The Portola Music Festival is back this weekend at Pier 80, Robyn is headlining (along with Swedish House Mafia), and there are still tickets available.
SF's big EDM festival, Portola, returns for its fifth year at Pier 80 on Saturday and Sunday, coinciding as it sometimes does with Folsom Street Fair weekend. The festival has grown in scale slightly, though it still occupies the same general footprint, with Pier 80 being a wide open parking lot just east of The Midway, flanked by container cranes and a giant warehouse/hangar that was once the headquarters of Oracle's America's Cup team.
Who's playing this year?
As we noted when it was first announced, Swedish electro-pop goddess Robyn is headlining on Saturday, along with the Skrillex and Boys Noize duo project Dog Blood.
Soul Wax, Prospa, Tove Lo, Fatboy Slim, Groove Armada, Mike D 5D, and Fcukers are also playing Saturday, along with a DJ Shadow anniversary set celebrating 30 years of his debut album Endtroducing..., which should make some of you feel old.
Completing the Swedishness of it all, Sunday's lineup includes Zara Larsson and Swedish House Mafia, as well as Four Tet, Adela, Parcels, Horsegiirl, and Tiesto playing in the Warehouse.
What else happens at the festival?
All weekend, for the second year in a row, the festival will feature Despacio, the all-analog, immersive, intimate, custom-built dance tent designed by James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem, David and Stephen Dewaele of 2ManyDJs/Soulwax, and sound engineer John Klett.
Also, there are food trucks and stands spread around the festival edges, including Señor Sisig, Smish Smash, Saigon Sandwich, and Love Burn Hot Chicken, and special beverage concessions from Bar Gemini, The Felix, and Brooklyn's Four Horsemen (which is James Murphy's thing) inside Despacio.
Inside VIP, which is a massive area behind and to one side of the main stage, there is also an entire sit-down restaurant, Farmhouse World, from Farmhouse Thai chef Kasem “Pop” Saengsawang, as well as specific food offerings like Bodega SF.
Can you still buy tickets?
It's not clear how many passes have been sold on the day-of in recent years, but single-day and two-day passes, both general admission and VIP, are still available here, and they do offer payment plans. VIP two-day passes, regularly priced at $729.95, get marked down by $30 if you buy four at once. Single-day VIP passes are $459.95, and GA is $400 for two-day and $270 for single-day (Saturday, $290 for Sunday).
What can you bring?
Clear backpacks are allowed with blankets, empty water bottles, and basic toiletry needs, but no outside food or drink is permitted. And don't bring any selfie sticks, extender poles, or totems, because they'll likely be confiscated.
Will there be cell service?
It's anyone's guess if the cell networks have been upgraded, but when the festival is at full tilt, getting messages out to friends has historically been a challenge at this location, so be warned, and figure out analog contingency plans for meeting back up.
How do you get in and out?
Getting to Pier 80 by Muni is pretty easy, via the (yes, it's slow) T line to Marin Street. The 48-Quintara and 19-Polk buses also let off about a 10-minute walk away.
There is also a free BART shuttle from 24th and Valencia streets — a block up from the 24th and Mission BART station — that will run loops to Pier 80 both days from 12:30pm to 11:30pm.
Festival organizers are discouraging rideshares and Waymos with good reason, because they create some crazy traffic in that area when the festival lets out. The designated pickup and drop-off area is a bit of a walk away at Pier 70, and scheduling in advance is advised.
Previously: Portola Fest Drops 2026 Lineup and ROBYN IS HEADLINING
Join the conversation
Comments
Comments load automatically as this section approaches.