Santa Monica's newest attempt at a major beachfront music festival, Ocean Way, has been canceled just two weeks before its scheduled debut. Organizers announced the two-day event, slated for September 26-27, could not proceed due to significant beach erosion caused by Hurricane Marie.
Goldenvoice, the promoter behind Ocean Way and the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, confirmed the cancellation on Friday via its ticketing platform, AXS. In a statement, organizers explained that "storm surf and runoff [have] caused significant beach erosion and the festival can no longer be safely held as planned." According to organizers, plans are already underway to bring the festival back to Santa Monica in 2027.
Tickets, which ranged from $249 to $2,250, are set to be refunded within five to seven business days. The inaugural lineup had been scheduled to feature headline sets from Olivia Dean and The Killers, alongside acts like Khruangbin, Sublime, and Jack White.
Hurricane Marie, exacerbated by a “Super El Niño” weather pattern linked to warming waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean, caused widespread damage along Southern California’s coastline. Coastal areas from Malibu to Long Beach and Dana Point experienced severe impacts, leading to a host of local issues.
Santa Monica City Council member Dan Hall released a statement acknowledging the difficult decision. Hall emphasized that "the safety of festival-goers, our residents and the Pier must remain our priority." He noted Hurricane Marie had also caused sinkholes in Malibu and triggered home evacuations in Long Beach due to rising surf, making the rapid erosion near the Sandbox event space a serious concern. The city is actively working to repair the Pico storm drain and shoreline in anticipation of future weather. While disappointed, Hall expressed optimism about "bringing Ocean Way back next summer."
The cancellation marks a setback for Santa Monica's efforts to revitalize its retail and nightlife scenes, which have struggled since the COVID-19 pandemic. Goldenvoice had announced the festival in July with high hopes of opening up the waterfront to more public events and establishing a new marquee festival for the west side. Promoters had touted Ocean Way as a car-free, transit-oriented event, setting a precedent for concertgoing in the area.
Goldenvoice concert producer Nic Adler told The Times in August that the city desired new initiatives. "We’ve got to take a chance on new things," Adler stated, acknowledging the pressure and risk involved in trying something new. Santa Monica Mayor Caroline Torosis had also previously expressed the city's aspirations, saying, "We have to invite people back to our city." Torosis added that the city had been "yearning to get back a big music festival on our beach to showcase the city, because the beach is our best asset."
This is not the first time a major beachside concert has faced cancellation in the region this year. The inaugural LA Jazz Festival on Dockweiler Beach was also called off on its scheduled opening day due to financial and permitting issues. Martin Ludlow, founder of the LA Jazz Festival, expressed disappointment and hopes to try again.
The impact of weather and climate change has become a growing concern for festivals nationwide. Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Tennessee announced last month it would take 2027 off to repair its grounds after heavy storms led to canceled sets and evacuations. Similarly, Stagecoach, the country music festival held on the same site as Coachella, experienced a temporary shutdown this year due to strong winds. The cancellation of Ocean Way adds Santa Monica to a growing list of event organizers grappling with unpredictable weather patterns.
