The Castro Theatre: post-reopening interior views

 429 Castro St. | map |

The Castro Theatre pages: history + exterior views | post-reopening interior views | 2024-2026 interior renovations | earlier interior views | 

The theatre reopened February 6, 2026 with a sold out 35mm benefit screening of "The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert."  
 
Lobby views:  
 

A busy bar on opening night. It's a shot from a 30 second video clip shared February 10 on the Castro Theatre Facebook page. 
 


The lobby from house left. It's one of 23 photos included in a February 13 Facebook post from Matías Antonio Bombal taken during his visit for the February 12, 2026 premiere of "Pillion." He also included many comments about the renovation.  
 
 

A closer look at one of the lobby chandeliers. Thanks to Karie Bible for sharing this photo and sixteen others in a Facebook post. She visited the theatre in May 2026 for the San Francisco Silent Film Festival.   
 


The sink area in the men's room, located in the basement space house left that had previously been the ladies room. Photo: Matías Antonio Bombal - February 2026
 
 
 
Another men's room shot. Photo: Matías Antonio Bombal - February 2026 
 
 
On the main floor of the auditorium:  
 

Across the back with the house set for theatre seating. The photo by Joshua Withers appears with "Meyer Sound Delivers Dual Cinema and Concert Systems for San Francisco’s Castro Theatre," a May 2026 article from Meyer Sound. Also see their Facebook post.  
 


Thanks to Michael Coleman for this opening night look across the new removable seats. On the screen that night: "The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert."
 
 

The lady gracing the base of the proscenium house left. Thanks to James Miller for sharing his February 7, 2026 photo in a post for the San Francisco Photography and Baghdad By the Bay San Francisco Facebook groups. The show that night was "D'Arcy's Drag+Disco."
 
 

Under the organ grille house left. It's a photo by Joshua Withers appearing with "Meyer Sound Delivers Dual Cinema and Concert Systems for San Francisco’s Castro Theatre," a May 2026 article from Meyer Sound.   
 
 

David Hegarty coming up on the new lift opening night to show off the new organ console. The instrument wasn't yet ready to play. It's a shot from "Castro Theatre Reopening Ceremony and Gathering of Iconic Drag Stars," a 34 minute clip of the festivities on YouTube from San Francisco Bay Times.  
 
 

Another angle on the organ console's ascent. It's a shot from the 30 second video clip shared February 10 on the Castro Theatre Facebook page. Also see a closer shot of David Hegarty at the console from APE's PR firm David Perry and Associates.  
 
 

The MGM logo on the curtain opening night. It's another shot from the San Francisco Bay Times video "Castro Theatre Reopening..."  that's on YouTube  
 
 

A February 12, 2026 screen view. Photo: Matías Antonio Bombal
 
 

Looking in from the back of the house before "Trash Talk" with John Waters on March 17, 2026. He got an award from Frameline plus there was a screening of "Serial Mom." Thanks to David Perry and Associates for sharing this photo, and several others, in a post on the BAHT Facebook page. 
 
 

Another March 17, 2026 "Trash Talk" view. Thanks to Gary Meyer for the photo. It's one of eleven he took that night shared in a post on the BAHT Facebook page. Some of his comments: "The auditorium restoration and enhancements are impressive. The dome is especially beautiful. The small characters around its circumference are sampled up close in several framed versions are on the walls to the downstairs bathrooms. A nice touch. The new seats certainly offer improved sightlines... The aisle standards have a nice stencil design. There are a lot of railings which take away from the sense of community it previously had because it is not a free flowing set of four aisles..." 
 
 

On the main floor for the May 2026 San Francisco Silent Film Festival. It's a photo by Karie Bible, one of seventeen she shared in a Facebook post. 
 
 

A wide angle view by Joshua Withers appearing with "Meyer Sound Delivers Dual Cinema and Concert Systems for San Francisco’s Castro Theatre," a May 2026 article from Meyer Sound.  
 
 

Here's the look without the seats. Thanks to Donald Hines for sharing his photo in a May 2026 Facebook post. He says it  "now looks like the terraces of a British football stadium."
 
 

Above the proscenium. Photo: Matías Antonio Bombal - February 2026 
 
 

The house right organ grille. Photo: Matías Antonio Bombal - February 2026  
 
 

A closer look at the organ grille. Photo: Karie Bible - May 2026 
 
 

The restored house right sgraffito mural. Photo: Matías Antonio Bombal - February 2026 
 
 

A closer look at the house right mural. Photo: Karie Bible on Facebook - May 2026
 
 

The ceiling in a blue mood. Photo: Matías Antonio Bombal - February 2026 
 
 

The back of the house the afternoon of the first show. It's a shot from "SF's Historic Castro Theater reopens after a historic $41 mil renovation, " a two-and-a half minute video segment from KTVU Fox 2. 
 
 

A wide angle view to the rear by Joshua Withers appearing with "Meyer Sound Delivers Dual Cinema and Concert Systems for San Francisco’s Castro Theatre," a May 2026 article from Meyer Sound.   
 


A view from onstage with the house set up for "Trash Talk," a March 17, 2026 event with John Waters. Thanks to David Perry and Associates for sharing the photo in a post on the BAHT Facebook page.  
 
 
Up in the balcony:  
  

The vista from the crossaisle. Photo: Matías Antonio Bombal - February 12, 2026. Thanks, Matías!
 
 

A view with the inner proscenium visible. Photo: Joshua Withers for Meyer Sound - 2026    
 
 
  
The ceiling in a green mood. Thanks to James Miller for sharing his February 7, 2026 photo in a post for the San Francisco Photography Facebook group. The show that night was "D'Arcy's Drag+Disco."  
 
 
 
The chandelier going through its different color possibilities. Photo: James Miller -  February 7, 2026 - San Francisco Photography Facebook group  
 
 
  
A February 10, 2026 shot by Steve Jennings/Getty Images for Capitol Records taken during the opening night of Sam Smith's engagement. The photo appeared with "Platinum-selling artist called SF concert 'the most special' of their career," a SF gate review of the performance by Tamara Palmer.
 
 

A look down during the May 2026 San Francisco Silent Film Festival. Thanks to Karie Bible for sharing seventeen photos from her visit in a Facebook post. 

 

The back of the balcony on reopening night. It's one of ten photos shared by the theatre in a February 7 post on the Castro Theatre Facebook page.  
 
 
 
The front of the booth. Photo: Joshua Withers for Meyer Sound - 2026 
 
KRON covered the opening with "San Francisco’s historic Castro Theater reopens with ‘Priscilla Queen of the Desert’ screening," a story that aired the afternoon of the event. See a short opening night video clip of the vertical sign on Facebook from David Perry and Associates. There's a 30 second video clip that includes opening night views shared on the Castro Theatre Facebook page on February 10.  

KTVU Fox 2 had a two-and-a-half minute segment about the reopening festivities. The Bay Area Reporter reviewed the opening with their February 8 story "The Castro Theatre reopens: a stunning, spectacular, stupendous renewal." Aidin Vazari lets you know what to expect in "Castro Theatre: Everything you need to know before visiting the reopened S.F. landmark," his story for the Chronicle, updated on February 10. Thanks to Gary Meyer for spotting it. 
 
Stories in the San Francisco Bay Times included "A New Chapter Begins for the Castro Theatre," "The Return of the Grand Dame of the Castro" and "Castro Theatre Reopening Ceremony and Gathering of Iconic Drag Stars." Another Planet Entertainment's Mary Conde and others were interviewed in "How the Reopening of SF’s Castro Theater Could Revitalize Nightlife," a February 11, 2026 KQED segment.  
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