Santa Monica BeachFront Music Festival 2026
Coachella will not be hosted in Santa Monica in 2026. The official Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival will continue to take place at its long-standing location in Indio, California, at the Empire Polo Club in April 2026.
However, Goldenvoice, the company that produces Coachella, has received approval to launch a new, separate beachfront music festival in Santa Monica. This event is planned to debut in fall 2026 near the Santa Monica Pier. While it is being produced by the same organizers, it is not Coachella and should be considered an entirely different festival.
The Santa Monica festival is expected to be a large-scale, one-day (or short-run) event featuring multiple artists, food, and art installations, with attendance projected in the tens of thousands. It is part of the city’s broader cultural and tourism initiatives leading up to major global events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympic Games, and it may continue annually in future years.
Key Details
-
Producer: Goldenvoice
-
Location: On the sand adjacent to the Santa Monica Pier
-
Timing: Launching fall 2026, with plans for annual events through 2028
-
Scale: Single-day event; 30,000–35,000 capacity; 12–15 artists; food and art programming
-
Purpose: Activate the beachfront and align with major international sporting events
What to Expect
-
High-caliber musical acts comparable to Goldenvoice’s flagship festivals
-
Art installations and strong local cultural elements
-
Oceanfront views with a sunset backdrop
Next Steps
While preliminary agreements have been approved, the festival is still subject to final authorizations, including environmental review processes. Once completed, the event is expected to become a major annual cultural fixture for Santa Monica.
