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Outside Lands is San Francisco’s flagship festival — three days of huge music, world-class food and wine in the fog-kissed Golden Gate Park. It blends a stacked, genre-spanning lineup with Bay Area food, wine and craft beer for one of America’s best city festivals. This guide covers the dates, how to fly in, where to stay, and how to do it.
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When to go: the music calendar
- Outside Lands 2026 — August 7–9, 2026 at Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. Confirm on the official site.
- The lineup — indie, rock, pop, hip-hop and electronic across seven stages; recent/announced headliners include Charli XCX, RÜFÜS DU SOL and The Strokes.
- More than music — famous food, wine and beer areas (Wine Lands, Beer Lands, GastroMagic). SF summer is foggy/cool — bring layers.
Getting there: flights to San Francisco (SFO)
Fly into San Francisco (SFO) (Oakland/OAK and San José/SJC are alternatives), ~30–45 min from the city by BART/ride-hailing. Set a price watch — August is peak.
→ Search flights to San Francisco (SFO)
Where to stay (matched to your trip)
- Inner Sunset / Haight — closest to Golden Gate Park for the shortest walk/ride to the gates.
- Downtown / Union Square — widest hotel choice, with the festival’s official shuttle from the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium.
- Mission — hip, great food and nightlife, an easy ride to the park.
→ Compare hotels in San Francisco
Getting around
Use BART, Muni and ride-hailing, or the official festival shuttle from downtown. The US uses the dollar; cards everywhere. SF summer is cold and foggy at the coast — bring warm layers even in August.
Airport transfer
→ Pre-book a private airport transfer with Kiwitaxi
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Explore by car
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Sample budget — 4 nights (per person)
| Item | Budget | Mid-range |
|---|---|---|
| Flights (within US / intl varies) | $160 | $520 |
| Hotel (4 nights) | $420 | $900 |
| Festival ticket (3-day) | $400 | $500 |
| Food + drinks | $160 | $360 |
| Transport, transfer, eSIM | $60 | $140 |
| Total | ~$1,200 | ~$2,420 |
Money-saving tips
- SF hotels are pricey — stay a little out and use BART/Muni or the festival shuttle.
- Buy the 3-day pass early (tiers rise); single-day if you only want certain acts.
- Eat the festival’s food vendors (a highlight) and the Mission’s taquerías.
Frequently asked questions
When is Outside Lands 2026?
August 7–9, 2026 at Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.
How do I get there?
Fly into SFO (or OAK/SJC), then BART/ride-hailing or the official downtown shuttle to Golden Gate Park.
What’s special about it?
Beyond a big music lineup, it’s famous for SF food, wine and beer — and the cool, foggy “Karl the Fog” weather (bring layers).