Ocean Way Music Festival Canceled Due to Hurricane

The Ocean Way music festival, planned for Santa Monica’s beachfront, will face cancellation just days before its scheduled debut. Originally slated for September 26-27, the two-day event has been called off.

Goldenvoice, known for promoting both the Ocean Way festival and the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, shared the disappointing news Friday. AXS, its ticketing platform, sent an email to attendees explaining the situation. The message cited the effects of Hurricane Marie as the reason for the city’s decision to cancel the inaugural Ocean Way festival.

“Storm surf and runoff have caused significant beach erosion and the festival can no longer be safely held as planned,” organizers stated. They reassured fans that efforts are underway to bring Ocean Way back in 2027.

Tickets, priced between $249 and $2,250, will be fully refunded within five to seven business days. Hurricane Marie, influenced by the prevailing ‘Super El Niño’ weather pattern, led to severe coastal damage from Malibu to Dana Point.

Santa Monica city council member Dan Hall expressed his disappointment in a statement, highlighting the city’s priority on safety. He pointed to sinkholes in Malibu and rising surf levels forcing evacuations in Long Beach. Rapid beach erosion near the Sandbox event area demanded urgent action from the city.

“While we are all disappointed,” Hall added, “I remain optimistic about bringing Ocean Way back next summer.”

Featured headliners for this year’s festival included the Killers and Olivia Dean, alongside acts like Khruangbin, Sublime, and Jack White. The festival’s announcement in July aimed to open Santa Monica’s waterfront to more public events and concerts, potentially marking a new festival trend on the west side of Los Angeles.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Santa Monica’s retail and nightlife sectors have faced challenges. The festival, promoted as car-free, was set to encourage transit-oriented concert attendance. Goldenvoice concert producer Nic Adler expressed dedication to new initiatives, albeit with some risk.

Santa Monica Mayor Caroline Torosis had previously shared the city’s eagerness to host a significant music festival. She believed it could showcase the beach as Santa Monica’s greatest asset, drawing visitors back to the area.

This cancelation marks the second major beachside concert annulment this year. The LA Jazz Festival at Dockweiler Beach was also canceled due to financial and permitting issues.

Changes in climate and weather are increasingly impacting festivals. In Tennessee, Bonnaroo announced a break in 2027 to repair grounds affected by storms. Stagecoach, another festival at the Coachella site, temporarily halted this year due to strong winds.