Free, all-ages open house and a block party will feature on-stage conversations with KQED reporters and local personalities, guided studio tours, interactive art, science and learning activities, plus a stellar lineup of musical acts on Noise Pop’s Homegrown Stage
SAN FRANCISCO, CA; April 17, 2026 — KQED’s annual all-day open house celebration and block party returns on Saturday, May 9 at KQED’s headquarters at the corner of Bryant and Mariposa Streets. The 2026 edition of KQED Fest will include live on-stage programs featuring KQED journalists and producers, tours and activities inside KQED’s headquarters, as well as a series of musical performances programmed by Noise Pop outside on York Street.
KQED Fest premiered in 2023 to bring KQED’s diverse audiences into the station’s headquarters to offer an insider glimpse at how KQED’s programming and journalism is created and to celebrate the station’s community of supporters, audience members, partners and Mission district neighbors.
An outdoor stage on York Street will again be curated by Noise Pop. It will be headlined by Ruby Ibarra, the 2025 Tiny Desk Contest-winner and Filipina rapper raised in San Lorenzo. Also appearing on the Noise Pop Homegrown stage are singer-songwriter Misa James, winner of KQED x Good Compenny Bay Area Music Showcase; acclaimed all-female salsa combo Agua Pura; DJ sets by DJ Sizzle; and Story Time Band, a band of Berkeley librarians that make fun, zany music for children of all ages. Between sets pop-up performances from Bateria Butuki, the 2026 San Francisco Carnaval King & Queen, and Lak’ech Dance Academy will keep outdoor audiences entertained as they enjoy food and drink from local vendors.
Inside KQED’s headquarters visitors will be treated to live programs and screenings on stage in The Commons. Among this year’s programs is a conversation about human connection with UC Berkeley School of Public Health professor Jodi Halpern and UCSF professor Dr. Carla Perissinotto; an exploration of Mission district food culture with food influencer and rapper Snack Sensei and KQED’s Cecilia Phillips, including vendors from Lil’ Alijo and Florecita Panaderia; live on-stage storytelling with the Snap Judgment podcast and its host Glynn Washington; an interview with TED Radio Hour host and author Manoush Zomorodi; a chat with Ruby Ibarra about songcraft and community; and an exclusive preview screening from the upcoming 11th and final season of Grantchester from MASTERPIECE.
Programming for other spaces inside will feature auditions for Check, Please! Bay Area, a Deep Look critter photo booth, an opportunity to meet and chat with San Francisco explorer Ariel Waldman, host of the new KQED Presents series Life Unearthed, and fireside chats throughout the day with teams from The Bay and Bay Curious podcasts, the immigration and health desks, Check, Please! Bay Area, and a discussion around the future of journalism with KQED President and CEO Michael Isip and Editor in Chief Ethan Toven-Lindsey. Performances by the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra and Tito Ramon’s Pop-Up Puppet Show in the lower lobby, docent-led tours throughout the studios, and art exhibitions from Letterform Archive and Accion Latina provide more inspiration for visitors.
KQED Fest tickets are free, but we encourage all attendees to RSVP at kqed.org/fest.
KQED Fest
When: Saturday, May 9, 2026; 11am – 6pm
Where: 2601 Mariposa Street, San Francisco
Tickets: Free; RSVP at kqed.org/fest
For information about accessibility, public transportation and parking options, visit kqed.org/about/visit
About KQED
KQED serves the people of Northern California with a public-supported alternative to commercial media. An NPR and PBS member station based in San Francisco, KQED is home to one of the most-listened-to public radio stations in the nation, one of the highest-rated public television services and an award-winning education program helping students and educators thrive in 21st-century classrooms. A trusted news source and leader and innovator in interactive technology, KQED takes people of all ages on journeys of exploration — exposing them to new people, places and ideas. kqed.org