We’ve got two predictions for 2026. First, we predict that interesting people will continue to step away from their screens and head towards interaction with human beings. Because San Franciscans know that deep down, there is no artificial substitute for rubbing elbows with awesome and fascinating people.

Speaking of interesting people, you will be hard-pressed to find more wonderful insights than at the live journalism, performance, and community building at KQED LIVE events (there are some great ones below, many of which you can livestream for free).

Our second prediction is that weeknights will occupy the most culturally relevant and community-minded occasions in the Bay (weekends are for amateurs and baby showers).

Weeknights are for diving into culture, and meeting your next awesome, curious, partners in crime…

Join Nate DiMeo, creator of the acclaimed podcast The Memory Palace, for a unique behind-the-scenes look at how historical storytelling is crafted—both creatively and structurally.

He’ll be joined in conversation by Roman Mars (host of 99% Invisible) for an evening that blends narrative, history, and reflection.

Together, they will explore the poignant and haunting story of the White Horse Inn, brought vividly to life through archival imagery, evocative animation, and rich discussion. This live event offers a rare glimpse into the making of a Memory Palace episode—from concept to final, resonant form.

The evening will conclude with a book signing for Nate’s newly released collection of Memory Palace stories, published by Random House.

Thursday, January 22, 2026 7:00 PM
The Commons at KQED 2601 Mariposa Street, San Francisco
In-Person: $30.10 ($25 + fees) / Livestream: Free

Tickets
Register for Livestream

Since Odd Salon wrapped things up in December, The Curiosity Guild has stepped forward and picked up the torch for those who love knowledge, humor, and the wonderfully weird in San Francisco.

The Curiosity Guild is a group of researchers and storytellers who love the curious corners of history. They will continue giving engaging, interactive public talks that build community, instill a love of research. They particularly love stories of how we’re not so different from each other, or from the humans who lived here in the past.

Look for them on the first Tuesday of every month.

Bright Ideas (first Tuesdays)
Feb 3 from 6:30pm to 9:30pm
Public Works, 161 Erie Street, San Francisco

Tickets ($30)

The First Thursday Art Walk is a monthly self-guided walking tour of Downtown San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood and adjacent areas, during which time galleries, performance spaces, and other businesses hold their openings and other events which are open late to the public.

Each month hosts a unique variety of events, with many regularly participating venues and many more occasional participants. A complete itinerary for each First Thursday can be found here on the day-of each month, or by following them on Instagram where they also promote the events in the weeks prior to the First Thursdays.

We usually start at Moth Belly Gallery ; )

Thursday, Feb 5, 2026  5pm – 10pm (every first Thursday)
Tenderloin District, San Francisco

More Info here

Looking for love, cosmic insight, or just a hilarious night out? Dating with Dhaya is where comedy meets chemistry—and the stars just might align.

Join award-winning comedian and storyteller Dhaya Lakshminarayanan for a one-of-a-kind dating game show full of laughs, unexpected connections, and a little celestial guidance just in time for Valentine’s Day. This edition will make a match for lady love-seekers as they answer questions revealing more about themselves, their astrological alignment, and their knowledge of how to make the Bay a more romantic place.

Featuring a pre-show lounge with tarot readings and personal horoscopes that just might reveal what Cupid has in store for you.

Whether you’re single, mingling, or just here for the vibes, this night promises fun, flirting, and a whole lot of “what does your sign say about you?

Thursday, February 12, 2026 7:00 PM
The Commons at KQED 2601 Mariposa Street, San Francisco
In-Person: $24.38 ($20 + fees) / Livestream: Free

Register for In Person
Register for Livestream

Enjoy an intimate night with Shannon Shaw, the powerhouse vocalist and songwriter behind Shannon & The Clams. Known for her magnetic stage presence and a sound that fuses soul, doo-wop, and California garage rock, Shannon brings her a blend of grit and vulnerability to this special Noise Pop Festival showcase. This exclusive performance offers a chance to get up close with a distinctive Bay Area see artists up close surrounded by stories, sound, and community. 

Hosted by KQED Live in partnership with Noise Pop, the evening celebrates the local roots and bold voices that continue to shape the Bay Area’s music scene. Join us as Shannon Shaw takes us behind the songs, her creative journey, and what keeps her tied to the Bay.

