francisco. It runs on five weekends, 21 November to 20 December 2026, plus the Friday after Thanksgiving, from 10am to 6pm. Tickets go on sale online on 1 October; there is no box office on site. By transit, take BART to Balboa Park, then the Muni 8 bus; there is no shuttle. Parking is $20.
More for December: cheap date nights and free things to do with kids.
Checked against the Golden Gate Park Conservancy (Lightscape and the Conservatory show), the Union Square rink, Downtown SF Partnership, SF Rec and Park, the SF SPCA, PIER 39 and the Dickens Fair on 17 September 2026. The Bay Lights’ own site was not loading when we checked; we will confirm the nightly schedule there.
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When does Lightscape open in 2026?
Lightscape runs at the San Francisco Botanical Garden in Golden Gate Park from 20 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. Adult tickets start at $32, ages 5 to 17 from $20, and children 4 and under are free. Popular nights sell out.
What holiday lights in San Francisco are free?
The Conservatory of Flowers light show in Golden Gate Park runs every night of the year, starting about 30 minutes after sunset and looping until midnight, with no tickets. The Bay Lights on the Bay Bridge are free to see from the Embarcadero. Union Square’s tree and windows have been free in past years; their 2026 dates are not out yet.
When is the Union Square tree lighting in 2026?
Not announced yet as of 17 September 2026. For reference, in 2025 the Macy’s Great Tree was lit on 11 November, well before Thanksgiving.
When does the Union Square ice rink open?
The Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square reopens on 4 November 2026. Its 2026 prices, hours and closing date have not been published yet.
Is the Dickens Fair in San Francisco?
No. The Great Dickens Christmas Fair is at the Cow Palace, which is in Daly City, just outside San Francisco. It runs on weekends from 21 November to 20 December 2026, plus the Friday after Thanksgiving, 10am to 6pm; tickets go on sale online on 1 October.