Sublime, The Killers To Headline Santa Monica Beach's First-Ever Major Festival

SANTA MONICA, CA — The Killers and Olivia Dean will headline a new two-day music festival coming to Santa Monica Beach this fall, organizers announced Thursday.

The inaugural Ocean Way Festival is scheduled for Sept. 26-27 on the beach between the Santa Monica Pier and Bay Street. Goldenvoice billed the event as the first major music festival held on Santa Monica Beach.

Jack White, Khruangbin, Sublime, Alvvays, SG Lewis, Hiatus Kaiyote and Durand Jones & The Indications are among the other artists scheduled to perform.

The all-ages festival will feature two stages, with the Santa Monica Pier serving as the backdrop for the main stage. Organizers said the event will combine rock, soul, indie and electronic music with food, wellness, design and beach culture.

Ticket Info

General ticket sales begin at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 23. Santa Monica residents can get early access to tickets, at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 22. More info here.

Two-day general admission passes start at $399 and include access to both stages, seating and shaded areas, and food and beverage vendors.

Two-day Premium Pit passes start at $749. They include general admission access, a dedicated viewing area near the main stage, a private bar, flushable restrooms and access to an elevated viewing deck.

Single-day tickets, payment plans and hotel packages will also be available, according to organizers.

The festival grounds will include standing-room sections, areas where attendees can spread out blankets and additional gathering spaces.

Organizers are also offering access to the Proper Beach Club, an upgraded beachfront hospitality area created with Proper Hotels. The club will include a lounge designed by Kelly Wearstler Studio. Beach club tickets went on sale Thursday.

Santa Monica's 'Renaissance'

Goldenvoice was selected by Santa Monica through a competitive process to develop the festival as part of the city’s more than $60 million Realignment Plan, which is intended to support public safety, economic growth and cultural programming.

The festival will be a centerpiece of The Sandbox on the Beach, a new district planned for major events and public gatherings. The area is also expected to host activities connected to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Super Bowl LXI and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“Santa Monica is in the middle of a renaissance,” Mayor Caroline Torosis said in a statement. “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.”

Parking And Transit

No parking will be available at the festival site. Organizers are encouraging attendees to use public transportation, including Metro’s E Line and Big Blue Bus. Shuttle service, bicycle valet parking and other transportation options are also planned.

Free community events are expected to take place before the festival, including concerts, beach cleanups, student leadership programs, youth water-safety activities and partnerships with Santa Monica businesses.

Ocean Way Festival Lineup

The lineup, in alphabetical order, by day includes:

Saturday, Sept. 26

• 54 Ultra
• Alvvays
• Austin Millz
• DJ Harvey
• Heidi Lawden
• Hot Chip DJs
• Jack White
• SG Lewis
• Sublime
• The Killers

Sunday, Sept. 27

• BLOND:ISH
• Carlita
• Coco & Breezy
• Durand Jones & The Indications
• EREZ
• Good Neighbours
• Hiatus Kaiyote
• Khruangbin
• Nala
• Olivia Dean
• Poolside
• Vandelux

Goldenvoice said the festival’s name was inspired by Ocean Way Recording, the studio business founded by Allen Sides on a Santa Monica street more than four decades ago.

The event also marks a return to the city for Goldenvoice, which produced concerts at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium during the company’s early years.

“Santa Monica has an incredible music history, and Goldenvoice has been fortunate to be part of that story,” Nic Adler, Goldenvoice’s vice president of regional festivals, said 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.”