Thursday, February 26, 2026 7:00 PM
The Commons at KQED 2601 Mariposa Street, San Francisco

Tickets

Get ready for a wild and fun night of internet deep-dives, chaotic slides, and way too much enthusiasm for niche topics! Join Morgan Sung, host of KQED’s Close All Tabs, and friends as they turn their weirdest internet obsessions into the onstage PowerPoints of their dreams.

Morgan will be joined by special guests, content creator and internet culture researcher Aidan Walker, and Candice Lim, writer, producer and former co-host of internet culture podcast ICYMI. Both have appeared on Close All Tabs and are back to share their own unhinged PowerPoints on topics that reveal just how strange, funny, and fascinating the online world has become. Whether you live on the internet or avoid it entirely, you’ll leave feeling delightfully caught up on deep internet lore.

We’ll also be inviting a few brave audience members to present their own short internet presentations live on stage! Think: your oddly specific conspiracy theory, your favorite obscure fandom lore, or your analysis connecting the Kardashians to the fall of Tumblr.

At the end of the night, the audience will vote for THE MOST unhinged presentation, because what’s the internet without a little friendly chaos?

Thursday, March 5, 2026 7:00 PM
The Commons at KQED 2601 Mariposa Street, San Francisco
In-Person: $18.67 ($15 ticket + fees) / Livestream: Free

Register for In Person
Register for Livestream

Calling all foodies! Dumpling and Dim Sum Fest is a flavorful market  in Oakland, where you can taste your way through dozens of delicious dumplings and a range of authentic dim sum from beloved local restaurants and vendors. Sample soup dumplings, siu mai, gyoza, steamed buns, and many other delicious parcels.

Featuring an elegant VIP tea lounge for pin cha (tea tasting), a festive atmosphere, and opportunities snag unique goods, all while you savor some of the Bay’s best dumplings.

Don’t pass up this mouthwatering, top-tier taste-filled experience, made for you, family and friends, and all empty bellies!

Ticket Options

VIP Passport $85 – Includes early entry at 5pm, 10x tickets for tasting portions, priority lines and VIP tea lounge access, a KQED keepsake, and a token to vote for “Best Dumpling”

Taster Pass $50 – Includes entry, 6x tickets for tasting portions, a KQED keepsake, and a token to vote for “Best Dumpling”

General Admission $25 – Includes entry, plus 3x tickets for tasting portions

*Additional food items may be sold by individual vendors a la carte.

Thursday, March 19 | 5pm - 9pm
BLOC15, 252 2nd St, Oakland
In-Person: $25 - $85 (plus fees)

A very special evening with Wim Hof, the pioneer of modern breathwork and cold therapy, sits down to share the mesmerizing story behind his world-renowned Wim Hof Method.

Wim Hof’s story is that of a man who always knew in his heart that we had lost a vital connection with Mother Nature, his lifelong quest to recapture that power, and his mission to give it back to the world.

Like any visionary not afraid to rock the boat, the journey of Wim Hof has been filled with love and dedication, perseverance in the face of ridicule, joy, and heartbreak. During your evening, you will hear about every high and every low, and how each critical turn of events helped shape the method that now transforms the lives of millions of people around the world.

Two local drag forces of nature — VERA! and Eve Swallows — team up with KQED climate reporter Ezra David Romero for a night where the vibes are catastrophically fabulous. Expect performances that could make global temperatures rise, followed by a galvanizing discussion about how the art of drag can power climate advocacy.

When the pressure really starts to build, it’s your turn to stir up some extreme weather. Serve your fiercest climate-disaster drag — storm-chaser chic? melting-ice-cap eleganza? Category 5 couture? — and tear up the runway. Our panel of judges will assess the damage and select the top two will go head-to-head in a lip-sync showdown of seismic proportions to crown the most devastating amateur queen.

Thursday, March 26, 2026 7:00 PM
The Commons at KQED 2601 Mariposa Street, San Francisco
In-Person: $24.38 ($20 + fees) / Livestream: Free

Register for In Person
Register for Livestream

This post was sponsored by the fine folks at KQED