Goldenvoice Scraps Inaugural Santa Monica Festival After Beach Erosion
The first Ocean Way Festival, scheduled for late September in Santa Monica, has been called off because of severe beach erosion caused by Hurricane Marie. Organizer Goldenvoice cited storm surf and runoff damaging the venue area near Santa Monica Pier, with the city canceling permits two weeks ahead. The festival, which was to feature the Killers and Olivia Dean, is now planned for next year.
The cancellation marks a rare setback for Goldenvoice, whose Coachella and other events typically proceed without venue-related disruptions. The festival’s planned site, a narrow beach strip near the Santa Monica Pier, proved especially vulnerable to the storm’s surge, which also caused sinkholes in Malibu and forced evacuations in Long Beach. City officials acted two weeks before the scheduled dates, citing safety concerns after rapid erosion compromised the Sandbox event space. Goldenvoice has confirmed it will attempt the Ocean Way debut in 2026, though no new dates or lineup details have been announced. The hurricane’s link to the Super El Niño pattern, intensified by human-caused climate change, underscores how extreme weather increasingly threatens coastal entertainment infrastructure.
This cancellation could signal broader vulnerabilities for outdoor music events on eroding coastlines, affecting fans, local businesses, and artists who rely on such festivals. It may also prompt organizers to reassess site selection and contingency planning, while highlighting climate-related risks to municipal permitting. Residents and visitors lose a cultural gathering, but the decision prioritizes public safety—a trade-off that could become more common as severe weather patterns intensify.