Ruixin ZhangVisual journalist
PHOTOJOURNALISMFOLSOM STREET FAIR

Folsom Street Fair

People attached to leashes, clad in leather, dressed in bold T-shirts—or nothing at all—strutted, danced and paraded unapologetically through San Francisco’s South of Market (SOMA) neighborhood Sept. 27 for the 43rd annual Folsom Street Fair.

The festival emerged in the early 1980s when Kathleen Connell and Michael Valerio combined community organizing with LGBT activism, according to the event’s webpage. SOMA had been a hub for the LGBTQ+ community since the 1960s, but the community faced threats of displacement from city development projects such as the Yerba Buena Plan.

Now spread across 14 blocks, the event draws over 250,000 attendees, making it the world’s largest event for kink, leather and fetish communities, but one that is uniquely San Francisco.

Fairgoers wearing leather harnesses gather on a street at the 43rd annual Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco on Sept. 27, 2026.

Fairgoers wearing leather harnesses gather on a street at the 43rd annual Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco on Sept. 27, 2026. (Ruixin Zhang)

Fairgoers watch a performance above the crowd at the 43rd annual Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco on Sept. 27, 2026.

Fairgoers watch a performance above the crowd at the 43rd annual Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco on Sept. 27, 2026. (Ruixin Zhang)

Mesh and leather straps form part of a fairgoer’s outfit at the 43rd annual Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco on Sept. 27, 2026.

Mesh and leather straps form part of a fairgoer’s outfit at the 43rd annual Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco on Sept. 27, 2026. (Ruixin Zhang)

Performers entertain a crowd at the corner of Folsom Street at the 43rd annual Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco on Sept. 27, 2026.

Performers entertain a crowd at the corner of Folsom Street at the 43rd annual Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco on Sept. 27, 2026. (Ruixin Zhang)

Two fairgoers pose in colorful outfits at the 43rd annual Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco on Sept. 27, 2026.

Two fairgoers pose in colorful outfits at the 43rd annual Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco on Sept. 27, 2026. (Ruixin Zhang)

Wrestlers compete in a ring surrounded by spectators at the 43rd annual Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco on Sept. 27, 2026.

Wrestlers compete in a ring surrounded by spectators at the 43rd annual Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco on Sept. 27, 2026. (Ruixin Zhang)

A fairgoer’s pink platform boots cast a shadow on the pavement at the 43rd annual Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco on Sept. 27, 2026.

A fairgoer’s pink platform boots cast a shadow on the pavement at the 43rd annual Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco on Sept. 27, 2026. (Ruixin Zhang)

Food cooks on a vendor’s grill as fairgoers pass by at the 43rd annual Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco on Sept. 27, 2026.

Food cooks on a vendor’s grill as fairgoers pass by at the 43rd annual Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco on Sept. 27, 2026. (Ruixin Zhang)

Four fairgoers pose for a portrait at the 43rd annual Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco on Sept. 27, 2026.

Four fairgoers pose for a portrait at the 43rd annual Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco on Sept. 27, 2026. (Ruixin Zhang)

Leather straps and metal accessories sit on display at the 43rd annual Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco on Sept. 27, 2026.

Leather straps and metal accessories sit on display at the 43rd annual Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco on Sept. 27, 2026. (Ruixin Zhang)

A fairgoer walks past a bright green wall at the 43rd annual Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco on Sept. 27, 2026.

A fairgoer walks past a bright green wall at the 43rd annual Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco on Sept. 27, 2026. (Ruixin Zhang)

Fairgoers wearing red-and-black harnesses pose for a group portrait at the 43rd annual Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco on Sept. 27, 2026.

Fairgoers wearing red-and-black harnesses pose for a group portrait at the 43rd annual Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco on Sept. 27, 2026. (Ruixin Zhang)

A fairgoer wears a floral headdress and face makeup at the 43rd annual Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco on Sept. 27, 2026.

A fairgoer wears a floral headdress and face makeup at the 43rd annual Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco on Sept. 27, 2026. (Ruixin Zhang)

Fairgoers browse a vendor’s stall behind a metal display grid at the 43rd annual Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco on Sept. 27, 2026.

Fairgoers browse a vendor’s stall behind a metal display grid at the 43rd annual Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco on Sept. 27, 2026. (Ruixin Zhang)

Crowds fill Folsom Street at the 43rd annual Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco on Sept. 27, 2026.

Crowds fill Folsom Street at the 43rd annual Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco on Sept. 27, 2026. (Ruixin Zhang)

A fairgoer poses beside a painted figure at the 43rd annual Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco on Sept. 27, 2026.

A fairgoer poses beside a painted figure at the 43rd annual Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco on Sept. 27, 2026. (Ruixin Zhang)

Fairgoers browse a stall displaying leather accessories at the 43rd annual Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco on Sept. 27, 2026.

Fairgoers browse a stall displaying leather accessories at the 43rd annual Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco on Sept. 27, 2026. (Ruixin Zhang)

A fairgoer wearing a cowboy hat rests beside the street at the 43rd annual Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco on Sept. 27, 2026.

A fairgoer wearing a cowboy hat rests beside the street at the 43rd annual Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco on Sept. 27, 2026. (Ruixin Zhang)

Fairgoers wearing animal costumes gather for a photograph at the 43rd annual Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco on Sept. 27, 2026.

Fairgoers wearing animal costumes gather for a photograph at the 43rd annual Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco on Sept. 27, 2026. (Ruixin Zhang)

A stilt performer towers above the crowd at the 43rd annual Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco on Sept. 27, 2026.

A stilt performer towers above the crowd at the 43rd annual Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco on Sept. 27, 2026. (Ruixin Zhang)

Performers wearing elaborate costumes take the stage at the 43rd annual Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco on Sept. 27, 2026.

Performers wearing elaborate costumes take the stage at the 43rd annual Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco on Sept. 27, 2026. (Ruixin Zhang)

A performer wearing red boots leans toward spectators at the 43rd annual Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco on Sept. 27, 2026.

A performer wearing red boots leans toward spectators at the 43rd annual Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco on Sept. 27, 2026. (Ruixin Zhang)

A fairgoer wearing a pink wig poses with a matching fan at the 43rd annual Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco on Sept. 27, 2026.

A fairgoer wearing a pink wig poses with a matching fan at the 43rd annual Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco on Sept. 27, 2026. (Ruixin Zhang)

A fairgoer raises both arms beside a corrugated metal wall at the 43rd annual Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco on Sept. 27, 2026.

A fairgoer raises both arms beside a corrugated metal wall at the 43rd annual Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco on Sept. 27, 2026. (Ruixin Zhang)