Living Sober’s 50th Anniversary (2026)
Back in 1976, something remarkable happened—San Francisco hosted the very first conference specifically for LGBTQIA+ alcoholics in recovery, igniting inspiration for similar communities across the country. Now, fifty years later, this trailblazing gathering is still thriving, filled with life, connection, and recovery.
Western Roundup Living Sober has long been a cornerstone of the San Francisco Bay Area’s queer sober community, and its impact deserves to be honored, preserved, and celebrated. At a time when LGBTQIA+ individuals continue to face both personal and systemic challenges, this conference and its rich history remain powerful symbols of recovery, strength, and pride.
Since the Castro LGBTQ Cultural District is one of the country’s first gay neighborhoods, we’re thrilled to bring it to the Castro for the 50th Anniversary in 2026, in celebration of our rich shared history.
Pre-planning is already underway, and we’ll be sharing updates regularly—so stay tuned. In the meantime, we’ll see you at Living Sober 2025, August 22-24.
Eager to learn more? You can reach the Living Sober 50th Anniversary Ad Hoc Committee at livingsober50@livingsober.org
Frequently Asked Questions:
Why are we celebrating the 50th Anniversary (2026) and not the 50th Annual (2025)?
We wanted to do something truly special for Living Sober’s 50th, something that feels like a real milestone, not just another year. But a few things made 2025 less than ideal. First, the AA International Convention is happening that year, and historically, whenever that happens, attendance at Living Sober takes a dip. Plus, our main venue is undergoing renovations and wouldn’t be ready in time.
So rather than squeeze in a conference that didn’t feel as big and meaningful as it should, we decided to wait. Just like you celebrate your own sobriety anniversaries a year later, we figured the fellowship could do the same and give us all a chance to be together in 2026 for a true celebration of our 50th Anniversary.
Why are we moving Living Sober to the Castro?
There are three big reasons why we think the Castro is the perfect home for Living Sober:
- Bringing the conference to the heart of our community. While LGBTQIA+ recovery happens all over San Francisco, the Castro has always been the center of it. It only makes sense for Living Sober to be there too.
- Showcasing what makes San Francisco special. We want to create a conference experience that’s worth the trip—especially for those visiting from out of town. Holding it in the Castro, right after SF Pride, lets us highlight what makes recovery here so unique and magical.
- Carrying the message. We know that not everyone struggling with alcohol knows where to find us. By being present in the Castro, we make recovery more visible, reaching alcoholics who might not have found us otherwise.
What will the conference look like in the Castro?
We’ve been thinking about this move for a while. Back in 2022, the Living Sober Advisory Board put together an Ad Hoc Committee to explore what it would take to bring the conference into the neighborhood. After a lot of careful planning, we’re confident it’s not only possible, it’s going to be amazing.
Our plan is to use the Castro Theatre for larger programming, while meetings and workshops will be hosted in familiar community spaces like Most Holy Redeemer, Eureka Valley Rec Center, and Castro Country Club. But we’re also looking beyond traditional venues, finding ways to truly integrate the conference into the Castro’s energy and spirit.
This move is more than just a venue change, it’s a way to evolve Living Sober into something even more meaningful, connected, and uniquely San Francisco.
