BHANGRA & BEATS NIGHT MARKET RETURNS FOR 2026 SEASON
BHANGRA & BEATS NIGHT MARKET RETURNS FOR 2026 SEASON — AND FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, TAKES OVER YERBA BUENA GARDENS
San Francisco’s biggest South Asian cultural celebration brings its signature “Bhangra meets Bay Area energy” to one of downtown’s most iconic arts destinations
SAN FRANCISCO, CA — San Francisco’s beloved Bhangra & Beats Night Market returns this summer with a major new milestone: for the first time ever, the event will take place at Yerba Buena Gardens, one of downtown’s most celebrated cultural and arts destinations.
Set for July 24 from 4–9 p.m., the night market will transform Yerba Buena Gardens, Jessie Square, and Yerba Buena Lane into a vibrant festival of music, dance, food, and culture. Organizers also announced that the event will return later this year with San Francisco’s Official Diwali Celebration in November, scheduled for November 13.
Bhangra and Beats Night Market is presented by Into The Streets and Non Stop Bhangra in partnership with Yerba Buena Partnership, Mayor’s Office of Daniel Lurie, the San Francisco Office of Economic Workforce Development, and Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, with support from The Svane Family Foundation Fund Culture Forward Grant program.
“Bhangra & Beats Night Market is one of San Francisco’s liveliest night markets, and bringing this celebration to Yerba Buena Gardens will draw thousands of residents and visitors downtown,” said Mayor Daniel Lurie. “As San Francisco continues to rise, events like this are helping turn our public spaces into vibrant, welcoming destinations, while supporting small businesses and our downtown recovery.”
Since launching in 2023, Bhangra & Beats Night Market has helped define a new era of street events in San Francisco. Before night markets and street parties spread across the city, the event helped demonstrate the power of cultural street events as a model for economic revitalization and community building downtown, serving as a beacon of inspiration amid what seemed like an inescapable doom loop narrative.
In just three years, the event has welcomed more than 75,000 attendees and generated $4.36 million in spending for downtown businesses and the small, local vendors that make up its vibrant multicultural bazaars. The event has also been voted Best Night Market for two consecutive years by 48Hills, cementing its place as one of the city’s most beloved cultural gatherings.
“Bhangra & Beats Night Market is a great example of cultural events supporting local businesses and creating vibrant public experiences for everyone to enjoy,” said Anne Taupier, Executive Director, Office of Economic and Workforce Development. “Events like this create a lively atmosphere in neighborhoods and bring opportunities for local restaurants, artists, vendors, and small businesses to connect with the community. We’re excited to welcome thousands of locals and visitors into our city’s arts and culture hub at Yerba Buena for this incredible celebration of South Asian culture.”
The event holds a unique distinction as the only outdoor celebration of its size and scale in the Bay Area dedicated to South Asian culture, serving as a platform for pride, expression, and cultural connection. Attendees of all ages regularly show up dressed in vibrant traditional attire, dancing together and celebrating the rich heritage of the South Asian diaspora through food, music, and performance.
“Bhangra & Beats has become a joyful gathering point for the South Asian diaspora and the entire Bay Area,” said Into The Streets CEO and Founder Katy Birnbaum. “Moving to Yerba Buena Gardens opens up an incredible new canvas for the event while bringing thousands of people into one of downtown’s most important cultural districts.”
At the heart of the celebration is its signature atmosphere: a family-friendly Indian rave where traditional Punjabi rhythms meet Bay Area nightlife energy. Non Stop Bhangra, the legendary Bay Area collective, will once again lead entertainment with its trademark mix of DJs, live drummers, dancers, and community participation.
“We’re really excited to be bringing Bhangra & Beats into Yerba Buena Gardens this year. We’ve had the joy of performing there over the years, so it’s especially meaningful to now curate a full experience in the space. Yerba Buena Gardens has long celebrated world music and culture, and we’re grateful to be part of that celebration—bringing Punjabi music and Indian culture to one of downtown’s most iconic arts destinations. It feels like a natural home for what the event has grown into—open, vibrant, and rooted in community,” said Non Stop Bhangra Co-Founder Vicki Virk.
The new Yerba Buena Gardens location will allow the festival to expand across multiple spaces. Jessie Square, Yerba Buena Gardens,, and Yerba Buena Lane will feature:
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Live Bhangra music and dance
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Cultural performances
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Restaurant and Bar Specials
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Outdoor marketplace with food, retail and community-based vendors
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Family-friendly activities
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Plenty of space to dance
Because Jessie Square and Yerba Buena Lane are designated Entertainment Zones, attendees will be able to sip and stroll with drinks throughout the event area, creating a lively festival atmosphere in the heart of downtown’s Yerba Buena neighborhood.
