Free admission to Golden 1 Center is not something Sacramento fans see often. The Sacramento Kings Fan Fest on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, is one of the exceptions — and with the event just days away, now is the time to grab a ticket before they run out.
Fan Fest is the Kings’ annual preseason tradition: the moment the franchise opens the arena doors for Sacramento to get a first look at the 2026-27 roster before games start to count. The event is free and presented by Sutter Health. Tickets are required but cost nothing — fans can reserve them through Ticketmaster, and the team’s event page at Kings.com/FanFest has further details on the full program as the team releases them.
The doors at Golden 1 Center open at 4:30 p.m., with the event running from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. For fans who have never been inside the arena, this is one of the most accessible entry points the team offers — a full Golden 1 Center experience, no ticket cost, and a chance to see the roster before the regular season tips off on October 23.
The Details
- What: Sacramento Kings Fan Fest 2026, presented by Sutter Health
- Date: Wednesday, October 14, 2026
- Doors open: 4:30 p.m.
- Event time: 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
- Location: Golden 1 Center, 500 David J Stern Walk, Sacramento, CA 95814
- Admission: Free — tickets required, available at no cost through Ticketmaster
- Official info: Kings.com/FanFest
- Bag policy: Small clutches and wallets only, under 8″ × 6″ × 1″; medical and parental bags admitted with X-ray screening
Parking and Getting There
Golden 1 Center does not have its own parking structure. The City of Sacramento’s SacPark garages are the standard option — they open two hours before each event and use flat-rate pricing. Passes can be reserved in advance at reserve.sacpark.org/venues/golden-1-center-parking; prepaid passes are valid from two hours before until two hours after the event ends.
Pedestrian walkways from SacPark garages reach the arena entrance at 5th & J, 7th & K, and 5th & L streets. For those arriving by bike, the Sacramento Area Bike Association runs free bike valet at Ali Yousseffi Square at 7th & K Street, open two hours before major events. The SacPark information line is (916) 264-5011. Light rail riders can use the K Street stop, about two blocks from the arena.
The Week at Golden 1 Center
The night before Fan Fest, the Kings host the Portland Trail Blazers in the first preseason game of the year — Tuesday, October 13, at 7:00 p.m. That game is ticketed through Golden1Center.com and provides a longer look at the roster in live game action. Some fans attend both: the preseason game Tuesday night and Fan Fest the following evening.
After Fan Fest, the season begins in earnest. The Sacramento Kings home opener is October 23 against Portland — the first game of the regular season at Golden 1 Center. November follows with eleven home games, including a Lakers matchup on November 4 that historically sells quickly. For fans still learning the arena, the Golden 1 Center home game guide covers food, parking logistics, and what to expect inside on a game night.
Tips Before You Go
Golden 1 Center sits in downtown Sacramento at 500 David J Stern Walk, within walking distance of Old Sacramento and the Midtown corridor. Arriving at or before the 4:30 p.m. door time on a Wednesday evening helps avoid security backlog; the event itself runs only 60 minutes, so getting inside early is worth the planning.
Accessibility is strong at Golden 1 Center. The venue offers accessible seating options, assistive listening devices, closed captioning devices, elevator priority, family restrooms, and wheelchair escorts. For specific accessibility questions, reach the arena at 888-91-KINGS.
Bottom Line
Kings Fan Fest is the best free way to step inside Golden 1 Center and see the 2026-27 Sacramento Kings before the season starts. The event is one hour, the tickets are free, and the arena on its own is worth experiencing. Reserve a ticket at Ticketmaster, check Kings.com/FanFest for the full activity lineup, and plan to arrive by 5:30 p.m. to settle in before things begin on the court.
