Santa Monica Cancels Ocean Way Festival After Hurricane-Induced Beach Erosion

On Friday, September 11, Santa Monica announced that its first Ocean Way Festival would be cancelled. The two‑day music event, slated for September 26–27 on the beachfront south of the Santa Monica Pier, was to showcase a lineup that included The Killers, Olivia Dean, Jack White, Khruangbin, and Sublime, among others.

Promoted by Goldenvoice, the live‑event arm of Anschutz Entertainment Group, the festival was billed as a car‑free, community‑focused celebration of music and the beach. Ticket prices ranged from $249 to $2,250, and the venue was expected to attract thousands of attendees to the state‑park shoreline.

The city’s manager’s office said the cancellation was forced by “significant beach erosion caused by storm surf and runoff from Hurricane Marie.” The Category 2 hurricane, which struck the Eastern Pacific, generated a large southward swell that hit Southern California on Labor Day weekend. The surf and storm‑drain runoff stripped away sand from the festival site, moving the usable shoreline 96 feet inland and cutting the southern boundary of the site 500 feet north. With the shoreline altered, the city said it was impossible to safely accommodate the planned production and audience capacity.

Goldenvoice confirmed the decision in an email sent through its ticketing platform, AXS, to all ticket holders. The company wrote, “Storm surf and runoff has caused significant beach erosion and the festival can no longer be safely held as planned. Plans are already underway to bring the festival back to Santa Monica in 2027.” It also announced that ticket refunds would be processed within seven business days.

Hurricane Marie’s impact on the California coast was extensive. The storm produced high surf and hazardous rip currents from Seal Beach to Dana Point and caused flooding and sinkholes in Malibu. Local officials noted that the erosion at the Ocean Way site was part of a broader pattern of beach damage that could affect future events.

City Councilmember Dan Hall said the council was working to repair the Pico storm drain and shorelines in preparation for upcoming weather. “While we are all disappointed, I remain optimistic about bringing Ocean Way back next summer,” Hall told the Los Angeles Times.

The cancellation follows the earlier shutdown of the LA Jazz Festival, which was scheduled for August 22. Both events underscore the growing risk that coastal weather events pose to live‑music programming in Southern California.

From an industry perspective, the decision highlights the importance of site safety assessments and contingency planning for festivals that rely on natural beachfront venues. Organizers must now consider how to mitigate erosion, manage storm‑drain infrastructure, and coordinate with municipal authorities when scheduling events.

Attendees will receive refunds, and Goldenvoice has indicated it will revisit the Santa Monica site in 2027. No new dates or line‑ups have been announced.

The cancellation marks a significant setback for the local music community, but it also highlights the need for adaptive strategies in the face of increasingly volatile coastal conditions.