Goldenvoice Brings Big Sound Back to the Shore: Ocean Way Festival Debuts in Santa Monica
If you’ve lived on the Westside long enough, you know its relationship with live music runs deep. From legendary late-night sets at the old Santa Monica Civic Auditorium to the iconic Twilight Concert Series out on the pier, music has always been built into the fabric of our city.
This fall, that history gets an incredible new chapter.
Goldenvoice—the powerhouses behind Coachella—just announced the debut of Ocean Way Festival, a massive two-day event taking over the sand right between the Santa Monica Pier and Bay Street on September 26 and 27, 2026.
It isn't just another weekend festival. It’s a full-circle homage to our local culture that’s set to send some major positive energy across the entire Westside economy.
A Lineup Built on Coastal Legacy
The event takes its name directly from Ocean Way, the beachfront street where sound pioneer Allen Sides first established the famous Ocean Way Recording Studios. To match that pedigree, Goldenvoice put together a heavy-hitting, genre-spanning bill:
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Saturday, Sept 26: A rock-heavy lineup headlined by The Killers and Jack White, with performances by Sublime, Alvvays, and SG Lewis.
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Sunday, Sept 27: A smoother, soulful vibe featuring Olivia Dean, Khruangbin, Durand Jones & The Indications, and Hiatus Kaiyote.
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On-the-Sand Hospitality: VIP ticket holders will get access to the "Proper Beach Club"—a curated enclave on the sand created in partnership with Proper Hotels, featuring high-end lounge spaces and premium mainstage viewing.
Planning Note: To keep the neighborhood moving smoothly, the festival will have zero on-site parking. Organizers are encouraging rideshares, biking the strand, or taking the Metro E Line right into Downtown Santa Monica.
The Bigger Picture: What Events Like This Do for the Westside
Beyond the music, landing a major festival like this is a huge win for Santa Monica’s ongoing revitalization.
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A Direct Shot in the Arm for Local Business: Late September is usually when the summer travel rush starts to quiet down. Bringing thousands of visitors directly to Ocean Avenue and Downtown Santa Monica injects immediate revenue into our local boutique hotels, restaurants, and shops right when they need it most.
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Refueling Santa Monica’s Culture: Santa Monica has been making intentional moves to boost public safety, clean up commercial corridors, and bring back civic energy. Partnering with a premier operator like Goldenvoice puts a global spotlight back on the city as an exciting, safe, and world-class place to visit.
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The Real Estate Ripple Effect: Great neighborhoods aren't defined by housing stock alone—they’re defined by lifestyle. When a community consistently hosts top-tier cultural events, exceptional dining, and vibrant public gatherings, it creates a place where people actively want to live and stay. That sustained desirability is what keeps Westside real estate values so uniquely resilient over the long haul.
The Campbell Wellman Take
This is exactly the kind of energy we love seeing in Santa Monica. It’s about being able to walk down to the beach, catch world-class artists, grab dinner at your favorite local spot, and walk back home. When city leadership and local businesses collaborate to pull off events of this scale, the whole community wins. It keeps our neighborhood fun, supports our local economy, and reinforces the incredible quality of life that makes buying a home here such a smart long-term investment.