News: Castro Theatre sets reopening date after controversial renovation
Andrea Jesse
Castro Theatre in SF sets reopening date after controversial renovation
After years of scaffolding, dust and debate, San Francisco’s beloved Castro Theatre is finally on track for its comeback.
The landmark movie palace will reopen in February 2026, capping a $41 million renovation that has both revived its historic grandeur and ignited fierce community battles.
The 1922 Spanish baroque theater has undergone extensive upgrades under the direction of Another Planet Entertainment. The Berkeley-based promoter, known for producing the city’s annual Outside Lands music festival, took over operations in 2022.
Renovations include restoration of the decorative ceiling, chandelier and neon marquee, along with a new heating and cooling system, expanded restrooms and improved accessibility.
The raked auditorium floor has been leveled to accommodate motorized seating platforms, allowing for both film screenings and standing-room concerts. Crews have also begun installing a new heating and cooling system, and a replacement organ is scheduled for installation later this year.
“We are thrilled to finally welcome back San Francisco’s world-renowned entertainment and LGBTQ+ community landmark,” the theater said in a statement on its website Friday, Sept. 26.
Another Planet has also added lounge and bar spaces in hopes of attracting broader audiences. CEO Gregg Perloff told the Chronicle earlier this year that the overhaul will boost not only the theater but the Castro neighborhood itself.
“We’ll be bringing in over 200,000 people a year, and that is extremely important to the restaurants, the bars, the coffee shops,” he said.
Still, the project has not been without turmoil. Preservationists fought to protect the original orchestra seating, while small business owners accused the company of forcing them out.
Supervisor Rafael Mandelman called the displacement of longtime tenants “a very bad call.”
Yet anticipation is growing. Frameline Film Festival director Allegra Madsen, whose organization hopes to return in 2026, told the Chronicle her group looks forward to returning to its longtime home.
“It’s really gonna be a magnificent palace when it’s all done,” she said.
To prepare for the reopening, Another Planet Entertainment has started hiring for several jobs at the Castro Theatre, including operations and bar managers, box office staff and part-time production support.
The Castro’s return will mark the start of a new chapter for the century-old theater, which last screened a film in February 2024 before closing its doors.