SF Music Week Returns with Ruby Ibarra Keynote Conversation, Industry Leaders, and Artist Development Programming
Music Community Unites for Week-Long Celebration Connecting Artists, Industry Professionals, and Fans Across San Francisco
Featuring Appearances by 24KGoldn, Marc E. Bassy, Lyrics Born and W. Kamau Bell
February 10, 2026, SAN FRANCISCO, CA – SF Music Week is proud to announce its 2026 program, featuring award-winning Bay Area rapper and NPR Tiny Desk Contest winner Ruby Ibarra in a keynote conversation with KQED journalist Pendarvis Harshaw at the Industry Summit on Friday, February 27. The conversation will explore why Ibarra has chosen to make San Francisco the home base for her music and how the Bay Area continues to shape and sustain her work.
SF Music Week, a mostly free event, runs from February 23 through March 1, and is a citywide celebration sponsored by Mayor Daniel Lurie, the Office of Economic and Workforce Development and NoisePop that spotlights San Francisco's renowned music scene with a dynamic program featuring panels, workshops, studio and venue tours, live performances, and more.
“San Francisco is a music city. From the Summer of Music in Golden Gate Park and free concerts in Civic Center and Union Square to the events we’re welcoming around Super Bowl LX, we are celebrating the artists and spaces that define our culture,” said Mayor Lurie. “SF Music Week will bring musicians, venues, and industry leaders together to support our city’s music sector, celebrate the people who make it run, and strengthen San Francisco's comeback.”
A Community Rising Together
At a time when the Bay Area has faced the closure of numerous arts institutions and cultural spaces, SF Music Week stands as a testament to the resilience and solidarity of San Francisco's music ecosystem. The event brings together over 20 local entertainment venues, media partners, promoters, independent labels, artists, and grassroots organizations who are committed to sustaining and growing the city's creative community.
From legendary venues like Bottom of the Hill, Great American Music Hall, and Mabuhay Gardens, from media outlets including KPFA, KALW, and Fault Radio to organizations like Community Music Center, Stern Grove Festival, and She is the Music, this collaboration demonstrates that San Francisco's music community is not only surviving but actively building the infrastructure needed to thrive. SF Music Week creates essential connections between emerging artists and industry professionals, addresses critical issues like affordable creative space, and celebrates the innovation that continues to make the Bay Area a global music capital.
The week brings together an impressive roster of Bay Area talent, including:
24KGoldn – Industry Summit panelist for "Beyond the Bay: Strategies for Global Reach in a Hyperlocal Scene"
Marc E. Bassy – Industry Summit panelist for "Beyond the Bay: Strategies for Global Reach in a Hyperlocal Scene"
Lyrics Born – Artist Development Day panelist for "Beyond the Algorithm – How Artists Reclaim Their Audiences"
W. Kamau Bell – Moderator for Artist Development Day panel "Amplifying Change – Using Music to Power Social Impact
Some featured program partners include - Kelly McFarling, Rogue Wave, DJ D Sharp, DJ Umami, Magik Magik Orchestra, and many more.
Some featured events include:
Kick-Off Happy Hour & Bowling
Mon 2/24 - Presented by August Hall, Fifth Arrow, Live Nation, and Lyft, this opening celebration brings together the San Francisco music community for an evening of networking and fun. Cards with Lyft codes for transportation throughout the week will be distributed at this event.
Kelly McFarling: Performance + Conversation with Emma Silvers
Tue 2/24 - She Is The Music SF Chapter presents an intimate evening with Kelly McFarling, featuring a live performance and conversation moderated by journalist Emma Silvers.
SF Music Week @ Manny’s Saving Space for San Francisco's Creative Class
Tue 2/24 - A critical conversation addressing the challenges and solutions for maintaining affordable creative spaces in San Francisco.
Women's Audio Mission Industry Mixer
Wed 2/25 - An Industry Mixer presented by Women's Audio Mission, tour recording studios, listening lounge featuring music created in WAM's studios, learn about Artist Residencies, happy hour with wine and beer, and more.
Industry Summit – Friday, February 27
The Industry Summit convenes artists, music professionals, policymakers, and thought leaders for six panels exploring the Bay Area music ecosystem, including:
State of Independent Venues
She is the Music – Women Leading the Bay Area Music Scene
Inside the Bay Area's Grassroots Music Ecosystem
Beyond the Bay: Strategies for Global Reach in a Hyperlocal Scene (featuring 24KGoldn and Marc E. Bassy)
Innovation and Technology Shaping the Future of Music
Bay Area Sounds – The State of Independent Radio
Industry leaders participating include Jodi Goodman (President, Live Nation), Tina Davis (President, EMPIRE), Nima Etminam (Vice President, EMPIRE), Lynn Schwarz (Co-owner, Bottom of the Hill), and Christen McFarland (Recording Academy San Francisco Chapter).
Speed Networking hosted by Pamela Gerstein, Founder & Curator of BISS List, concludes the day, offering attendees direct connections with industry professionals. Registration required: Registration Link
Artist Development Day – Saturday, February 28
Programming for emerging and established artists includes seven panels covering social impact, indie labels, audience building, live music careers, legal tools, and sustaining a music-centered life. Panelists include Lyrics Born and W. Kamau Bell, who will moderate "Amplifying Change – Using Music to Power Social Impact."
The day also features Office Hours, offering one-on-one consultations with industry professionals from organizations including Live Nation, Bandcamp, Wasserman Music, High Road Touring, and YouTube.
“The arts have always been central to our economic vitality and are inextricably linked to our evolution as a global innovation hub. This event series showcases music’s important role in shaping San Francisco’s cultural identity and spotlights how our creative sector influences tastes and trends worldwide,” said Anne Taupier, Executive Director of OEWD. “By fostering inspiration, networking, and idea exchange among music industry leaders, SF Music Week will help ensure San Francisco remains an iconic destination for residents, workers, and visitors.”
“SF Music Week reflects what’s possible when the city and its creative community work together to support independent music,” said Jordan Kurland, Partner at Noise Pop Industries and Brilliant Corners Artist Management. “By partnering with the Mayor’s Office, SF LIVE, and OEWD, we’re helping create real pathways for artists, venues, and industry professionals to connect, grow, and contribute to San Francisco’s cultural and economic recovery.”
SF Music Week Partnerships
As the Official Rideshare Partner, Lyft will play a critical role in supporting safe, accessible, and reliable transportation throughout the week—helping attendees, artists, and industry professionals move easily between events while reinforcing Lyft’s commitment to urban mobility and cultural life in San Francisco. Cards with a $25 promo code will be passed out at the opening party, while supplies last.
Over 20 local San Francisco music and entertainment businesses are involved, including Castro Theatre, EMPIRE, Community Music Center, Stern Grove Festival, San Francisco War Memorial & Performing Arts Center, Magik Magik Orchestra, Mabuhay Gardens, San Francisco Public Library, and more.
Media Partners include - KALW, KPFA, KEXP, Pantheon Podcasts, Bay Beats (SFPL), True Skool, KALW, FunCheapSF, BissList, and more to be announced.
SF Music Week was inspired by the success of SF Live, a six-month series of free music concerts launched in May 2024. The event is presented in collaboration with SF Live, Noise Pop, and the San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD).
For more information and to register, visit sfmusicweek.org.
About SF Music Week
SF Music Week is a citywide celebration of San Francisco's music community, featuring industry summits, artist development programming, live performances, and networking opportunities. Sponsored by the Mayor Daniel Lurie and the Office of Economic and Workforce Development, the initiative aims to elevate the city's music scene, foster industry growth, and reinforce San Francisco's reputation as a global hub of arts and culture.
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