Ocean Way Festival Canceled After Marie Erodes Santa Monica Beach

Ocean Way Festival will not make its Santa Monica debut this month. The city and Goldenvoice announced on September 11 that the September 26-27 event has been canceled after Hurricane Marie’s surf and storm-drain runoff eroded the beach south of the Santa Monica Pier where the festival was planned.

For ticket holders, the immediate news is straightforward: the city says all 2026 tickets will be fully refunded automatically through their original point of purchase. No further action is required to start the refund process.

What Happened to the Festival Site?

Marie did not need to come ashore to affect Southern California. Its swell reached the coast over Labor Day weekend, stripping sand from the planned festival site. Runoff from the Pico-Kenter Storm Drain also cut through part of the beach.

According to the City of Santa Monica’s assessment, the remaining space could not safely accommodate the festival’s production, audience and emergency access. The city says the Santa Monica Pier itself was not damaged and remains open.

Revolt covered the dangerous surf and coastal flooding as the storm’s energy arrived. Read our earlier report on the Marie swell in Southern California.

How Do Ocean Way Festival Refunds Work?

The city says refunds for all tickets purchased for the 2026 festival will be processed automatically from the point of purchase. It has not provided a specific date by which every refund will appear.

For ticket-specific questions, check the city’s Ocean Way Festival update, which links to the festival’s ticket information. The festival can also be reached at community@oceanwayfestival.com or (424) 260-1923.

Will Ocean Way Return in 2027?

Santa Monica and Goldenvoice say they are planning to bring Ocean Way Festival back in 2027. Dates, programming and ticket details have not been announced.

The partners also say they intend to move forward this year with many of the community-benefit initiatives developed alongside the festival. Those details are still being worked out.

It is a disappointing outcome for a new beachside music event, but the reason is unmistakably local: the same swell that drew attention to Southern California’s surf changed the ground beneath a planned stage. For now, fans should rely on official festival and city updates for refunds and any announcement about 2027.