Home / Arts and Entertainment / Queer Icon Sam Smith to Reopen Iconic Castro Theatre in San Francisco
Queer Icon Sam Smith to Reopen Iconic Castro Theatre in San Francisco
30 Sep, 2025
Summary
- Sam Smith to perform 8 shows at the reopened Castro Theatre in February 2025
- The Castro Theatre underwent renovations, including restoring its iconic neon sign
- Mariah Carey played an unreleased 90s grunge song she "regretted" not releasing
The iconic Castro Theatre in San Francisco is preparing to reopen its doors next year, and the venue has tapped a queer music icon to help inaugurate the occasion. According to a recent announcement, singer Sam Smith will bring their "To Be Free" concert residency to the Castro Theatre for a run of eight shows in February 2025.
"I love San Francisco, and The Castro, especially, has been so central to the Queer community here over the years," Smith said in a press release. "These shows will also celebrate the official reopening, so it's truly an honor to become part of this iconic venue's history."
The Castro Theatre, which first opened in 1922 as a movie palace, had temporarily closed its doors in early 2024 to undergo extensive renovations. These renovations included restoring the theatre's iconic neon sign, installing new chandeliers, upgrading the cooling and heating system, adding more restrooms, and improving ADA accessibility for patrons.
In a surprising twist, pop superstar Mariah Carey also made an appearance at the Castro Theatre, playing an unreleased 90s grunge song that she "regretted" not putting out at the time. The news of Carey's performance has generated significant buzz among music fans.
