This Week's Top Stories

economy

Downtown SF Hits Record Visitor Numbers as Q2 Report Shows Tourism Surge

The Downtown SF Partnership's Q2 2026 market report shows record non-resident visits topping 10.54 million, surging hotel revenue, and falling office vacancy across all building classes.

Downtown San Francisco's recovery is registering in hard numbers. The Downtown San Francisco Partnership's Q2 2026 Market Report — released this month — shows record non-resident visits of 10.54 million for the quarter, alongside a hotel Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) increase of 15.8% and falling office vacancy across all building classes in the district. Average daily visits to the district are up 34.7% over Q4 2025, with Partnership data noting that major events and ground-floor business openings are fueling the surge. The broader visitor economy is also brightening.

arts

SFMOMA Opens New Jacob Hashimoto Installation This Week — and Announces Blockbuster Fashion Show

The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art debuts a major new free-admission installation this Saturday and announces its first fashion exhibition in 40 years, a Dior-to-McQueen survey opening in 2027.

The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), at 151 Third Street on the edge of Union Square, is opening a significant new work this week. Jacob Hashimoto: Giant Arc, a monumental site-specific installation described as the artist's largest work to date, opens to the public Saturday, August 22, in the museum's admission-free Roberts Family Gallery on the first floor. The opening was previewed with a special Thursday Night talk and live performance on August 20.

retail

Lids Returns to Union Square With Larger Store, Signaling Renewed Retail Confidence

The sports hat retailer Lids is opening a new 2,100-square-foot location at 50 Powell St., three times the size of the store it closed in 2023 during the retail exodus from Union Square.

Lids, the national sportswear retailer specializing in hats and licensed sports merchandise, has filed building permits for a new location at 50 Powell Street in Union Square, according to a report published August 11 by the San Francisco Standard. The company plans to open the store in November 2026. The new location will be 2,100 square feet — three times the size of the former Lids store at 167 Powell Street that closed in 2023, when retailers were departing Union Square in significant numbers.

Upcoming Events

Through September 30

People in Plazas: Free Lunchtime Concert Series

📍 Various plazas on or near Market Street, Financial District & Embarcadero · 12:00 PM–1:00 PM

Ongoing

Ferry Plaza Farmers Market

📍 Ferry Building, 1 Ferry Building, Embarcadero · Sat 8:00 AM–2:00 PM; Tue & Thu 10:00 AM–2:00 PM

Ongoing

SF Comedy Showcase at Punch Line

📍 Punch Line Comedy Club, 444 Battery St, Financial District · 7:30 PM

Saturday, August 22

Jacob Hashimoto: Giant Arc — Opening at SFMOMA

📍 SFMOMA, 151 Third St, SoMa/Union Square · 10:00 AM–5:00 PM

Thursday, August 27

SFMOMA Thursday Night: Works on Paper Book Club & Paris Portraits Performance

📍 SFMOMA, 151 Third St, Union Square · 6:00 PM

More from the Neighborhood

Financial District Weekday Workforce Climbs 18% as Return-to-Office Gains Momentum

New cell phone mobility data published by The Registry SF on August 6 shows weekday worker activity across San Francisco's Financial District has climbed 18% compared to the prior year, as return-to-office…

Downtown SF Partnership Expands to 70 Blocks, Nearly Doubling Its Budget

The Downtown San Francisco Partnership is renewing and expanding its Community Benefit District — 10 years ahead of schedule — stretching its coverage from 43 to 70 city blocks and nearly doubling…

SFMOMA Tickets for RM x SFMOMA Now on Sale to the Public

Tickets for RM x SFMOMA: Between You and Me — a major exhibition co-curated by Kim Namjoon (RM of BTS) that brings together 200 works of Korean art and international contemporary art…