Fourth of July fireworks 2026: Shows, parades and events around the Bay Area

A version of this article orginally appeared on KQED.

This Fourth of July marks 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. And the Bay Area will be taking its celebrations to a whole new level accordingly.

A major highlight will be San Francisco’s annual free fireworks show taking place not at its usual Fisherman’s Wharf location but on the Golden Gate Bridge itself — only the third time this has happened in almost a century.

Along with fireworks galore, there will be a host of events throughout the Bay Area reflecting on America’s past and present — not just parades and parties, but crucial remembrances, exhibits and teach-ins.

July 4 fireworks and drone shows around the Bay Area

July 4 this year falls on a Saturday, and most fireworks and festivities will be happening that day, usually starting after dusk, around 9:30 p.m.

But not all of the celebrations will take place on that Saturday, so be sure to check the date and time of the event before you head out. Some events may require tickets in advance, so be sure to keep an eye out for that or possible cancellations due to interruptions like bad weather.

San Francisco

This year’s fireworks in San Francisco will be set off from the Golden Gate Bridge on Saturday, July 4, rather than the show’s usual spot at Fisherman’s Wharf.

The city has a thorough page on details about the Golden Gate Bridge fireworks, but the highlights are that the show is free and will start around 9:30 p.m. The best viewing locations are Crissy Field, Marina Green and Pier 39 and Northern Embarcadero. For those who don’t mind spending a bit of money, there will be private cruise options for the fireworks viewings, with tickets available on Eventbrite.

The city recommends avoiding the Ferry Building and Embarcadero waterfront, since there will be no view of the fireworks there. Views of the Golden Gate Bridge fireworks will also be limited at Ocean Beach.

Also, a PSA for drivers in the area on July 4: The Golden Gate Bridge will be fully closed to cars “from shortly before” the 9:30 p.m. scheduled display start time until “shortly after” the end of the fireworks show, according to the city. “Closure duration may change based on operational needs,” the city’s website reads. “Expect delays before the bridge reopens.”

The bridge’s sidewalks will also be closed to pedestrians and cyclists at certain times on July 4, with the east sidewalk closed as early as the morning of July 3. Read the full list of closures on sf.gov.

East Bay

South Bay

North Bay

July 4 parades, festivals and parties around the Bay Area

East Bay

San Francisco

South Bay

North Bay

Crucial reminders for fireworks safety in the Bay Area

All unpermitted fireworks — including those classified “safe and sane” — are illegal in Oakland. If you find yourself near someone setting off illegal fireworks, be aware that they can be incredibly dangerous.

At a 2023 safety briefing, Dr. Clifford Sheckter, director of the Regional Burn Center at the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, gave graphic examples of the kinds of injuries — and even deaths — that setting off fireworks can incur. On mortar-style fireworks, Sheckter warned that “if those go off in your hand, you are losing fingers, if not your whole hand. If this goes off by your face, you could end up blind.”

And while sparklers might strike many folks as a small, innocuous kind of personal firework on July 4, Sheckter noted that not only are they illegal in many areas, but sparklers can also pose massive threats to children. “Kids think it’s a popsicle: They put it in their mouths, they put it near their faces, they give themselves pretty severe burns and end up on the burn unit for one to two weeks,” he warned.

Fireworks remain prohibited in Berkeley, Oakland and in East Bay Regional Park District, as well as in California state parks and on National Park Service land. (And yes, sparklers are considered fireworks according to the state).

“Sparklers burn at 1,800 degrees, which is enough to burn gold,” Lt. Jonathan Baxter, a spokesperson for the San Francisco Fire Department, has said. “So if it can burn gold, you can imagine what it can do to your hand.”

Sheckter said “one of the most common injuries” burn units see around the Fourth of July is incurred by people “mixing alcohol and bonfires.”

“If you get wasted and fall into a bonfire, you’re either going to die, or you’re going to end up severely burned and on my burn unit for the next six months,” Sheckter said. Curious children wandering around campsites and grasping coals, embers or fire pit rings are also a common source of pediatric injuries.

How personal fireworks can spark wildfires this time of year

In 2021, over 150 fire scientists were moved enough to join many fire officials across the West in urging residents to abandon their plans to launch personal fireworks on July Fourth because of the wildfire risks.

Mishandled fireworks, specifically around the Fourth of July in California, have caused real damage in the past. In 2014, a reveler set off fireworks in Yolo County near the Monticello Dam, igniting a 6,500-acre blaze that took days to put out, injured five firefighters and drove dozens of people from their homes.

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District also warned that “smoke from exploding fireworks results in elevated levels of particulate matter close to the ground, making it difficult for people to breathe, and may trigger asthma attacks, coughing, wheezing and eye irritation.”

“At the local level, personal fireworks can cause unhealthy buildup in particulate matter pollution over the July 4 holiday,” a 2023 statement reads. “‘Safe and sane’ fireworks, like those purchased at pop-up fireworks stands, contain metal salts used to produce colors and can also cause excessive smoke.”

The state has a zero-tolerance policy for both the sale and use of illegal fireworks, and violators may face fines of up to $50,000 and jail time.

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Nisa Khan is a reporter for KQED's Audience News Desk. She was formerly a data reporter at Michigan Radio. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Information from the University of Michigan and a Master of Arts in Communication from Stanford University.

Carly is KQED's Senior Editor of Audience News on the Digital News team, and has reported for the California Report Magazine, Bay Curious and KQED Arts. She's formerly the host of The Cooler podcast.

Audrey is a former digital producer at KQED News. Previously, she was a KQED Raul Ramirez Diversity Fund intern where she developed stories that focused on highlighting diverse voices in journalism. Prior to her work at KQED, she worked as a news intern at the San Francisco Examiner. Audrey graduated from San Francisco State University with a B.A. in journalism and a minor in political science.