Beach Damage Forces Ocean Way Festival With Olivia Dean, The Killers, Jack White to Be Canceled
Refunds are being issued and plans for a 2027 Ocean Way Festival are underway, city officials said. Beach Damage Forces Ocean Way Festival With Olivia Dean, The Killers, Jack White to Be Canceled Travis Bland
The City of Santa Monica announced Friday the cancellation of the inaugural Ocean Way Festival, citing beach erosion caused by a storm.
Santa Monica officials said storm surge from Hurricane Marie and drain runoff eroded a large portion of the beach where the festival was going to take place.
“The Beach can no longer safely accommodate the festival production and audience capacity, and with construction and load-in set to begin next week, the City determined that cancellation was the only responsible option,” city officials said. Ticket refunds are being issued.
The Killers and Olivia Dean were set to headline the festival organized by Goldenvoice, which puts on Coachella and Stagecoach. Jack White, Khruangbin, Sublime, Durand Jones & the Indications, Vandelux and about a dozen other bands, DJs and solo musicians were also scheduled to perform over September 26th and 27th.
Promoters had touted the festival as a return of music to “one of California’s most iconic coastlines.”
In a statement, Santa Monica Mayor Carolina Torosis said, “We’ve spent more than a year on this festival, and I’ve spent most of it telling anyone who would listen that music was coming back to this beach. I wanted to stand on the sand, see the Pier lit up behind that stage, and sing along with our community. I feel for the fans, the artists, and the businesses counting on that weekend, and I’m right there with them. But the surf took the beach we planned this on, and we cannot put tens of thousands of festival-goers on that sand until it’s safe. What didn’t wash away is the partnership. Goldenvoice has been a responsible partner from day one, and that work continues. Next year, the show goes on.”
Plans are already underway for Ocean Way 2027, according to the city.
The city plans to move forward with community benefits that were connected to the 2026 festival.
“While we share everyone’s disappointment that the show can’t go on this year, we fully support the City’s decision to prioritize safety, and we believe canceling for 2026 is the right call,” Goldenvoice Chief Operating Officer Melissa Ormond said in the statement. “We are committed to returning to Santa Monica in 2027 and delivering the Ocean Way Festival experience we envisioned for the community, artists and fans.”
