The inaugural Ocean Way Festival in Santa Monica has been called off because of safety issues related to Hurricane Marie. Organizers said that the storm's powerful waves and water runoff caused serious damage to the beach area. The event was scheduled to take place on September 26 and 27 but will not happen this year due to these conditions. Headliners for the festival included The Killers and Olivia Dean, with performances from Jack White, Alvvays, Sublime, Khruangbin, Hiatus Kaiyote, and Durand Jones & the Indications. Additional acts such as SG Lewis, Blond:ish, and a DJ set from Hot Chip were also planned to perform. The City of Santa Monica said erosion would have required moving the safe shoreline setback 96 feet inland. Runoff from the Pico-Kenter Storm Drain also forced the southern boundary of the planned festival site about 500 feet north.
Festival organizers shared the cancellation news on Friday through their social media platforms, according to Rolling Stone. They confirmed that ticket refunds are being processed automatically for all attendees who paid between $249 and $2,250. The team also said they are preparing to bring the festival back to Santa Monica next year. Refunds are expected to appear within five to seven business days.
It is not yet clear whether the lineup for next year’s event will be different from this year’s. The impact of Hurricane Marie has been severe along Southern California's coastline. Waves from the storm have stripped away sand from beaches and damaged homes in the region. In one notable case, a large sinkhole opened beside a Malibu home owned by actor Nicolas Cage as the area dealt with flooding and coastal erosion linked to Marie. The collapse damaged Cage’s driveway and caused a gas leak.
Damage was also reported farther south in Dana Point. The city declared a local emergency after strong surf linked to Marie damaged at least 16 beachfront homes. Nine oceanfront homes had been declared unsafe for residents as of Wednesday night.
This growing concern over extreme weather has made festival organizers reconsider how they approach planning large outdoor events. Earlier this year, Bonnaroo announced it would be taking a break next summer as well. The company said it had invested heavily in improving campgrounds and infrastructure for the 2026 event. These improvements included building 4.5 miles of new roads and adding 135 acres of grass to help protect against natural disasters. Bonnaroo organizers said the venue needs time to recover after back-to-back years of storms and will skip its 2027 festival.
It remains uncertain if other coastal festivals, like the Ohana Festival in Dana Point, will also be impacted by similar weather issues. As of September 12, Ohana is still scheduled for September 25 through 27 at Doheny State Beach. Its official website continues to list the festival and sell remaining tickets.