Ocean Way Festival Canceled After Santa Monica Beach Erosion

Santa Monica’s first Ocean Way Festival has been canceled less than three weeks before its planned debut after storm-driven erosion sharply reduced the usable beach. The two-day event was scheduled for September 26 and 27 with the Killers and Olivia Dean leading a broad rock, pop and alternative lineup.

City officials said surf generated by Hurricane Marie, combined with runoff from a storm-drain outlet, removed enough sand to make the planned festival footprint unsafe. Variety reported that the required shoreline setback would have moved 96 feet inland, while the southern edge of the site also had to shift roughly 500 feet north.

Safety assessment forces a late cancellation

The city evaluated emergency access, crowd circulation, construction needs, tides and the extended forecast before determining that the smaller remaining area could not safely hold the event. Production load-in was due to begin the following week, leaving organizers without a workable alternative at the beach site.

Ocean Way had been designed to draw as many as 45,000 people per day. Saturday’s bill included the Killers, Jack White and Sublime, while Sunday was set to feature Olivia Dean, Khruangbin and Durand Jones & the Indications. Rolling Stone also listed acts including Alvvays, Hiatus Kaiyote, SG Lewis and a Hot Chip DJ set.

Ticket buyers do not need to submit refund requests. Organizers said refunds for passes, which ranged from $249 to $2,250, will be processed automatically. Variety reported an expected processing window of five to seven business days.

A 2027 return is already being discussed

Santa Monica and promoter Goldenvoice both said they support bringing Ocean Way back in 2027. Mayor Caroline Torosis acknowledged the disappointment for fans, artists and nearby businesses but said tens of thousands of attendees could not be placed on compromised sand. Goldenvoice likewise backed the safety decision.

No lineup has been announced for a future edition, and it remains unclear whether this year’s artists would return. For now, the cancellation turns what was intended as a major revival of large-scale music on Santa Monica’s beach into a test of how outdoor festivals adapt when coastal conditions alter a venue on short notice.