About this Event
NB. Register here for Night of Ideas 2026:
As part of Night of Ideas 2026: Lighting the Way, join us for Afrofuturism: Our Tomorrows Will Not Be Colonized, a dynamic conversation exploring how Afrofuturism reclaims the future through imagination, culture, and speculative storytelling.
Night of Ideas returns in 2026 as an after-dark celebration of art, innovation, and culture happening across cities throughout the United States. In San Francisco, this year’s theme “Lighting the Way” invites Bay Area audiences to explore how ideas, creativity, and collective action can illuminate new paths forward, especially as we look toward the next 250 years after the American Declaration of Independence.
This special panel examines Afrofuturism as a powerful framework for imagining liberated futures. Through literature, art, and cultural commentary, Afrofuturist creators challenge colonial narratives about technology, progress, and power, offering instead visions rooted in resilience, innovation, and collective possibility.
Together, the speakers will explore questions such as:
- How does Afrofuturism reshape our understanding of the future?
- What role does storytelling play in resisting colonial narratives?
- How can speculative imagination help us build more just and connected worlds?
Part of a vibrant night filled with conversations, performances, and creative exploration, this discussion invites audiences to imagine futures where our tomorrows are defined by liberation, community, and visionary thinking.
About Night of Ideas
Night of Ideas is a global evening dedicated to public dialogue, artistic exchange, and cultural exploration. In San Francisco, the event transforms the Civic Center corridor between the San Francisco Public Library and the Asian Art Museum into a hub of ideas, featuring talks, live performances, workshops, art installations, and food.
Earlier in the day, the Afternoon of Ideas (3:00–7:00 PM) offers a family-friendly experience with hands-on workshops, playful performances, and creative activities led by artists, educators, and children’s book authors, inviting curiosity, play, and intergenerational exchange.
Night of Ideas San Francisco is presented by Villa Albertine San Francisco, Asian Art Museum, Circuit Network, KQED, and the San Francisco Public Library.
Night of Ideas 2026 is organized across the United States by Villa Albertine and the Albertine Foundation, and coordinated worldwide by the Institut Français.
About Sistah Scifi
Started in 2019 by Isis Asare, Sistah Scifi is the first Back-owned bookstore focused on science fiction and fantasy in the US, as validated by the American Booksellers Association. Located primarily in cyberspace, Sistah Scifi launched three Sistah Scifi Book Vending Machines at Chapter 510 located at 546 9th St, Oakland, CA 94607, and Northwest African American Museum and Distant Worlds Coffee in Seattle, WA in 2022. More at www.sistahscifi.com.
Photography/Video Notice: By attending this event, you consent to photography and video recording for promotional use. If you prefer not to appear in event media, please notify a staff member upon arrival.
Event Venue
Main Library - San Francisco Public Library, 100 Larkin Street, San Francisco, United States
