Ocean Way Festival cancelled due to beach erosion caused by Hurricane Marie

The Ocean Way Festival, scheduled for September 26 and 27 in Santa Monica, has been cancelled just weeks before its debut. The cause is severe beach erosion brought on by Hurricane Marie and the accompanying stormwater and runoff. The city of Santa Monica announced the cancellation on Friday through an official statement, after it became clear that the beach could no longer safely accommodate the festival setup and the expected number of visitors.

The festival was organized by Goldenvoice, the company behind major American festivals such as Coachella and Stagecoach. The lineup was impressive: The Killers and Olivia Dean were set to headline, with Jack White, Khruangbin, Sublime, Alvvays, Durand Jones and the Indications, Hiatus Kaiyote, SG Lewis, Blond:ish, Vandelux, and a DJ set from Hot Chip also on the bill. Tickets were priced from $249 to $2,250.

The city had promoted the festival as the return of major live music to one of California's most iconic coastlines, with the famous Santa Monica Pier as the backdrop behind the stage. Mayor Carolina Torosis said in a statement that she was deeply disappointed, having actively campaigned for the event for more than a year. "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," Torosis said.

Goldenvoice's executive director, Melissa Ormond, emphasized that the decision was the right one. "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," she said in a joint statement. Ormond also confirmed that the partnership with the city remains intact and that the organization is committed to returning in 2027.

Ticket holders do not need to take any action: refunds will be processed automatically and should appear in their accounts within a few business days. Whether the full lineup will return in 2027 has not yet been announced. For Dutch music fans who had planned a trip to the West Coast of America around this festival, the news is a real blow, especially since artists like The Killers, Jack White, and Khruangbin are hugely popular in Europe too, and a festival appearance like this would have been a rare combination to see all in one place.