SAN FRANCISCO, October 5, 2026—On October 24, join a celebration of the Bay Area’s diverse musical community as Bay Beats, San Francisco Public Library’s (SFPL’s) free music streaming platform, announces its 2026 Collection. Featuring 150 albums across numerous genres, the Bay Beats 2026 Collection highlights the creativity of the local artists that form the foundation of the Bay’s unique, storied musical culture.
“This year, we received a record-breaking 680 submissions,” said Brian Weaver, librarian and Bay Beats team lead. “It has been such a tremendous joy for Bay Beats to be a part of the overwhelming enthusiasm and passion that make the Bay Area’s music scene so special. The Bay Beats 2026 Collection is an invitation to experience the creativity of that community firsthand, all for free.”
As part of the festivities, Bay Beats is bringing the music to you at Golden Gate Park’s Bandshell with an afternoon of live performances from newly featured artists:
2 p.m. — Spencer Noble
3 p.m. — Frankie Maston
4 p.m. — William Johnston's Extravagant Superband
5 p.m. — Skip the Needle
The artists, along with the entirety of the 2026 Collection, span the music spectrum. The 150 inductees include rap, punk, folk, lo-fi, electronic, R&B, classical, children’s music and more for music fans of every age and background. The collection will be available for streaming, as well as download for library cardholders, on October 24. In total, over 600 albums are now hosted on Bay Beats, featuring the largest catalog of its kind in the country. The albums are annually selected by a team of SFPL staff and community jurors who are well-established musicians and music experts in the Bay Area.
Throughout the show, enjoy special giveaway prizes, food trucks and games for all-ages. Attendees can also meet music organizations and partners, including Amoeba Music, BFF.fm, Illuminate, White Crate and San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department. Bay Beats is additionally partnered with SFPL’s James C. Hormel LGBTQIA Center.
For more information about the concert and the 2026 Collection, visit baybeats.sfpl.org.
Bay Beats 2026 Launch Party — Oct. 24, 2–6 p.m., Golden Gate Park Bandshell, Music Concourse, San Francisco
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San Francisco Public Library connects our diverse communities to learning, opportunities and each other. The library system is made up of 27 neighborhood branches, the San Francisco Main Library at Civic Center and four bookmobiles. View our Strategic Plan, Vision 2030.