Goldenvoice is taking over the sand. The concert giant behind Coachella and Just Like Heaven has officially carved out a brand-new coastal playground: Ocean Way Festival. Scheduled for September 26 and 27 on Santa Monica Beach, the inaugural two-day event brings live music straight to the Pacific oceanfront.
Taking the top spots on the bill are alt-rock royalty The Killers, rock-n-roll crooner Jack White, and British pop breakout Olivia Dean. The lineup crosses plenty of stylistic boundaries, stringing together global grooves, indie hooks, and dance tracks.
Festivalgoers can expect performances from Khruangbin, Sublime, Alvvays, Durand Jones & The Indications, Hiatus Kaiyote, SG Lewis, 54 Ultra, and BLOND:ISH. Rounding out the roster are Poolside, Good Neighbours, Hot Chip doing a DJ set, DJ Harvey, Austin Millz, Carlita, Coco & Breezy, EREZ, Heidi Lawden, Nala, and Vandelux.
The event marks a major homecoming for Goldenvoice. Decades before building massive desert festival sites, the promoter hosted foundational punk and rock shows at the nearby Santa Monica Civic Auditorium.
The festival takes its title from Ocean Way, the exact street where audio engineer Allen Sides opened Ocean Way Recording Studios over 40 years ago. That garage-turned-studio became a legend in music production, making the location a fitting setting for a heavy-hitting concert series.
“Santa Monica has an incredible music history, and Goldenvoice has been fortunate to be part of that story,” said Nic Adler, vice president of regional festivals at Goldenvoice. “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.”
Instead of dropping a standard concert layout onto the sand, event planners mapped the weekend around local neighborhood haunts. Attendees can grab bites from beloved Santa Monica spots like Holy Basil, The Lobster, Lunetta, and Sidecar Doughnuts. Over on the festival grounds, retail pop-ups straight from Montana Avenue will set up shop.
For those wanting an upgraded view of the action, the event partners with Proper Hotels to launch the Proper Beach Club. Designed by Kelly Wearstler Studio, the VIP area operates as its own beach enclave with standalone pass options.
“Music and design have always been at the core of what we do at Proper,” said Brad Korzen, CEO of Proper Hospitality. “The Proper Beach Club at Ocean Way Festival feels like a natural next step.”
City officials selected Goldenvoice through a competitive bid as part of Santa Monica’s $60 million Realignment Plan. The city initiative targets local business growth, cultural projects, and public safety. The festival grounds, dubbed The Sandbox on the Beach, will serve as a central hub for global events, including activations tied to FIFA World Cup 2026, Super Bowl LXI, and the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“Santa Monica is in the middle of a renaissance,” Mayor Caroline Torosis noted. “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.”
Environmental choices were built into the production plan early. Organizers eliminated single-use plastics across the grounds and integrated solar energy setups to lower standard generator usage. On-site vehicle parking won’t be available, encouraging fans to walk, ride bikes, or catch the Metro E Line straight to the shore.
Goldenvoice partnered with local organizations to leave a lasting mark beyond the weekend music sets. Initiatives include funding local swim safety classes, teaming up with Malibu Makos for youth surf sessions, and bringing Santa Monica high school students into event leadership programs.
Passes for the two-day gathering start at $399 for general admission.
Ready to catch The Killers, Jack White, and Olivia Dean right on the sand? Head over to oceanwayfestival.com to grab your tickets today!