The best photos from Portola, San Francisco’s loudest music fest

By the weekend’s end, this year’s Portola Festival expects 45,000 people to flock to Pier 80 for what’s become known as the city’s loudest music festival, with booming bass from DJs and electronic musicians known to reverberate across SF Bay to Alameda.

The first day of the festival went off without a hitch, a smooth operation run by megapromoters Goldenvoice, best known for organizing Coachella. As opposed to last year’s dreary weather, Saturday offered a beautiful treat for festivalgoers, a rare San Francisco day when three layers weren’t required (until sundown, of course). It made the concrete landscape of their pier feel a little less stark, although, like previous years, there wasn’t much art – or even seating – to be found (expect more about that in our yearly best and worst round-up).

LCD Soundsystem performs the headlining set on the Pier Stage at the Portola Music Festival on Saturday Sept. 20, 2025. (Charles Russo/SFGATE)

Two people dance together at the Red Bull dance club during the Portola Music Festival on Pier 80 in San Francisco, Calif. on Sept. 21, 2025. (Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE)

Concertgoers arrive to the Portola Music Festival on Saturday afternoon, Sept. 20, 2025. (Charles Russo/SFGATE)

Festivalgoers dance inside the Despacio tent at the Portola Music Festival on Saturday Sept. 20, 2025. (Charles Russo/SFGATE)

Of the five stages, including the fantastic addition of the Despacio club experience, the Pier Stage offered acts with the most anticipation, especially the one-two punch of headliners in pop superstar Christina Aguilera and the unparalleled dance-rock of LCD Soundsystem. Other highlights included Magdalena Bay, with in a four-piece formation that added a rock edge to their synth-pop bangers, hard afternoon techno from Japanese DJ Yousuke Yukimatsu and a laser-filled spectacle for Chemical Brothers closing out the warehouse stage.

Scroll down to see all of the best photos from the event, courtesy of SFGATE’s photo team, who logged thousands of steps to bring you a view of the action.

Concertgoers pose for a photo at the Portola Music Festival on Saturday Sept. 20, 2025. (Charles Russo/SFGATE)

Janet Planet of Confidence Man performs on the Pier Stage at Outside Lands on Saturday Sept. 20, 2025. (Charles Russo/SFGATE)

Kyle, left, and Boots from Seattle show off their aquatic outfit theme (in support of their friend Amanda who is about the swim the English Channel) at the Portola Music Festival on Saturday Sept. 20, 2025. (Charles Russo/SFGATE)

Arc de Soleil performs on the Pier Stage at the Portola Music Festival on Saturday Sept. 20, 2025. (Charles Russo/SFGATE)

UK DJ Oppidan performs on the Crane Stage at the Portola Music Festival on Saturday Sept. 20, 2025. (Charles Russo/SFGATE)

Kirk Talisayan of San Jose poses for a photo at the Portola Music Festival on Saturday Sept. 20, 2025. (Charles Russo/SFGATE)

Festival goers hang out against a shipping container at the Portola Music Festival on Saturday Sept. 20, 2025. (Charles Russo/SFGATE)

A couple shares a moment during the Portola Music Festival on Pier 80 in San Francisco, Calif. on Sept. 21, 2025. (Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE)

Karl Hyde and Rick Smith of Underworld wave to the crowd during their set on the Pier Stage at the Portola Music Festival on Pier 80 in San Francisco, Calif. on Sept. 21, 2025. (Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE)

Andrea, left, and Rishi from Honolulu, Hawaii, pose for a photo at the Portola Music Festival on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Charles Russo/SFGATE)

Concertgoers wait on line to get into the Warehouse at the Portola Music Festival on Saturday Sept. 20, 2025. (Charles Russo/SFGATE)

Magdalena Bay performs on the Pier Stage at the Portola Music Festival on Saturday Sept. 20, 2025. (Charles Russo/SFGATE)

A festivalgoer wears an astronaut helmet during the Portola Music Festival on Pier 80 in San Francisco, Calif. on Sept. 21, 2025. (Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE)

Concertgoers sit on the concrete at Pier 80 during the Portola Music Festival on Saturday Sept. 20, 2025. (Charles Russo/SFGATE)

Ravyn Lenae performs on the Pier Stage during the Portola Music Festival on Pier 80 in San Francisco, Calif. on Sept. 21, 2025. (Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE)

Concert goers dance to Jazzy and Kilimanjaro at the Portola Music Festival on Saturday Sept. 20, 2025. (Charles Russo/SFGATE)

Christina Aguilera performs on the Pier Stage at the Portola Music Festival on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (Charles Russo/SFGATE)

Festivalgoers react Blood Orange’s performance during the Portola Music Festival on Pier 80 in San Francisco, Calif. on Sept. 21, 2025. (Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE)

A concert goer dances with an inflatable monkey inside the Ship Tent at the Portola Music Festival on Saturday Sept. 20, 2025. (Charles Russo/SFGATE)

The DARE performs inside the ship tent at the Portola Music Festival on Saturday Sept. 20, 2025. (Charles Russo/SFGATE)

Rico Nasty performs on the Crane Stage during the Portola Music Festival on Pier 80 in San Francisco, Calif. on Sept. 21, 2025. (Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE)

Fans dance to Anti Up inside the Warehouse at the Portola Music Festival on Saturday Sept. 20, 2025. (Charles Russo/SFGATE)

Festivalgoers enjoy the atmosphere at the Portola Music Festival on Pier 80 in San Francisco, Calif. on Sept. 21, 2025. (Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE)

The Chemical Brothers perform the headlining set in the Warehouse at the Portola Music Festival on Saturday Sept. 20, 2025. (Charles Russo/SFGATE)

Festivalgoers listen to Arca in the Ship Tent during the Portola Music Festival on Pier 80 in San Francisco, Calif. on Sept. 21, 2025. (Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE)