The inaugural Ocean Way Festival will no longer happen this year, the City of Santa Monica announced Friday. Citing beach erosion from storm, the two-day Los Angeles festival set to celebrate the beach and feature performers such as Jack White and Sublime was forced to be canceled according to the city. As Consequence reports, a storm surge from Hurricane Marie and subsequent drain runoff eroded much of the beach, specifically portions where the festival itself was set 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 shared. The website features additional statements from Goldenvoice, organizers for Ocean Way as well as Coachella and Stagecoach, including a promise that plans are already underway for another Santa Monica festival set for 2027. Refunds for already purchased tickets are being issued. The Killer and Olivia Dean were set to headline to the two days of the festival, with other acts such as Jack White, Khruangbin, Sublime, Durand Jones & the Indications all set to play over September 26th and 27th.
“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,” said Santa Monica Mayor Carolina Torosis. “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.”
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