Key Takeaways
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Dana Point’s 2026 live music calendar centers on Ohana Festival, summer concerts, harbor cruises, and year-round venue shows.
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Ohana Festival 2026 (Sept 25–27) brings a multi-stage lineup that pairs legacy headliners with rising artists highlighted by OnesToWatch.
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Summer programming, including Concerts in the Park and the OC Parks Summer Concert Series, delivered eight no-cost shows for local audiences.
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Local restaurants and bars such as The Rib Joint, Hennessey’s Tavern, and Salt Creek Grille keep live music available most weeks of the year.
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Tickets for Ohana Festival 2026 are available through OnesToWatch Live for readers planning a Dana Point trip around the event.
OnesToWatch Artists At Ohana Festival 2026: Tickets And Details
Three artists spotlighted by OnesToWatch appear on the 2026 Ohana Festival lineup at Doheny State Beach in Dana Point. Each plays on a different day of the three-day event, which runs September 25–27, 2026. Tickets for all festival days are available through the official ticketing partner.
Fontaines D.C.
Sunday, September 27, 2026
Doheny State Beach, Dana Point, CA
Secure Your Spot For Fontaines D.C. On Sunday, Sept 27
The Dublin post-punk band has built one of the most compelling live reputations in contemporary rock, with sets that feel physically intense and lyrically dense. That intensity will be on full display during their Sunday slot at Ohana 2026, where they share the day with Pearl Jam.
Courtney Barnett
Friday, September 25, 2026
Doheny State Beach, Dana Point, CA
Get Tickets To Courtney Barnett’s Friday Set At Ohana Festival
The Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist stands out in indie rock for her deadpan lyricism and guitar work that shifts from languid to ferocious. Her Friday performance places that style alongside sets from Eddie Vedder & Friends and Maná.
Jake Wesley Rogers
Saturday, September 26, 2026
Doheny State Beach, Dana Point, CA
Reserve Your Pass For Jake Wesley Rogers On Saturday, Sept 26
Jake Wesley Rogers brings a maximalist pop-soul approach to the stage, with a wide vocal range and direct emotional delivery that land strongly in outdoor festival settings. His Saturday appearance places him on the same day as Tyler Childers, Alabama Shakes, and Jon Batiste.
Explore OnesToWatch’s 2026 Top 30 Artists To Watch.
Upcoming Concerts And Live Music Events In Dana Point
Beyond Ohana Festival, Dana Point hosts additional live music events that extend the season into fall. The following events are upcoming as of September 9, 2026, presented in chronological order.
1. Ohana Festival 2026 — September 25–27, 2026
Doheny State Beach, 25300 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, CA
Buy Tickets — Ohana Festival 2026
Now in its 10th anniversary edition, Ohana Festival anchors Dana Point’s music calendar. Co-founded by Eddie Vedder with Live Nation and Pearl Jam manager Mark Smith, the festival takes its name from the Hawaiian word for family. It has grown from a local experiment into one of Southern California’s most anticipated annual weekends. The 2026 edition features more than 35 acts across three stages, with gates opening at noon each day.
The daily breakdown is as follows:
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Friday, September 25: Eddie Vedder & Friends and Maná headline, with Billy Idol, Bad Religion, Courtney Barnett, Sugar, Midnight Generation, Otoboke Beaver, Florence Road, Mereba, and Muttlee also performing.
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Saturday, September 26: Tyler Childers, Alabama Shakes, and Jon Batiste headline, with Men I Trust, Stephen Wilson Jr., The Front Bottoms, Alice Phoebe Lou, Marlon Funaki, Jake Wesley Rogers, P.E.S.T., and Ellery Harper rounding out the day.
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Sunday, September 27: Pearl Jam headlines, joined by Fontaines D.C., Pixies, the reunited Rilo Kiley and The Format, Tom Odell, Ecca Vandal, Horsegirl, Villanelle, Linka Moja, and Speed of Light.
Three-day general admission passes are listed at around $535, with single-day general admission starting near $199. VIP and Ultimate VIP tiers sit at higher price points. The festival regularly sells out.
2. Live Music Harbor Cruise (21+) — October 3, 2026
Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching, 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, CA
Dana Wharf’s recurring Live Music Harbor Cruise series runs aboard the 95-foot Dana Pride and offers a 90-minute sunset cruise through Dana Point Harbor with live music and a full bar. The October 3 date continues the series into fall. Tickets for the September 5, 2026 cruise were $42 per person, and the event is restricted to adults 21 and over.
Past Concerts And Live Music Events In Dana Point (2026)
Several major events have already taken place in 2026, offering a snapshot of Dana Point’s seasonal programming. The following concerts are listed in chronological order for reference.
