The Ocean Way Festival cancellation follows storm damage at the planned Santa Monica Beach site, where Hurricane Marie-generated surf and storm runoff eroded usable space ahead of the September 26–27 event. Goldenvoice and Santa Monica officials determined the site could not safely accommodate an expected 50,000 attendees per day and are planning a 2027 return.
Key Takeaways
- The Ocean Way Festival was scheduled for September 26–27 beside the Santa Monica Pier.
- Hurricane Marie-generated surf eroded a large portion of the planned festival site.
- Runoff from the Pico-Kenter Storm Drain outfall damaged the southern end of the site.
- The festival was expected to draw up to 50,000 attendees each day.
- Goldenvoice plans to return the festival to Santa Monica in 2027, with ticket refunds expected within five to seven business days.
Ocean Way Festival Cancellation Affects Santa Monica Debut
The planned two-day Santa Monica music festival will not proceed on its scheduled September 26–27 dates after storm-related damage changed the condition of the beach intended for the event. Goldenvoice, the music promoter behind the festival, and the city of Santa Monica announced the cancellation.
Ocean Way was initially announced in July as Santa Monica’s first major music festival. The event was planned for the beach next to the Santa Monica Pier and was expected to accommodate as many as 50,000 people each day.
The festival’s original plans called for performances by The Killers, Olivia Dean, Sublime, Jack White and Alvvays. The cancellation therefore affects both the planned performances and the large event operation that had been prepared for the two-day schedule. Earlier details about the planned debut are outlined in coverage of the original Ocean Way festival plans.
The decision followed an assessment of the beach after severe weather affected Southern California over Labor Day weekend. Officials examined the available sand, emergency vehicle access and requirements for bringing festival infrastructure onto the site.
The assessment determined that the remaining usable beach could not support the event safely. Officials also determined that the loss of usable space would prevent staff from building the infrastructure required for the festival.
Santa Monica Mayor Caroline Torosis said the city could not place tens of thousands of festival attendees on the affected sand until the site was safe. Goldenvoice Chief Operating Officer Melissa Ormond said the company supported the city’s decision and described the cancellation as the appropriate decision for 2026.
Hurricane Marie Surf Erodes the Planned Festival Site
Storm surf generated by Hurricane Marie affected the Santa Monica coastline during Labor Day weekend and removed a substantial amount of sand from the planned Ocean Way site.
According to the city and Goldenvoice, the surf eroded a large portion of the festival grounds. The resulting change in the shoreline meant the festival’s safe shoreline setback would have needed to move significantly farther inland.
The assessment found that the shoreline setback would have needed to move 96 feet inland because of the sand loss south of the Santa Monica Pier. That change reduced the amount of beach that could be used for the event.
The storm’s effects were not limited to changes in the shoreline. Runoff from a nearby storm drain also cut through part of the planned festival area, creating another obstacle for the event’s infrastructure and attendance plans.
Santa Monica’s beachfront has also been used for other music, arts and surf-related events. The city’s relationship with beach culture is documented in coverage of Santa Monica Pier surf and skate culture, including events that combine music with activities on and around the pier.
The combination of coastal erosion and storm runoff left organizers with substantially less usable space than the festival required. The site assessment considered both public safety and the practical requirements of constructing the event.
The conditions also affected access requirements for emergency vehicles. Those considerations were part of the city’s assessment before officials determined that the festival could not proceed on the original site in 2026.
The weather caused other impacts across Southern California during the same Labor Day weekend, including local emergencies in Malibu and Dana Point and coastal flooding and property damage in Long Beach and Seal Beach.
For Ocean Way, the immediate consequence was the loss of sufficient beach area for a festival designed to accommodate tens of thousands of people each day.
Storm Runoff Further Reduces Usable Beach Area
Runoff from the Pico-Kenter Storm Drain outfall affected the southern end of the Ocean Way site. The water cut through the festival area and required the planned southern boundary to move approximately 500 feet north.
