The 23rd SF International Arts Festival (SFIAF) presents music, theater, dance, multidisciplinary and spoken word performances in Mission District locations, April 30 through May 10.
Enlarging on the presenting organization’s core commitments to social justice and “increasing human awareness and understanding within and across cultures,” the festival's theme is “IN DIASPORA: I.D. for the New Majority.” Artists were asked to contemplate the changing demographics of the United States and to reflect on the conditions of minority, migrant, disenfranchised, or displaced peoples in other countries and continents.
Except during world wars, “international” used to mean something global and positive. In 2026, world involvement — which is at the heart of the festival — means new challenges to artists and producers: assuring the participation of artists from abroad, securing visas, finding finances at a time of grant cancellations — it’s all beyond usual “showbiz” difficulties.
And yet, Founder/Executive Director Andrew Wood told SF Classical Voice:
“I would rather focus on some of the good things that are still happening. Artists of color not getting visas is no longer news. And yet, Eryen Korath from Colombia and Bia Ferreira from Brazil — both of African descent and truly brilliant musicians — got O1 visas (good for three years) so they are okay and will be joining us.”
Just two days later, the good news got turned upside down. According to a festival release, “Mufutau Yusuf (Republic of Ireland/Nigeria), Kôdrô Aoussou Evry (Germany/Ivory Coast) and Kalakshetra Reshma Rajeev (India) have all been forced to withdraw for reasons related to Donald Trump's presidential decrees.”
When Presidential Proclamation 10998, issued in December 2025, banned individuals from 19 countries, the order specifically exempted dual nationals who also held citizenship in countries not on the banned list.
What SFIAF and other organizations now realize is that one of the agencies in charge — US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) — can, in Wood’s words, "out-Trump Trump” and deny visas, using Policy Memo 0194 to place an indefinite hold on processing all petitions filed by or on behalf of foreign nationals who are from countries listed in the proclamation, whether by passport or country of birth.
Thus, exempted dual nationals who have passports from non-banned/ restricted countries, don’t receive visas. Artists who have been denied documentation not only have to cancel performances in San Francisco, they also miss out on any other scheduled stops of their U.S. tours.
In case of famous Bharatanatyam performer Rajeev, who was to collaborate with Bay Area-based choreographer and dancer Nikitha Sreekant in the festival, there was another complication: Her Indian diplomatic “White” passport became useless when the bombing of Iran prompted the Indian government to disallow travel to the U.S., citing safety reasons.
Wood issued an apology to those “who purchased tickets and anticipated witnessing these artists at the festival this year. Their absence is deeply felt. Their work reflects the global exchange of culture and ideas that defines SFIAF. We remain committed to presenting an inclusive and dynamic festival experience, even as we navigate these treacherous and unpredictable political waters.”
Despite the complications, the festival still has many performances on the schedule. There is free admission to several events. For individual tickets and the $100 festival pass, call the box office at (415) 399-9554.
Among shows of the first week (April 30-May 1): the world premiere of Clouds from a Crumbling Giant by inkBoat, and the return of Duane Forrest with reprise from last season of Bob Marley: How Reggae Changed the World, following the show's extended run off-Broadway in New York.
Melissa Cruz Flamenco will initiate the festival’s first performance at the Mission Masonic Lodge and Argentinian composer and bandoneon player Ramiro Boero will resume his tango nuevo collaboration with pianist Sumi Lee (both Sat., May 2).
Highlights of the second week (May 7-10) include the world premiere of the play Rio Journal by Bellville Productions, the festival debuts of Orquesta Típica Tarareando and folk singer Veronica Margaret. Colombian marimba master Eryen Korath continues her residency with marimba de chonto band Neblinas del Pacifico, and closing night presents a performance by folk/ rock vocal group Conspiracy of Venus to celebrate Mother’s Day.
