Oakland’s White Elephant Sale returns with art, antiques, and five weeks of public shopping dates
A long-running Oakland fundraiser reopens its warehouse to the public
Oakland’s annual White Elephant Sale has returned for its 67th edition, bringing public shopping days back to its East Oakland warehouse with a large inventory spanning art, antiques, and household goods. The sale is organized and presented by the Oakland Museum Women’s Board, and proceeds benefit the Oakland Museum of California.
Organizers describe the event as Northern California’s largest rummage sale, operating across 20 departments inside a 96,000-square-foot warehouse at 333 Lancaster St. Items offered for purchase are donated and include furniture, artwork, household items, ceramics, sporting goods, fine jewelry, collectibles, music, books, and vintage and contemporary apparel. The sale is staffed by nearly 1,000 volunteers who sort and prepare merchandise year-round.
2026 schedule, ticketing, and what has changed
The 2026 season runs from Jan. 25 through March 1, 2026, with multiple ways to shop depending on date and admission type. Ticket prices vary by shopping day, and capacity limits can apply.
Preview Sale: Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026 (10 a.m.–3 p.m.), admission $50.
Open Warehouse Days: Select dates from Jan. 29 to Feb. 21, 2026 (10 a.m.–2 p.m.), admission $7 per day.
Clearance Weekend: Saturday, Feb. 28, and Sunday, March 1, 2026 (10 a.m.–3 p.m.), free admission; no tickets required.
Organizers say several operational updates are in place this year, including expanded Sunday access. The warehouse is scheduled to be open on three Sundays in 2026: the Jan. 25 preview day, an open warehouse day on Feb. 1, and the first day of clearance weekend on Feb. 28.
Access, transit, and admission policies
Shoppers without advance reservations may still be admitted on open warehouse days as space allows after 11 a.m., paying the $7 admission fee at the door. The sale also includes free shopping hours during open warehouse days: as space allows, entry may be free from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
A free shuttle is scheduled to operate on Saturdays, Sundays, and Presidents’ Day, running continuously between Fruitvale BART and the warehouse beginning at 9 a.m. Organizers caution that parking near the warehouse is limited and encourage transit, carpooling, or ride-share when possible.
For open warehouse days, children over 12 are allowed with paid admission; children under 12 are not permitted during those days. Children of all ages are allowed during clearance weekend, though strollers cannot be accommodated in the warehouse.
Credentialed California preK–12 classroom teachers are eligible for free admission after 11 a.m. on open warehouse days with photo identification and proof of current employment.