Giant Pandas Are Coming to SF Zoo (Still Working on the 'When')
No date yet, no ticket link, no bamboo on order — but Mayor Lurie wants the city's zoo donors to know he hasn't forgotten about the pandas.
By Drew Bennett, Things to Do · May 30, 2026
What this means practically: nothing you can put on your calendar yet. The SF Zoo last housed giant pandas in the early 2000s, and a return loan from China would be a genuine draw — these animals move attendance numbers in a way most exhibits don't. The mayor's letter signals the deal is still in play, not that it's done.
When an announcement with actual dates does drop, the zoo is at 1 Zoo Road in the Sunset, accessible by the 23 or 18 bus lines (no BART stop nearby — budget 20 minutes from West Portal). Admission runs $25 for adults, less for kids and seniors, and the zoo is free the first Wednesday of each month for San Francisco residents with ID.