Participate
Carnaval San Francisco attracts over 500,000 individuals to the Mission District each year and involves hundreds of local bay area artists and arts organizations, making it the largest multi-ethnic festival in California. The two–day event attracts renown Carnaval ensembles from Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as internationally acclaimed headliners.
The festivities include a Grand Parade and festival, each drawing upon broad cultural pageantry and fostering a spirit of universal inclusiveness. With over 60 community arts comparsas, or contingents, participating annually in the parade, CSF has deep and nurturing relationships with local artists whose work is representative of a wide spectrum of world traditions.
2026 applications
Click in the drop–down menus below for details and application links.
Festival Stage Performers
2026 Festival Stage Performer Application
This application is for artists performing on the Carnaval San Francisco Festival stages. For more information, please reach out to Alex Farrell at entertainment@carnavalsf.org
*Note: This is not the application for the parade performers or exhibitors/vendors.
Exhibitors
2026 Festival Exhibitor Application
Important Deadlines:
- Holiday Pricing Ends: Tuesday, December 31, 2025
- Early Bird Pricing Ends: Sunday, February 15, 2026
- Application Closes: Saturday, May 3, 2026
For questions regarding your application please contact Rosine Garcia at 650–333–7628 or vendor@carnavalsf.org
vendor@carnavalsf.org
Food Vendors
2026 Festival Food Vendor Application
Important Deadlines:
- Holiday Pricing Ends: Tuesday, December 31, 2025
- Early Bird Pricing Ends: Sunday, February 1, 2026
- Application Closes: Sunday, March 1, 2026
If your application is approved, there will be additional follow up with the required paperwork for SFDPH and SFFD.
For questions regarding your application please contact Rosine Garcia at 650–333–7628 or vendor@carnavalsf.org
Si tienes preguntas sobre tu solicitud, comunícate con Rosine Garcia al 650–333–7628 o al correo vendor@carnavalsf.org
Volunteers
Applications:
Date of Celebration: Saturday May 23, 2026 & Sunday May 24, 2026
Festival Time: 11:00 am – 6:00 pm (both days)
Parade Time: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm (Sunday)
*Lunch will be provided to all volunteers
There will be a required volunteer meeting. There will be 2 date options for you to choose from for both the festival volunteers and parade volunteers (1 in person or 1 online). Pick one in the application.
Festival Volunteer Orientation:
- In-Person Orientation: Saturday, May 16 | 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
- Online Orientation: Tuesday, May 19 | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Parade Volunteer Orientation:
- In-Person Orientation: Saturday, May 16 | 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM
- Online Orientation: Wednesday, May 20 | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
We welcome and encourage individual or group volunteers.
All volunteers will get a t–shirt, boxed meals, and the gratifying and joyous feeling of contributing to and supporting their community.
Be sure to sign–up for our newsletter for future announcements.
For questions, send an email to our volunteer coordinators at volunteer@carnavalsf.org
You can volunteer for our events knowing that we comply with federal, state, and local health guidelines.
Comparsa Stage Performer
2026 Comparsa Stage Performer Application
This application is ONLY for comparsas and dance groups interested in performing on the Comparsa Stage.
Definition of a comparsa: A comparsa is an artistic, street theater performance group with its own theme, cast of dancers, musicians, other performers, with choreography, costumes, and props–– and in the case of the Grand Parade–– floats. A comparsa creates a new theme for each annual Carnaval San Francisco. To express this theme a comparsa choreographs new dances, performs new music, and sews/buys new costumes. A community organization, local business, company, government agency, or political entity is not a comparsa.
Photographers
Applications: Coming Soon!
If you have questions or concerns, please contact Amanda Nelson at photography@carnavalsf.org
Comparsa Parade Participants
2026 Comparsa Parade Performer Application
Date of Parade: Sunday, May 24, 2026
Definition of a comparsa: A comparsa is an artistic, street theater performance group with its own theme, cast of dancers, musicians, other performers, with choreography, costumes, props, and floats. A comparsa creates a new theme for each annual Carnaval San Francisco. To express this theme a comparsa builds a new float, choreographs new dances, performs new music, and sews/buys new costumes. Comparsas must have at least 30 dance performers, not including volunteers. A community organization, local business, company, government agency, or political entity is not a comparsa.
King & Queen Dance Competition
2026 King and Queen Dance Competition Application
Compete to be crowned the 2026 Carnaval SF King and Queen!
Competition winners will represent Carnaval San Francisco including promotional events and the Carnaval Parade and Festival 2027!
Sponsor
Your sponsorship and support is the backbone of our existence. Help us continue to make this year’s Festival, now in its 48th year, the best one yet! Sponsorship brings added attractions to our exciting event, and helps fund floats, entertainment and awards. Your pledge will support Carnaval’s operations this year and into the future, thus cementing this beloved San Francisco tradition annually!
Download sponsorship packet (PDF)
For sponsorship, contact Rodrigo Duran, Executive Director at (415) 691–1147 or via email at rodrigo@carnavalsf.org