The Killers and Olivia Dean headline the September concert lineup on the sand.
Concert promoter Goldenvoice and City of Santa Monica leaders announced a new two-day beachfront music festival scheduled for late September, marking the first major multi-day concert event directly on the local sand.
Dubbed the Ocean Way Festival, the inaugural event will run from Sept. 26 to Sept. 27, 2026, stretching across the beach between the Santa Monica Pier and Bay Street. Rock band The Killers and soul singer Olivia Dean are slated to headline the two-stage festival, performing alongside a bill that features Jack White, Khruangbin, and Sublime.
The festival’s name pays direct tribute to Santa Monica’s rich musical history, specifically drawing from Ocean Way, the local street where audio engineer Allen Sides founded the legendary Ocean Way Recording studios more than forty years ago. For Goldenvoice, the event represents a homecoming; the promoter built its early punk and alternative rock reputation in the 1980s by booking landmark concerts at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, located just blocks from the new festival site.
“Santa Monica has an incredible music history, and Goldenvoice has been fortunate to be part of that story. From legendary shows at the Civic Auditorium to the origins of Ocean Way Recording just steps from the beach, there’s a creative legacy here that’s unlike anywhere else. Ocean Way Festival is our opportunity to celebrate that history while building something that feels authentically Santa Monica for years to come.” — Nic Adler, VP Regional Festivals, Goldenvoice
City officials selected Goldenvoice through a competitive bidding process as part of Santa Monica’s $60 million Realignment Plan, an initiative aimed at boosting cultural vitality and local business growth. The event will serve as a cultural anchor for “The Sandbox on the Beach,” a newly designated beachfront zone designed to host upcoming major civic activations, including events surrounding the FIFA World Cup 2026 and the LA28 Olympic Games.
“Santa Monica is in the middle of a renaissance. The city is welcoming the world to its shores, and Ocean Way Festival is how we’re making sure our own community is at the center of it.” — Mayor Caroline Torosis, City of Santa Monica
To mitigate local traffic congestion, organizers are billing the festival as a transit-first event. No on-site parking will be provided. Instead, attendees are being directed to use the nearby terminus of the Los Angeles Metro E Line, regional bus routes, or municipal bicycle valets.
General public ticket sales begin July 23 at 11 a.m. Pacific Time on the festival’s website, with two-day general admission passes starting at $399. You can register for a presale code here. A presale event dedicated exclusively to Santa Monica residents will open on July 22 at 11 a.m. Pacific Time and can be accessed on the festival’s website.
Complete Festival Lineup:
54 Ultra
Alvvays
Austin Millz
BLOND:ISH
Carlita
Coco & Breezy
DJ Harvey
Durand Jones & The Indications
EREZ
Good Neighbours
Heidi Lawden
Hiatus Kaiyote
Hot Chip DJs
Jack White
Khruangbin
Nala
Olivia Dean
Poolside
SG Lewis
Sublime
The Killers
Vandelux
