Bay Bridge Lights to Shine Again After Nearly 3 Years

The iconic Bay Lights installation will relight the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge in March 2026 after a major rebuild.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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The Bay Lights, an iconic light installation on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, will relight the western span of the bridge in March 2026 after nearly three years of darkness. The $11 million rebuild project by the nonprofit Illuminate was funded entirely through private donations and will feature 48,000 custom LED lights designed to withstand the bridge's harsh marine environment.

Why it matters

The Bay Lights have become an iconic symbol of San Francisco and the Bay Area, drawing visitors and locals alike. The return of the lights will be a welcomed sight, restoring a sense of beauty and civic pride to the region after years of darkness on the bridge.

The details

The new Bay Lights system is a complete rebuild engineered to withstand the bridge's wind, salt air, and vibration. Musco Lighting led the design and fabrication, which includes 48,000 custom LEDs. The relighting is scheduled for March 20, 2026, coinciding with the 92nd birthday of former San Francisco Mayor Willie L. Brown, for whom the western span is named.

  • The original Bay Lights installation debuted in 2013.
  • The lights went dark in 2023 due to weather, wind, and corrosion.
  • The $11 million rebuild project was funded entirely through private donations.
  • The relighting is scheduled for March 20, 2026.

The players

Illuminate

The nonprofit organization that handles the Bay Lights installation.

Leo Villareal

The artist who created the original Bay Lights installation.

Musco Lighting

The company that led the design and fabrication of the new Bay Lights system.

Willie L. Brown

The former San Francisco mayor for whom the western span of the Bay Bridge is named.

Daniel Lurie

The current mayor of San Francisco.

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What they’re saying

“The Bay Lights belong to San Francisco. They're a reminder that beauty can live at the scale of infrastructure — and that awe can be part of a city's identity.”

— Ben Davis, Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of Illuminate

“This is not a retrofit — it's a purpose-built system. Everything has been designed specifically for the Bay Bridge environment: the wind loads, the salt air, the vibration, and the need for long-term reliability.”

— Adam DeJong, Project Manager at Musco Lighting

“I'm thrilled to welcome back the light installation that will once again bring beauty and pride to our city and the whole region.”

— Daniel Lurie, Mayor of San Francisco

What’s next

The relighting event on March 20, 2026 will feature the primary north-facing display visible from San Francisco's waterfront. A second phase expanding visibility to other Bay Area communities is planned following final safety testing and agency review.

The takeaway

The return of the iconic Bay Lights installation will restore a beloved symbol of San Francisco and the Bay Area, showcasing the region's commitment to public art and infrastructure that inspires awe and civic pride.