The Ocean Way Festival, which was set to be Santa Monica’s first major music festival, has been cancelled due to environmental damage caused by Hurricane Marie. Scheduled for September 26-27, 2026, the event was to take place on a 550,000-square-foot stretch of Santa Monica’s beachfront near the pier. The City of Santa Monica announced on September 11 that significant beach erosion from storm surf and runoff made it unsafe to hold the festival as planned. Consequently, the city is prioritizing beach restoration efforts.

Organized by Goldenvoice, the same company behind Coachella and Stagecoach, Ocean Way Festival promised a high-profile lineup with acts like The Killers, Olivia Dean, Jack White, and Khruangbin performing over two nights. The event had tickets ranging from $249 to $2,300, reflecting various experience levels. Attendees will receive automatic refunds, and no further action is needed on their part. The cancellation comes amidst widespread coastal damage across Southern California’s Orange County, where other beach cities have declared local emergencies due to the storm.

Hurricane Marie’s impact was especially severe around Santa Monica, where the storm pushed the high-tide waterline nearly 96 feet inland of the area designated for a festival fire lane. Large waves and dangerous rip currents further compromised safety. This erosion and environmental disturbance meant the planned beachfront location could not safely accommodate the festival infrastructure or visitors, forcing the event’s cancellation just weeks before its debut.

Goldenvoice has reassured fans and the community that plans are already in motion to bring Ocean Way Festival to Santa Monica the following year, in 2027. The festival’s organizers expressed excitement about the future, aiming to reschedule and restore the event’s vision after the city completes necessary beach repairs. For updates and future announcements, interested parties can follow the festival’s official channels.