“Bhangra & Beats mirrors the energy and excitement in Yerba Buena today,” said Yerba Buena Partnership Executive Director Scott Rowitz. “The city and neighborhood partners have redefined the Yerba Buena experience with festivals, Entertainment Zone events and hospitality programs. Bhangra & Beats is an ideal fit with our incredible local and international mix of arts, culture, cafes, dining and entertainment. We’re thrilled to support the event and encourage everyone to explore the new Yerba Buena.”
This year also marks a new partnership with the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, which is embracing Bhangra & Beats Night Market and welcoming it into its season—helping to amplify, promote, and elevate the event as part of its celebrated lineup of free cultural programming.
“Yerba Buena Gardens Festival is beyond excited to welcome Bhangra & Beats into the full season of incredible admission-free cultural events we present each summer in Yerba Buena Gardens,” said Festival Managing Director Cristina Ibarra. “We’ve worked with Non Stop Bhangra for many years and love the high octane energy and cultural artistry they bring to every event they’re a part of. We can’t wait for this event to come to Yerba Buena!”
The November edition will mark the return of San Francisco’s Official Diwali Celebration, which Bhangra & Beats Night Market helped pioneer. The event led the way in hosting the City and County of San Francisco’s first Diwali celebration, helping elevate recognition of the holiday across the region. Since then, awareness and celebration of Diwali have continued to grow — with California now recognizing Diwali as an official state holiday.
Attendees are encouraged to RSVP for free. Interested vendors can sign up for the Into The Streets vendor newsletter to be notified when vendor applications launch: www.intothestreetssf.com/
CALENDAR LISTING
Bhangra & Beats Night Market
July 24
4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Yerba Buena Gardens, Jessie Square & Yerba Buena Lane, San Francisco
San Francisco’s largest South Asian cultural celebration returns with a vibrant night market featuring live Bhangra music, DJs, dance performances, food vendors, cultural activities, retail vendors, and family-friendly programming Attendees are strongly encouraged to show up and show out in their favorite Indian and South Asian festive attire.
Bhangra and Beats Night Market is presented by Into The Streets and Non Stop Bhangra in partnership with Yerba Buena Partnership, Mayor’s Office of Daniel Lurie, the San Francisco Office of Economic Workforce Development, and Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, with support from The Svane Family Foundation Fund Culture Forward Grant program.
Plus: San Francisco’s Official Diwali Celebration returns November 13, 2026.
Free with RSVP
Vendor applications: Sign up for the Into The Streets vendor newsletter to be notified when vendor applications launch: www.intothestreetssf.com/
ABOUT INTO THE STREETS
Into The Streets, founded by San Francisco event veteran Katy Birnbaum in 2023, is a woman of color, LGBTQ-owned, San Francisco-based small business dedicated to empowering female, Indigenous, brown, Black, and queer communities, realizing economic liberation and making the city a more just, joyous, and environmentally regenerative place.
For more information, visit IntoTheStreetsSF.com
ABOUT NON STOP BHANGRA
Non Stop Bhangra (NSB) is a San Francisco-based collective and cultural production company rooted in the vibrant and beautiful spirit of Bhangra-folk music and dance of Punjab, India. For over 20 years, NSB has created joyful, high-energy experiences that blend Punjabi heritage with global sounds, bringing people together through rhythm, movement, and community. Known for its signature mix of interactive dance lessons, live dhol drumming, DJs, and vibrant performances, NSB has been consistently voted “Best Dance Party” in the San Francisco Bay Area and is widely recognized for its inclusive spirit and dynamic cultural programming.
For more information, visit NonStopBhangra.com
ABOUT YERBA BUENA PARTNERSHIP
Yerba Buena Partnership is a community-based nonprofit organization providing services to enhance the overall experience in the downtown San Francisco Yerba Buena neighborhood — the city’s renowned arts and entertainment destination — for all who live, work and visit. Since 2009, the Partnership has implemented programs involving cleaning, safety and hospitality, marketing, economic development, public art and public space improvements around Yerba Buena Gardens, from Second to Fifth and Market to Perry streets. The neighborhood boasts iconic destinations such as SFMOMA, YBCA, MoAD, Children’s Creativity Museum and Moscone Center, along with premier hotels, Academy of Art University and dining and entertainment venues. Yerba Buena is also located within the larger Filipino Cultural Heritage District.
Learn more at YerbaBuena.org.
ABOUT YERBA BUENA GARDENS FESTIVAL
Yerba Buena Gardens Festival is the independent presenting organization dedicated to enhancing the vitality and quality of life in the parks and open spaces of Yerba Buena Gardens through the curated presentation of free artistic, community, and cultural programs.
For more information, visit YBGFestival.org