1. Stars, Stripes & Sounds Festival — July 4, 2026
Lantern Bay Park, 25111 Park Lantern, Dana Point, CA
The Laguna Cliffs Marriott’s all-day Stars, Stripes and Sounds Festival at Lantern Bay Park ran from 10:00 AM to 9:30 PM on July 4, 2026, celebrating America’s 250th anniversary. The concert schedule included Kalama Brothers (surf rock and classics, 10am–12pm), Old Town Road (pop hits with R&B feel, 1pm–3pm), The New Frontier Band (pop hits, 4pm–6pm), and Coriander (classic rock and pop hits, 7pm–9pm). The Dana Point Fourth of July fireworks show on July 4, 2026, began at 9:00 PM, launched from Dana Point Harbor, with the festival serving as an elevated viewpoint for the fireworks. A portion of food and drink sales benefited the Dana Point 5th Marine Regiment Support Group.
2. Concerts In The Park — Sundays, July 12 Through August 16, 2026
Sea Terrace Park, Pacific Coast Highway & Niguel Road, Dana Point, CA
The City of Dana Point Recreation Division, family-friendly summer series ran six consecutive Sundays from 2:30 PM to 6:00 PM, with two acts per date. The full 2026 lineup was as follows:
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July 12: Cassie B (2:30–4:00 PM) and Yachty by Nature (4:30–6:00 PM)
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July 19: Sega Genecide (2:30–4:00 PM) and Decades (4:30–6:00 PM)
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July 26: Flashback Heart Attack (2:30–4:00 PM) and Electric Avenue (4:30–6:00 PM)
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August 2: 90’s Rock Show (2:30–4:00 PM) and The Reflexx (4:30–6:00 PM)
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August 9: Tunnel Vision (2:30–4:00 PM) and Common Sense (4:30–6:00 PM)
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August 16: Emo Kids (2:30–4:00 PM) and Tijuana Dogs (4:30–6:00 PM)
3. OC Parks Summer Concert Series — August 27 And September 3, 2026
Bluff Park at Salt Creek Beach, 33333 S. PCH, Dana Point, CA
The County of Orange and OC Parks presented two Thursday evening concerts at Bluff Park as part of their broader regional series. August 27 featured Dream Like Taylor (a Taylor Swift celebration act) with an opening set by Katie Ferrara. September 3 featured Family Style. The OC Parks Summer Concert Series events ran from 5:00–8:00 PM with gates opening at 5:00 PM, live music starting at 6:00 PM.
4. Live Music Harbor Cruise (21+) — September 5, 2026
Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching, 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, CA
The September 5 edition of the recurring harbor cruise series featured BUNCH OF GUYS performing aboard the Dana Pride from 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM. Tickets were $42 per person.
Year-Round Live Music Venues In Dana Point
Dana Point’s local venue circuit sustains live music well beyond the summer festival and park series calendar. Several spots host performers on a weekly or near-weekly basis throughout the year.
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The Rib Joint features live music nightly, spanning blues, rock, reggae, and open mic nights.
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Hennessey’s Tavern books live acts multiple times per week, with afternoon and evening slots on weekends.
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Salt Creek Grille mixes live bands with DJ nights and themed events such as line dancing evenings.
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Brio Tuscany Grille in Dana Point hosts jazz and acoustic performers on Friday and Saturday evenings.
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Carlos Mexican Restaurant in Dana Point features live jazz with the Randall Winvick Quartet on Fridays from 6–9 PM and live music on Taco Tuesdays.
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Aventura Sailing Association books live music on Saturday evenings.
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Luxe Restaurant and Martini Bar in Dana Point presents live performances by solo and small-ensemble artists on weeknights.
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Dana Point Yacht Club schedules live music on select weekends, typically in afternoon or evening slots.
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BarVino Wine + Cheese features acoustic performers on weekend afternoons.
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Doho Cafe books local bands for afternoon sets.
How Dana Point’s Live Music Scene Fits Together
Dana Point’s live music landscape operates across three distinct tiers that complement one another. The first tier is Ohana Festival, a nationally recognized event drawing 15,000 to 20,000 attendees per day. It books artists at every career stage, from emerging acts like Fontaines D.C. and Jake Wesley Rogers to legacy headliners like Pearl Jam and Eddie Vedder.
The second tier is the city’s community programming. Concerts in the Park at Sea Terrace Park and the OC Parks Summer Concert Series at Bluff Park at Salt Creek Beach together delivered eight shows, which made live music accessible to families and casual listeners without a ticket budget. The third tier is the year-round local venue circuit, where restaurants, bars, and harbor cruises sustain a consistent schedule of intimate performances.
Ohana Festival in particular functions as a launchpad for developing artists. The festival’s lineup strategy aims to attract music fans across generational lines, with families attending daytime sets and dedicated listeners seeking up-and-coming artists on smaller stages. OnesToWatch has tracked this pattern across festivals nationally, where artists in mid-bill slots often return as headliners within two or three cycles. Courtney Barnett, Fontaines D.C., and Jake Wesley Rogers all align with that trajectory.
