The inaugural Ocean Way Festival, slated to take place in Santa Monica, California, has been canceled just two weeks before its scheduled dates of September 26 and 27. Organizers cited "unsafe" conditions caused by Hurricane Marie, specifically erosion from storm surf and runoff, as the reason for the abrupt cancellation.
The festival, set to be held on the beach, was expected to draw 45,000 attendees daily. Headliners included Olivia Dean, Jack White of the White Stripes, Khruangbin, and The Killers.
According to a statement released by the festival and the City of Santa Monica, "storm surf generated by Hurricane Marie and runoff from a storm drain outfall eroded a large portion of the festival site over Labor Day weekend." This erosion significantly impacted the available beach space, requiring a substantial inland shift of the festival's boundary and rendering the original site unsuitable for production and the planned audience capacity.
"The beach can no longer safely accommodate the festival production and audience capacity, and with construction and load-in set to begin next week, the city determined that cancellation was the only responsible option," the statement read. City staff conducted an assessment of the site, evaluating sand conditions, emergency vehicle access, construction needs, crowd circulation, tides, and the extended forecast.
Festival-goers were notified of the cancellation on Friday and will receive automatic refunds for their tickets, which ranged in price from $249 to $2,250. Refunds are expected to be processed within five to seven business days.
Organizers and the City of Santa Monica have announced plans to reschedule the Ocean Way Festival for 2027. "Thank you for your support. We'll see you on the beach soon," the official statement concluded.
The cancellation has led to disappointment among ticket holders, with many expressing their frustration on social media regarding the late notice. Some social media users also speculated about potential alternative reasons for the cancellation, including low ticket sales, though official statements attribute the decision solely to the environmental impact of Hurricane Marie.