Full Breakdown
Ocean Way Festival Debuts on Santa Monica Beach
7/17/2026, 11:58:40 AM
Core Event: Inaugural Two-Day Beach Festival
Goldenvoice announced that the Ocean Way Festival will launch on September 26-27, 2026 on the sand between the Santa Monica Pier and Bay Street. The Killers headline Saturday night and Olivia Dean headlines Sunday. The full roster includes Jack White, Sublime, Khruangbin, Durand Jones & the Indications, Alvvays, SG Lewis, 54 Ultra, Hiatus Kaiyote, BLOND:ISH, Hot Chip (DJ set), Poolside, and a host of additional acts. The event will feature a main stage with five performers each day and a secondary, more intimate stage, plus open-blanket areas that mirror typical beach recreation.
Background & Context: Goldenvoice’s Return and Naming Heritage
Goldenvoice, the promoter behind Coachella and Stagecoach, is returning to Santa Monica after early-career shows at the nearby Civic Auditorium. The festival’s name references Ocean Way, the short street where audio engineer Allen Sides founded the legendary Ocean Way Recording studio in the 1970s. The city selected Goldenvoice through a competitive process as part of its Realignment Plan, a $60 million civic investment aimed at public safety, business growth, and cultural vitality.
Key Figures & Groups
- Nic Adler, Vice President of Regional Festivals, Goldenvoice – overseeing festival development.
- Caroline Torosis, Mayor of Santa Monica – championing the event as a cultural anchor.
- Brad Korzen, CEO of Proper Hospitality – partner on the beachfront Proper Beach Club.
- Proper Hotels and Kelly Wearstler Studio – designing the premium hospitality lounge.
- The City of Santa Monica – providing logistical support and integrating the festival into the “Sandbox on the Beach” district.
Data & Statistics
- Planned capacity: up to 35,000 concertgoers per day (Variety).
- Ticket tiers: General-Admission two-day passes start at $399 (multiple sources); some reports list a one-day GA price of $229 (Desert Sun). Premium Pit passes begin at $749 for two days.
- Proper Beach Club passes: $1,250 (one day) or $2,250 (two days).
- The lineup comprises more than 30 acts across music, food, wellness, and design experiences.
Why It Matters: Cultural Anchor for Santa Monica’s Renaissance
The festival anchors the newly designated “Sandbox on the Beach” district, which will also host activations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Super Bowl LXI, and the LA 28 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Organizers plan free concerts, beach clean-ups with Heal the Bay, and youth surf-safety programs, positioning the event as a catalyst for community engagement and tourism.
Official Statements & Responses
Nic Adler emphasized that the festival “celebrates a creative legacy unlike anywhere else” and reflects Goldenvoice’s historic ties to the Civic Auditorium and Ocean Way Recording. Mayor Torosis described the festival as a centerpiece of Santa Monica’s “middle of a renaissance,” ensuring the community remains central to the city’s global outreach. Brad Korzen highlighted the Proper Beach Club as a natural extension of Proper’s design-focused hospitality, aiming to elevate the beachfront experience.
Criticism & Opposition
Local observers note the transit-first model—the festival permits no on-site parking and relies on the Metro E Line, bus routes, bike valet, and off-site shuttle services. While praised for reducing traffic and emissions, some residents express concern about accessibility for attendees who prefer driving, given the need to purchase separate off-site parking passes.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on ticket pricing: general-admission two-day passes are listed at $399, yet one outlet cites a $229 one-day GA price. Capacity figures are consistent at 35,000 per day, but detailed crowd-control plans remain undisclosed. Information on the exact number of food-vendor stalls and sustainability metrics is also absent.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Santa Monica has an incredible music history, and Goldenvoice has been fortunate to be part of that story.” — Nic Adler, Vice President of Regional Festivals, Goldenvoice
- “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.” — Nic Adler
- “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.” — Caroline Torosis, Mayor of Santa Monica
- “Music and design have always been at the core of what we do at Proper. Proper Presents has been a big part of that journey, and the Proper Beach Club at Ocean Way Festival feels like a natural next step. To bring our approach to hospitality to an event of this scale, right here in Santa Monica, takes everything we've built to a whole new level,” — Brad Korzen, CEO of Proper Hospitality
- “Ocean Way actually one of the shortest streets in Santa Monica,” Adler said. “It’s only about 100 feet long. But the corner of Bay Street and Ocean Way is about 100 feet from the entrance of the festival.”
