The world’s first three-day instant film convention is back! PolaCon Bay Area 2026, hosted by the Instant Film Society, took over the Bay Area this past March 13–15. This year’s installment was bigger than ever, featuring a Street Fair, the Zines & Things Swap Meet, and deep dives into historical processes: from Cyanotype and Tintype to handmade cameras and the iconic 20×24 Polaroid.
In partnership with local establishments, Camera West San Francisco and the Leica Store San Francisco co-sponsored the 2026 convention. We were proud to host the official Welcome Party and a featured exhibition by artist J. Marie Valdivia.
Day 1 -Welcome Party & Artist
It was a pleasure hosting the instant film community once again! We kicked off the festivities at the Leica Store San Francisco and our new Camera West space on Maiden Lane for a Welcome Party. A major highlight was our collaboration with local artist J. Marie Valdivia, who showcased the versatility of the Leica SOFORT 2. J. merged the camera’s unique features with her signature multimedia style, inspiring us all with fresh, creative approaches to the instant film.
Day 1 raffle time with our sponsor Fujifilm Instax!
Read more about J. Marie Valdivia’s art practice, please visit HERE.
Day 2 – PolaCon Bay Area Street Fair
For Day 2, the community headed to Thee Parkside for the Street Fair. We were honored to host one last event at this iconic location, which has served as the heart of PolaCon Bay Area for years, prior to its permanent closure.
Cyanotype, homemade 16″x20″ camera with paper negative.
The 20″x24″ Polaroid camera.
3 raffle winners! Special thanks to Fujifilm Instax and Polaroid for the special gifts!
Huge thanks again to the PolaCon Bay Area crew and the Instant Film Society for having us! We are so grateful to Brian, Niniane, and Danny for inviting us back to PolaCon, and to J. Marie Valdivia for showcasing her incredible creativity with the SOFORT 2. To the instant film community and our fellow sponsors, thank you for making us feel at home once again in this exciting world of analog photography!
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