Key Takeaways

• Festival Details: The inaugural Ocean Way Festival will take place on September 26-27 in Santa Monica.
• Headliners: The Killers and Olivia Dean will headline the festival, alongside other notable artists.
• Location Significance: The festival celebrates Santa Monica’s rich musical history, particularly its connection to Ocean Way Recording.
• Community Focus: The festival aims to engage the local community while showcasing Santa Monica’s vibrant culture.

The Killers and Olivia Dean will headline the inaugural Ocean Way Festival on Sept. 26-27. The first major music festival on Santa Monica Beach will be produced by Coachella and Stagecoach promoter Goldenvoice, with tickets going on sale to the general public beginning on July 23 here, following a presale on July 22 for Santa Monica residents.

In addition to the “Mr. Brightside” band and Dean, the festival will feature sets from Jack White, Khruangbin, Sublime, Durand Jones and the Indicators. Alvvays, SG Lewis, 54 Ultra, Hiatus Kaiyote, BLOND:ISH, Poolside and a Hot Chip DJ set. The famed Santa Monica Pier will frame the main stage, according to a release, drawing inspiration from the city’s musical legacy.

“Santa Monica has an incredible music history, and Goldenvoice has been fortunate to be part of that story. 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,” said Goldenvoice VP of regional festivals Nic Adler in a statement. “Ocean Way Festival is our opportunity to celebrate that history while building something that feels authentically Santa Monica for years to come.”

The fest takes its name from Ocean Way, the Santa Monica street where musician/audio engineer Allen Sides founded the legendary Ocean Way Recording studio in 1968. The festival’s two stages will stretch across the beach between Santa Monica Pier and Bay Street, with five acts performing on the main stage each day alongside a smaller, more intimate second stage. In addition to standing spots, the grounds will feature areas where fans can stretch out on a blanket on the beach.

“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,” added Santa Monica Mayor Caroline Torosis about the festival’s anchor spot at the new Sandbox on the Beach, a revived beachfront district that hosts major civic events and gatherings, including activations for the 2028 LA Olympics and Paralympics.