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Ocean Way Festival to debut on Santa Monica Beach in September
Developed over time first seen 4 months ago
Ocean Way Festival has confirmed its inaugural lineup, with the Killers and Olivia Dean headlining the new event on Santa Monica Beach this September. Taking place on 26 and 27 September, it will be the first major music festival held on the Californian city's coastline and is produced by Goldenvoice, the promoter behind Coachella and Stagecoach. The festival forms part of Santa Monica's wider "Realignment Plan", a civic investment initiative covering public safety, business growth and cultural vitality, with organisers and the city's mayor framing it as a way to celebrate the area's musical heritage while benefiting the local community.
Alongside the headliners, the bill includes Jack White, Alvvays, Sublime, Khruangbin, Hiatus Kaiyote and Durand Jones & The Indications, plus electronic-leaning acts such as SG Lewis, Blond:ish and a DJ set from Hot Chip. Tickets went on general sale on 23 July, following an exclusive presale for Santa Monica residents on 22 July, with both single-day and two-day passes available in general admission and premium tiers. The event will also feature a beachfront hospitality space, the Proper Beach Club, developed with Proper Hotels and designed by Kelly Wearstler Studio, alongside a series of free community events such as concerts, water-sports programmes and beach clean-ups in the run-up to the festival.
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In short
- Ocean Way Festival debuts on Santa Monica Beach, 26–27 September
- The Killers and Olivia Dean headline; Jack White, Sublime also billed
- Produced by Goldenvoice; tickets went on sale 22–23 July
How this story developed
- 4 months ago Coverage sharpened the festival's community programme and put names to its backers, crediting Goldenvoice's Nic Adler and Santa Monica Mayor Caroline Torosis while detailing added pre-festival activities such as student leadership sessions alongside the previously announced clean-ups and water-sports outings.
- 4 months ago Organisers filled out the festival's civic and hospitality dimensions, tying the event to Santa Monica's "Realignment Plan" and unveiling the Proper Beach Club, a Kelly Wearstler-designed hospitality venue built with Proper Hotels, as tickets duly went on sale as scheduled.
- 4 months ago Ocean Way Festival was unveiled as a new two-day event on Santa Monica Beach for 26-27 September 2026, produced by Goldenvoice with the Killers and Olivia Dean topping a bill that also features Jack White and Sublime, tickets set to open on 23 July after a 22 July resident presale.
- Billboard The Killers, Olivia Dean to Headline Inaugural Ocean Way Festival in Santa Monica
- Variety Santa Monica’s Beach Will Rock With Olivia Dean, the Killers, Jack White and Khruangbin, as Goldenvoice Sets First Ocean Way Festival for September
- Rolling Stone Ocean Way Festival to debut on Santa Monica Beach in September
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The festival represents a meaningful investment in Santa Monica's cultural heritage and local economy, bringing tourism revenue, employment, and business opportunities whilst demonstrating genuine community commitment through resident presales and free programming including concerts, water sports and beach clean-ups. Professional production by Goldenvoice ensures quality delivery, and integration with the city's broader Realignment Plan suggests considered civic development that balances commercial viability with authentic community consideration.
The case against
The festival commodifies public beach space primarily for corporate profit and wealthy festival-goers, with modest community gestures insufficient to offset environmental disruption and loss of public access. Celebrating heritage through expensive ticketing and corporate partnerships represents commercialisation rather than authentic community investment, prioritising business interests and tourism revenue over residents' genuine access to and stewardship of shared coastal resources.
Explained simply
Santa Monica is a seaside city in Los Angeles County, known for its beach, pier and busy tourism economy. It has a long connection with music and entertainment, but large outdoor music festivals are more commonly associated with other parts of southern California.
Goldenvoice is one of the best-known concert promoters in the United States. It runs the Coachella and Stagecoach festivals in the California desert, which attract large audiences and major performers each year.
The event is linked to Santa Monica’s Realignment Plan, a city programme intended to support public safety, local businesses and cultural activity. Supporters see a festival as a way to bring visitors and spending to the area, while its scale means transport, beach access and effects on nearby residents are likely to be important considerations.
Coverage · 3 sources
- Rolling StoneOcean Way Festival to debut on Santa Monica Beach in September
- BillboardThe Killers, Olivia Dean to Headline Inaugural Ocean Way Festival in Santa Monica
- VarietySanta Monica’s Beach Will Rock With Olivia Dean, the Killers, Jack White and Khruangbin, as Goldenvoice Sets First Ocean Way Festival for September
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by Rolling Stone as “The Killers, Olivia Dean, Jack White to Headline New Santa Monica Festival”.