Last year, the elite Navy pilots of the Blue Angels had to disappoint Bay Area fans when the federal government shutdown put their San Francisco Fleet Week performance on pause. But they roared back into position this year, putting on a spectacular, lengthy practice session Thursday and even defying the city’s characteristic fog Friday with a shortened performance.
Late Sen. Dianne Feinstein ushered in the tradition of San Francisco Fleet Week in 1981, when she was the city’s mayor. More than 1,000 members of the Navy, Marines and U.S. Coast Guard come ashore to reunite with their families and show off not just their planes, but also their ships, via public tours – and even their musical talents, with performances by military bands across the city.
But the highlight of the week, which for 2026 runs from Oct. 4 to 12, is the air show on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Flying F/A-18 Super Hornets at speeds up to 700 mph, the Blue Angels cap off each show with their tight formations and acrobatic tricks over iconic landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge and Coit Tower. In addition to the Blue Angels, pilots in F-22 Raptors and a P-51 took part in the air show.
A Blue Angels plane banks while performing over San Francisco Bay. (Ashley D. Cristal/@adcristal)
the Blue Angels are visible through one of the towers of the Golden Gate Bridge. (@edwardperezpahoto)
A vapor cloud envelops a Blue Angels plane as it soars over San Francisco Bay. (Calvin Lam/@c.lam_photography)
The Blue Angels perform over San Francisco Bay. (Dorothy O’Donnell)
Vapor appears on the wings of a Blue Angel plane performing over San Francisco Bay. (Ashley D. Cristal/@adcristal)
The Blue Angels perform over San Francisco Bay. (Dorothy O’Donnell)
Throughout the week, service members also do community service at organizations like the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank and St. Anthony’s Dining Room as part of a tradition of helping the cities that welcome them. They also eat and drink at the city’s waterfront bars and restaurants and attract a million air show spectators to the city, which brings in more than $200 million in overall economic benefit, according to estimates from the San Francisco Fleet Week Association.
The Blue Angels perform over San Francisco Bay on Oct 8, 2026. (geolio) (George Lin/@geolio)
The Blue Angels perform over San Francisco Bay. (Elton Hom/@elmotk)
the Blue Angels perform over San Francisco Bay . (edwardperezpahoto) (@edwardperezpahoto)
“San Francisco has earned a well-deserved reputation as a legendary port visit, and this Fleet Week is the gold standard of all Fleet Weeks ” said U.S. Navy Rear Admiral David J. Faehnle, Commander, Navy Region Southwest, in a release from the association about the week.
The air show also draws the attention of Bay Area photographers, who set up around the bay with their telephoto lenses, poised to capture the very best images. Each year, SFGATE reaches out to ask them to share their photographs from the event. Here’s a selection of our favorites, from both our staff and the region’s most talented shooters.
the Blue Angels fly past Salesforce Tower and the Transamerica Pyramid. (Ashley D. Cristal/@adcristal)
The Blue Angels performed even when conditions were not optimal on Friday afternoon. (@anetfotos)
the Blue Angels perform over San Francisco Bay on October 10, 2026. (Derick Daily) (Derick Daily/@derick.daily)
A flight crew of the Blue Angels is visible while performing acrobatics during Fleet Week in San Francisco. (Robert Ho/@roberthosf)
The Blue Angels fly past Alcatraz. (Robert Ho/@roberthosf)
The Blue Angels are visible below the Golden Gate Bridge. (Donna Eck)
An F-22 Raptor and P-51 perform as part of Fleet Week in San Francisco. (Derick Daily/@derick.daily)
The Blue Angels perform over San Francisco Bay on Oct 2026. (Rizzvisuals) (@rizzvisuals)
the Blue Angels perform over San Francisco Bay on October 10, 2026. (Dana Veeder) (Dana Veeder/@415urbanadventures)
The Blue Angels perform over San Francisco Bay on Oct 10, 2026. (Robert Ho) (Robert Ho/@roberthosf)
The Blue Angels soar past the San Francisco as spectators pack the coastline to view their performance. (Ashley D. Cristal/@adcristal)
The Blue Angels fly over the Golden Gate Bridge. (Elton Hom /@elmotk)
Birds and The Blue Angels fly over San Francisco Bay. (Elton Hom/@elmotk)
The Blue Angels perform over San Francisco Bay. (Elton Hom/@elmotk)
The Blue Angels soar low and past a boat over San Francisco Bay. (@rizzvisuals)
A F-22 Raptor perform as part of Fleet Week in San Francisco. (Robert Ho/@roberthosf)
The Blue Angels buzz by the Golden Gate Bridge enveloped in fog. (Robert Ho/@roberthosf)
This article originally published at The Blue Angels return to SF for Fleet Week: Here are the best photos.