Soulful Rhythms and Stained-Glass Serenity: What’s On in San Francisco Today

Monday in the City: Jams, Zen, and Fine Art

As the final week of January begins, San Francisco offers a sophisticated blend of community-focused performance, meditative wellness, and world-class museum exhibitions. Whether you are looking to find your center under the vaulted ceilings of a historic cathedral or join a lively jazz session in Hayes Valley, the city’s schedule for Monday, January 26, 2026, has something to inspire everyone.

Music and Performance

• SFJAM: Free Community Jam Session: For those who want to start their week with a swing, the SFJAZZ Center hosts its regular SFJAM at the Joe Henderson Lab at 7:00 PM. Led by the talented Kasey Knudsen, this free community event is a laboratory for local musicians of all skill levels. It is a unique chance to witness spontaneous improvisation and the collaborative spirit of the Bay Area jazz scene in an intimate, professional setting.

Wellness and Community Meetups

• Grace Cathedral Sound Bath: Experience a meditative sonic journey at one of the city's most iconic landmarks. Starting at 7:00 PM, Grace Cathedral presents a Sound Bath featuring "Factuals of Sound." Participants can lie back and relax as the cathedral’s famous stained glass filters the twilight, and the space is filled with the resonant frequencies of singing bowls and ambient instruments. It is widely considered one of the most tranquil ways to reset for the work week.

Art and Public Exhibitions

• Hearts in San Francisco at the Ferry Building: A walk through the Embarcadero is rewarded today by the "Hearts in San Francisco" exhibition. Currently on display at the Ferry Building, this 2026 collection features 21 one-of-a-kind heart sculptures created by local artists. This public exhibit is free and provides a vibrant look at local creativity before the pieces are auctioned to support the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital.
• New Installations at SFMOMA: The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is open today from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Visitors should make a point to see the newly debuted bronze sculpture Behold by Rose B. Simpson on the Floor 4 terrace. Additionally, the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Atrium is currently hosting Samia Halaby: Kinetic Paintings, a monumental digital display of abstract art from a pioneer in the field.

Science and Nature

• California Academy of Sciences: Open daily from 9:30 AM, the Academy in Golden Gate Park offers several verified programs today. Visitors can watch the African penguin colony during feeding sessions at 10:30 AM and 3:00 PM, or take a seat in the Morrison Planetarium for a high-speed tour of the Big Bang at 12:30 PM.