Portola 2026 Exceeds ALL Expectations in Massive Year 5

The fifth edition of Portola on Pier 80, held September 26 and 27, again kept its attention where it belonged: you came to dance, and the festival gave you a remarkable number of reasons to keep doing it.

The setting had its own beauty. The days were lovely, with rolling fog at dusk giving the transition into evening a character inseparable from San Francisco. It got chilly at night, but that was part of the charm. The vibes were incredible. Being 21+  made this a great place to dance, with people all seeming to arrive on the same page. The outfits were on point, and the attendees matched the chaotic energy of Portola’s social presence. 

For me, it began on Friday with Despacio. The pre-party introduced one of the weekend’s best places to spend time before the main schedule started. For the uninitiated, James Murphy and Soulwax’s David and Stephen Dewaele play records over a custom McIntosh-powered system, and the unbelievable sound gives you a reason to settle in for hours under the disco ball. 

Having somewhere to return to changed the way the weekend felt. A festival schedule usually has you thinking about the next slot and what you need to leave for. Despacio made staying put compelling. Songs had time to unfold, and following the records (and desperately Shazam-ing them) became its own fun. Even with so much elsewhere that I wanted to see, that room kept drawing me back.

Saturday brought Fcukers’ scruffy club pop and Mike D 5D’s blend of new material and Beastie Boys songs, with their overlapping slots requiring an early decision. Tove Lo and Robyn gave the Pier Stage a strong current of Swedish pop and complicated feelings. “Habits (Stay High)” still carries the specificity of someone getting through a breakup badly; “Call Your Girlfriend” and “Dancing on My Own” remain weirdly good songs to shout with strangers. Fatboy Slim brought his own mischievous ear and outrageous energy to the Crane Stage. By this point, the crowd was absolutely feral and the party was in full force.