PolaCon Bay Area

The world's first (and only?) three-day instant film conference returns to the Bay Area in March 13 - 15, 2026!

TICKETS available now!

What can you expect? Get ready for the PolaCon Bay Area Street Fair, Zines & Things, Instant Photography Demos and Workshops, Artist talks, Photowalks, & more! AND a special Day Zero adventure on 3/12!

PolaCon Bay Area takes place at multiple venues across multiple days. Please read the schedule carefully!

Here's the full schedule:

3/12: Day Zero

11am: Rosie the Riveter park and museum.

• Meet at Richmond Ferry Building at 11am, take ferry.

3:40pm: Return from Richmond

• Tiki Bar Happy Hour Early Bird Welcome Party (Location soon!)

3/13:Day 1 of 3

12pm - 3pm: Mission PolaWalk

• Meet at Lee's Launderette. 16th & Albion.

• Instant Film Group Exhibition, "When the Moment Presents Itself"

2pm: Meetup at Harvey Milk Center, 50 Scott St, San Francisco, CA 94117.

3pm - 5pm: Choose Your Own Adventure Lunch Break

5pm-6pm: Meetup at Camera West.

• 120 Maiden Ln, San Francisco, CA 94108

6pm - 10pm: Formal PolaCon Bay Area 2026 Welcome Party

• 111 Minna St, San Francisco, CA 94105

10pm - ???: Still want more instant film fun? We'll have an after party at a special location to be named soon.

3/14: Day 2 of 3

ALL DAY: Thee Parkside.

1600 17th St, San Francisco, CA 94107

10am - 12pm: PolaWalk from Oracle Park to Thee Parkside

12pm - 6pm: MAIN EVENT:

• Workshop topics include:

• Tintype Demo

• How to shoot sports on instant film

• Cyanotypes

• "New Land Camera" Demo

• Model 95 Camera Demo

• Nons Instant Square Back Demo

• 12.12 Project Panel Discussion

• And a VERY SPECIAL SURPRISE!

6pm - 8pm - Choose Your Own Adventure Dinner Break

8pm - 11pm - Detour Bar

• Snacks, Drinks, Arcade Games, Pinball, etc.

• 2200A Market St, San Francisco, CA 94114

3/15: Day 3 of 3

NOON: Meetup At The Ferry Building (Ferry to Oakland departs at 12:50!)

• 1 Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA 94105

1pm - 5pm: East Bay PolaWalk

• Led by East Bay Photo Collective

5:00pm: Ferry Back To San Francisco (Don't miss it!)

5:30pm - 7:30pm: Happy Hour at House Of Shields

• 39 New Montgomery St, San Francisco, CA 94105

7:30pm - ???: The Mint

• Karaoke!!!

• 1942 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94102

What your 3-day pass gets you: Instant Film Society is a registered 501c3 dedicated to informing and promoting the art of instant film photography. Your pass supports our efforts AND supports the instant film community and various entities in the Bay Area, supports the resources necessary to put on PolaCon Bay Area (road closure, facilities rental, etc.), and ensures the future of PolaCon. Plus, you get a special poster and swag bag! Thank you for your support!

PolaCon Bay Area is a Rain Or Shine Event!

Want to present or lead a workshop at PolaCon? Sign up today!

Have a zine to sell? Personal crafts or other products to sell? Sign up to be a vendor at our Zines & Things swap meet!

Want to help PolaCon? Want to attend for free? Sign up to volunteer for a single 3-hour volunteer shift! One volunteer shift = a 3-day pass!

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE: Are you a student? Are you facing financial hardship? Unable to volunteer? NO ONE should miss PolaCon due to not affording a ticket. Thanks to our sponsors, we have a limited number of scholarships available. Send us an email with "Scholarship" in the subject line and we'll be happy to work with you.

Thanks to our sponsors:

@polaroid

@sfinstantphotowalk

@theeparkside

@underdogfilmlab

@glasskeyphoto

@eastbayphotocollective

@leicastoresf

Poster Art by Sleepy Crow Studios