Goldenvoice is heading back to the beach. The Coachella promoter has announced the inaugural Ocean Way Festival, a new two-day event set for Sept. 26-27 on the sand in Santa Monica. Billed as the first major music festival ever staged on Santa Monica Beach, the all-ages gathering pairs a stacked lineup with a broader celebration of California culture, food, wellness, design and sustainability.
The inaugural edition will be headlined by the Killers and Olivia Dean, with Jack White, Khruangbin, Sublime, Durand Jones & the Indications, Alvvays, Hiatus Kaiyote, SG Lewis, BLOND:ISH, Hot Chip (DJ set), Poolside, 54 Ultra and more rounding out the bill.
Rather than a sprawling multi-stage maze, Ocean Way will feature two stages across the stretch of beach between the Santa Monica Pier and Bay Street. The main stage will host five artists each day, while a second, more intimate stage complements blanket-friendly viewing areas. The festival’s name is a nod to Ocean Way Recording, the legendary studio founded by Allen Sides just blocks from the waterfront, while the event itself marks something of a homecoming for Goldenvoice, whose early reputation was built on concerts at the nearby Santa Monica Civic Auditorium.
“Santa Monica has an incredible music history, and Goldenvoice has been fortunate to be part of that story,” said Goldenvoice regional festivals VP Nic Adler. “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. Ocean Way Festival is our opportunity to celebrate that history while building something that feels authentically Santa Monica for years to come.”
Beyond the music, organizers are emphasizing hospitality and community. A new Proper Beach Club, created with Proper Hotels and designed by Kelly Wearstler Studio, will offer a premium beachfront lounge experience, while the weeks leading up to the festival will include free concerts, beach cleanups, youth surf and water safety programs and partnerships with local businesses.
City officials also see Ocean Way as a centerpiece of Santa Monica’s broader cultural revival. “Santa Monica is in the middle of a renaissance,” Mayor Caroline Torosis said. “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.”
In keeping with its beach setting, Ocean Way is being designed as a transit-first event, with no on-site parking. Organizers are encouraging fans to arrive via the Metro E Line, Big Blue Bus, shuttle services, bicycles and other micro-mobility options. General ticket sales begin July 23, following a July 22 presale for Santa Monica residents. Hotel packages and Proper Beach Club access are available now.