Ocean Way Festival

The city of Santa Monica has partnered with Goldenvoice, the producers of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and Stagecoach Festival, to launch Ocean Way Festival, a first-of-its-kind, two-day ticketed music festival taking place on the beach directly south of the Santa Monica Pier. On Saturday, Sept. 26, and Sunday, Sept. 27, the festival will feature live music and collaborative programming with Santa Monica artists and businesses, designed to welcome both residents and visitors to the shoreline.

See the resources and FAQ below for festival tickets and information, maps, event preparations and community impact, transit options and more.

Ocean Way Festival is committed to supporting and uplifting the community with a robust set of community benefits leading up to and after the festival. Information about community events will be added here as they continue to evolve.

KEY DETAILS

Location: Ocean Way Festival will take place on the sand between the Santa Monica Pier and Bay Street. The entire event will be enclosed by fencing designed to prevent outside viewing and to keep sound from traveling.

Hours: Event hours are Saturday, Sept. 26, from noon - 11 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 27, from noon - 10 p.m.

For event specific questions, please contact info@oceanwayfestival.com or call (424) 260-1923.

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FAQ

Will the Santa Monica Pier be open during the event?

The Santa Monica Pier will remain fully open during festival load-in, the festival weekend itself, and the load-out period, allowing visitors to continue enjoying dining, shopping, and family-friendly activities. The Pier Event Deck will be closed for festival use, and a fence along the southern edge of the Pier will prevent festival viewing or access from the Pier.

Visitors to the Pier during the festival weekend are encouraged to park in Lot 1 North (1550 PCH), Lot 3 North (1150 PCH), or in the Downtown Santa Monica parking structures. No festival parking is permitted in these lots, and signage and personnel will be present to ensure compliance. Pier visitors are strongly encouraged to use public transit, including the Big Blue Bus system and the Metro E Line.

Will the beach and beach parking be impacted?

Beach access outside of the designated festival footprint will remain open to the public throughout the festival weekend. Main Street parking lots and all beach lots north of the Pier will operate as usual.

On Sept. 26 and 27, the following beach parking lots south of the Pier will be closed to the public:

Lot 1 south
Lot 2 south
Lot 3 south
Lot 4 south
Lot 5 south

Permit holders with Main Street Employee Parking or Overnight Beach Resident permits may continue to park in dedicated areas within Lots 4 and 5. Residents and businesses with Lot 2S or Lot 3S hangtags will retain access to their respective lots.

How will lighting and sound be managed during the festival?

Lighting and sound installations will take place during the week leading up to the festival. Lighting testing will occur on Thursday, September 24, and Friday, September 25, during which adjustments will be made to minimize light spillage affecting nearby homes and businesses.

Sporadic sound checks will occur between 4 and 6 p.m. on Sept. 24, between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Sept. 25, and between 9 a.m. and noon on both Sept. 26 and 27. Festival hours are from noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 10 p.m. on Sunday. All festival sound checks and amplified audio will comply with the city’s event-specific resolution, approved by the City Council on April 14, 2026.

During the sound checks and show days, a live community hotline will be available at (424) 260-1923 to respond to questions and concerns.

Was this event approved by the California Coastal Commission?

Yes, the festival plan was approved by the California Coastal Commission on June 11, 2026.

Does the event comply with city ordinances?

At its April 14 meeting, the Santa Monica City Council passed a resolution adopting certain municipal code waivers during Ocean Way Festival. Read the full text of the resolution here. Ocean Way Festival will comply with all aspects of this resolution.

I own a business. How do I get involved?

Thank you for your interest in participating in the Ocean Way Festival. While Goldenvoice is no longer able to incorporate new partnerships for this year’s event, the city and Goldenvoice are encouraging attendees to support local businesses – both within and outside of the event footprint – before, during and after the festival.

Ocean Way Festival was created in large part to revitalize Santa Monica and attract visitors and business to our city. By simply being open and welcoming customers during the festival, you are an important part of that effort and a participant in the festival experience. We appreciate your support and look forward to seeing the local business community benefit from increased activity throughout the city.

Looking ahead, please complete this form to be among the first to hear about official partnership opportunities for Year 2.

How do I receive city alerts and notifications?

For the latest news and information from the city, please sign up for the SaMoNews newsletter and follow us Facebook or Instagram.

To receive emergency alerts and other public safety information, please sign up for SMAlerts. There is an option to sign up for 30 days if you're visiting Santa Monica.

Who do I contact for further questions?

For community related questions or concerns only, please contact community@oceanwayfestival.com or call (424) 260-1923.

For business involvement questions, please email getinvolved@oceanwayfestival.com.

For general show guest services, please contact info@oceanwayfestival.com.

For AXS ticketing support, click here.

For press inquiries, please email press@oceanwayfestival.com.

For city-specific questions, please contact 311.

Ocean Way Festival

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Lauren Howland

The Killers and Olivia Dean headline inaugural Ocean Way Festival