By Lookout Staff
September 18, 2026 – Days after announcing the cancellation of the inaugural Ocean Way Festival due to beach erosion, the City's Public Works crews are busy restoring Santa Monica's shoreline for a series of upcoming major events.
The work includes moving sand from other areas of the beach to the impacted area around the Pier and "building a protective berm along the water’s edge ahead of the upcoming king tide and full moon," City officials said.
Work crews are also opening and maintaining all five beach storm drains ahead of the anticipated El Niño winter to drain runoff to the ocean "without cutting new channels across the sand."
In addition, the City is coordinating with Los Angeles County and private contractors "to bring in larger equipment that can grade the sand more quickly" and "evaluating whether additional sand will need to be imported."
“It is massively disappointing that coastal erosion caused by Hurricane Marie impacted our beach to such an extent that we could not safely host the Ocean Way Festival,” said City Manager Oliver Chi.
“Fortunately, the beach is open, the Pier never closed, and our focus now is on repairing the damage as soon as possible.”
The first major event -- ESPN’s Super Bowl LXI coverage live from Santa Monica -- will take place in February, with daily programming live from the Pier beginning Monday, February 8, and free activations in the days leading up to the February 14 game at SoFi Stadium.
Meanwhile, the Ocean Way Festival with Goldenvoice, which was scheduled to take place on September 26 and 27on the beach adjacent to the Pier, will announce dates, programming and ticketing for next year when details are available.
The major music event -- produced by the creators of Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival -- is anticipated to feature a "two-day, all-ages spectacle featuring live music, local artists, food, and community programming," officials said.
The beach is also scheduled to host major events and activations during the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, when Santa Monica will "serve as host to a number of hospitality houses, welcoming national delegations, athletes, and fans from around the world."
Club France and House of Switzerland have already announced, and "many more" national teams are engaged in discussions with the City.
"Santa Monica is establishing itself as a hub for hospitality houses during the Games," officials said. "Restoring and protecting the beach is part of the City’s workplan as we prepare to welcome the world in 2028."
City officials note that the Beach in Santa Monica is "open and safe for everyday use" and that the Pier -- which is set to host the Swiss Winter Village from November 14 through January 3 -- "was not damaged during the storm and was never closed."