Practical Reader Guidance For Ohana Festival
Several logistical details help readers plan for Ohana Festival before purchasing tickets or booking travel.
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Tickets: Single-day general admission starts near $199, and three-day passes sit around $535. VIP and Ultimate VIP tiers are available at higher price points. Ohana Festival tickets are sold through Front Gate Tickets. The festival operates as a cashless event, with card or wristband payment only at all vendors.
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Bag Policy: Only small clutches or fanny packs (6″ × 9″ or smaller) are allowed, along with clear bags under 12″ × 6″ × 12″ and emptied hydration packs. All bags are searched at the gate.
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Parking And Transit: Official parking and shuttle passes are sold through ohanafest.com and have sold out before the weekend in prior years. Rideshare drop-off is on Park Lantern Drive at Doheny State Beach, and pick-up is at the Dana Point Community Center, 34052 Del Obispo Street. The Amtrak Pacific Surfliner stops in San Juan Capistrano, one town away, with bus connections south to the festival.
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Accommodation: Dana Point hotels and rentals tend to fill quickly for Ohana Festival weekend, so early booking is recommended. Staying in town allows walking access to the festival and removes parking concerns.
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Weather And What To Bring: Late September in Dana Point is typically warm during the day and cool after sunset. Permitted items include empty refillable water bottles (no glass), frameless non-metal folding stadium chairs, standard beach towels up to 60″ × 30″ in designated areas until 4 PM, non-aerosol sunblock, ponchos, and rechargeable battery packs.
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Age Restrictions: Ohana Festival is an all-ages event. The Live Music Harbor Cruise is restricted to adults 21 and over.
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Airports: John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Santa Ana is the closest airport to Dana Point. San Diego International (SAN) and Los Angeles International (LAX) are each about an hour’s drive away, depending on traffic.
FAQ
What Concerts Are Coming Up In Dana Point?
As of September 9, 2026, the primary upcoming event is Ohana Festival 2026, running September 25–27 at Doheny State Beach. The festival features more than 35 acts across three days, with a lineup that pairs headliners like Pearl Jam and Tyler Childers with mid-bill artists highlighted earlier in this guide. The Live Music Harbor Cruise series also continues into October at Dana Wharf. Year-round, local venues including The Rib Joint, Hennessey’s Tavern, and Salt Creek Grille host live music on a weekly basis.
How Much Do Ohana Festival 2026 Tickets Cost?
Single-day general admission tickets start near $199, and three-day general admission passes are listed at around $535. VIP packages add perks such as a dedicated entrance, complimentary shuttle pass, access to a VIP Lounge with Main Stage viewing, shaded cabanas, private bars, and air-conditioned restrooms. Ultimate VIP is a two-person package that includes a four-night hotel stay at Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort, backstage access, and a limited-edition autographed poster. Tickets are sold through Front Gate Tickets and have historically sold out before the event weekend.
What Is Ohana Festival And Who Founded It?
Ohana Festival is an annual music festival held at Doheny State Beach in Dana Point, California. It was co-founded by Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder, Pearl Jam’s manager Mark Smith, and Live Nation’s global tour promoter Rich Best. The festival is produced by C3 Presents. It debuted in 2016 with a lineup that included Lana Del Rey and Elvis Costello. Its name comes from the Hawaiian word for family. In addition to music across three stages, the festival features environmental programming in an area called The Cove. Ohana has won the Pollstar Award for Music Festival of The Year (Global; under 30K attendance) multiple times.
What Venues In Dana Point Host Live Music Year-Round?
Several Dana Point restaurants and bars maintain consistent live music schedules throughout the year. The Rib Joint books nightly performers across a wide range of genres. Hennessey’s Tavern hosts multiple acts per week, including afternoon weekend slots. Salt Creek Grille features a mix of live bands, DJ nights, and themed events. Brio Tuscany Grille, Carlos Mexican Restaurant, Aventura Sailing Association, Luxe Restaurant and Martini Bar, Dana Point Yacht Club, BarVino Wine + Cheese, and Doho Cafe all host live music on a recurring basis. Dana Wharf runs the Live Music Harbor Cruise series aboard the Dana Pride on select Saturdays from July through October.
Conclusion
Dana Point’s 2026 live music calendar spans a wider range than many coastal cities its size. Ohana Festival’s 10th anniversary edition brings a dense, multi-stage lineup to Doheny State Beach, with OnesToWatch artists Fontaines D.C., Courtney Barnett, and Jake Wesley Rogers illustrating the emerging-to-established pipeline that makes the festival’s mid-bill slots worth arriving early for. Alongside the festival, the city’s park series, harbor cruises, and local venue circuit ensure that live music remains available at multiple price points and scales throughout the year.
Get Your Ohana Festival 2026 Tickets Now
For readers tracking which emerging artists are poised to move up festival bills, explore OnesToWatch’s 2026 Top 30 Artists To Watch.