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Sam Smith to Reopen San Francisco’s Castro Theatre With 8-Night Residency in February 2026

A $41 million overhaul readies the LGBTQ+ landmark for multiuse programming with flexible seating, expanded accessibility, modernized systems.

The Castro Theatre blade sign is lit after getting an upgrade. The venue is scheduled to officially reopen in February.
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Sam Smith attends the 2025 Met Gala celebrating “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 5, 2025, in New York City.
Singer and songwriter Sam Smith may be the first act to perform at the Castro Theatre when it reopens in February 2026.

Overview

  • Smith will perform on February 10, 11, 13, 14, 17, 18, 20 and 21, with presale on October 6 at noon PT (password “hotcookie”) and general sale on October 7 at 10 a.m. PT via Ticketmaster.
  • The theatre returns after closing in February 2024 for an extensive renovation, with work reported about 60% complete this week ahead of the February 2026 reopening.
  • Restoration highlights include the cleaned and re-gilded decorative ceiling, a reinstalled Art Deco chandelier, upgraded HVAC and production systems, added restrooms and expanded ADA access.
  • City-approved reconfiguration removed orchestra seats and leveled the floor for motorized, removable platforms, setting capacity at roughly 1,400 for standing events or 1,200 for reserved seating.
  • Another Planet plans an active calendar and projects strong attendance, while advocates criticized smoking imagery in Smith’s promotional video over health concerns in LGBTQ+ communities.