Ocean Way Festival Opening Day, The Killers, Jack White & Sublime at Santa Monica Beach

Los Angeles has seen its share of music festivals come and go, but the inaugural Ocean Way Festival is opening a conversation that only Santa Monica Beach can host. On Saturday, September 26, the sand between Ocean Avenue and the Pacific becomes a two-day event ground with a Saturday headliner lineup that reads like a Desert Trip sequel, The Killers, Jack White, and Sublime.

Sunday follows with a different but equally compelling bill: Olivia Dean (the London singer-songwriter whose 2023 debut was one of the most praised R&B/soul records of that year) and Khruangbin (the Houston instrumental trio whose sound, Thai soul filtered through Texan psych-funk, is exactly the thing you want echoing off the Pacific).

Saturday: The Opening Day Bill

The Killers return to LA as reliable arena-rock headliners who still carry genuine weight, their catalog runs from "Mr. Brightside" through thirty years of anthemic rock, and they know how to fill outdoor space. Jack White brings an entirely different energy: controlled chaos, blues-drenched and unpredictable. Sublime, with their classic-era sound, close the classic-rock part of the Santa Monica evening in style.

Opening day runs from noon to 10 p.m., making this a full-day commitment rather than a drop-in show. That format rewards planning: bring sunscreen for the afternoon hours, a layer for the post-sunset set, and something to sit on for the gaps between acts.

The Venue: Santa Monica Beach at 2030 Ocean Avenue

The Beach at Santa Monica is one of the most accessible outdoor event spaces in Southern California by design. It's flat, open, and directly served by the city's coastal infrastructure.

Address: 2030 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, CA

Getting There

By Metro: The E Line (Expo) terminates at Downtown Santa Monica, about a 10-minute walk to the festival grounds on Ocean Avenue. This is the recommended approach, parking along the beachfront will be extremely limited on a weekend festival day.

By Bike: The Marvin Braude Bike Trail (the Strand) runs the length of the beach directly to the festival site. This is the best way to avoid traffic entirely on a Saturday afternoon in September.

By Car: If driving, Ocean Avenue and the lots around Palisades Park will fill early. Plan to arrive by 11 a.m. or use remote parking with a rideshare connection.

Tickets are available on AXS. Sunday-only and two-day passes are also available.

Explore more festivals in Los Angeles, or discover other things happening in Santa Monica.