That change compounded the beach erosion caused by the storm surf. The shoreline had already moved inland because of sand loss, while the storm-drain runoff affected another portion of the area designated for the festival.
The two changes altered the physical footprint available for festival operations. Officials considered whether the remaining space could accommodate the event’s infrastructure, staff and expected attendance while maintaining necessary safety conditions.
The assessment concluded that the combined loss of usable beach made construction of the festival infrastructure impractical and created unsafe conditions for attendees.
The decision was made before the scheduled September 26 opening date, giving organizers time to cancel the 2026 event rather than proceed with a site that no longer met the necessary conditions.
The beach assessment also addressed emergency access. With an event expected to bring up to 50,000 people to the area each day, officials evaluated whether emergency vehicles could reach the site and whether the altered beach conditions could support the planned operation.
The resulting cancellation was tied to the condition of the physical site rather than a change to the announced artist lineup. The artists had been scheduled to perform during the two-day event before the cancellation was announced.
Major Artists Were Scheduled for the Festival Lineup
Ocean Way was scheduled to feature a lineup that included The Killers, Olivia Dean, Sublime, Jack White and Alvvays.
The festival was planned as a new major music event on Santa Monica Beach, with the expected daily attendance reaching as high as 50,000 people. Its location beside the Santa Monica Pier placed the performances directly within one of the city’s main beach areas.
Ticket prices ranged from $249 to $2,250. The cancellation means ticket holders will not attend the scheduled September performances and are instead set to receive refunds.
Organizers said refunds are expected to be processed within five to seven business days. The refund process applies to tickets purchased for the canceled 2026 festival.
The lineup had included established acts as well as artists with different musical styles. The Killers, Jack White, Sublime, Alvvays and Olivia Dean were among the performers announced for the event.
The planned scale of Ocean Way also required significant temporary infrastructure on the beach. Officials’ assessment of the damaged site included whether that infrastructure could be built while maintaining safe conditions for the public and staff.
The loss of usable beach prevented that work from proceeding as planned. The cancellation therefore affects the entire two-day event rather than requiring a smaller adjustment to the performance schedule.
Ocean Way would have joined other large Southern California beach music events, including another major coastal music festival staged in Los Angeles County.
Goldenvoice Plans Ocean Way Festival Return in 2027
Goldenvoice said plans are underway to reschedule Ocean Way for 2027 in Santa Monica. The promoter said it remains committed to returning to the city and delivering the festival experience originally planned for the community, artists and fans.
The 2027 plan follows the cancellation of the 2026 event rather than the abandonment of the festival. Goldenvoice and Santa Monica officials have identified the damaged beach conditions as the reason the inaugural event could not proceed this year.
The city has prioritized safety at the affected beach site. The decision was based on the amount of usable sand remaining, shoreline conditions, storm-drain damage, emergency access and the requirements for installing festival infrastructure.
The 2026 cancellation also means the original September 26–27 schedule will not take place. Ticket holders are expected to receive their money back within five to seven business days.
Goldenvoice’s planned return gives Ocean Way a new target year after the storm damage prevented the festival’s Santa Monica debut. The promoter has said the festival is expected to return to Santa Monica in 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the Ocean Way Festival canceled?
The festival was canceled after Hurricane Marie-generated surf eroded a large portion of the planned site. Storm runoff from the Pico-Kenter Storm Drain outfall also damaged the southern part of the festival grounds, leaving insufficient safe space for the event.
Where was the Ocean Way Festival scheduled to take place?
Ocean Way was scheduled for the beach next to the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, California.
When was the Ocean Way Festival originally scheduled?
The festival was scheduled for September 26 and 27, 2026.
Which artists were scheduled to perform at Ocean Way Festival?
The announced lineup included The Killers, Olivia Dean, Sublime, Jack White and Alvvays.
Will Ocean Way Festival return to Santa Monica in 2027?
Goldenvoice said plans are underway to reschedule Ocean Way in Santa Monica for 2027. The promoter said it is committed to returning to the city.
