This Sunday, Santa Monica is turning its core into one huge World Cup viewing party, as COAST 2026 wraps up six weeks of soccer programming by closing more than a mile of downtown streets to cars. The free open-streets festival will spread live music, wellness classes, family activities and dozens of LED screens across the Third Street Promenade, Ocean Avenue and the Pier so fans can watch the FIFA World Cup final together. City officials are framing the day as a people-first finale to a packed summer of matches and a preview of how Santa Monica might handle bigger global events ahead of LA28.
What to expect this Sunday
According to the City of Santa Monica, COAST 2026 runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with temporary road closures and free bike valet stations set up on Ocean, Arizona and Colorado avenues. The festival, made possible by a Metro Open Streets grant and produced by Revel Republic, will offer interactive public art, family-friendly activities and multiple outdoor viewing zones for the final match. Road closures were recently updated to extend through 8:30 p.m., the city notes.
Music, kids programming and partners
The music lineup stretches across four stages. The Main Stage is slated to host performances by Bomba Borikén, Masanga Marimba, Sangre Nueva and Esther Anaya, while a Kids Stage curated in part by Nicole Blaine and The Crow will feature puppet shows, youth music and hands-on family workshops. Revel Republic is organizing more than 80 vendors and activations throughout downtown, with partners that include Red Bull, Therabody, Verizon and AI Wellness, according to the Santa Monica Daily Press. “One of the best things about the World Cup is the way it brings people together,” Debbie Lee of Downtown Santa Monica Inc. told the paper.
Where to watch: blocks, grandstand and dining
The city has turned the Promenade into a series of themed blocks for the day. The 1400 block is “The Warm Up,” geared toward community yoga and youth activities. The 1300 block becomes the Grandstand, centered on large-screen viewing of the match. The 1200 block, “The Huddle,” combines live music, outdoor dining and game viewing, according to the City of Santa Monica. Arizona Avenue takes on a Tailgate role, with food vendors, fan seating and an outdoor screen, while Ocean Avenue and several nearby hotels will add more LED displays. Main-stage performances will anchor the intersection of Ocean and Broadway to keep the entertainment flowing through downtown.
Transit, safety and logistics
The Santa Monica Police Department is rolling out an expanded public safety operation across the downtown and beach corridors tied to World Cup events, with increased foot, bike and vehicle patrols and a Downtown Substation acting as a command hub, the Santa Monica Daily Press reported. Attendees are being urged to skip the car and arrive via the Metro E Line, Big Blue Bus, bicycle or on foot. Big Blue Bus lists multiple routes serving downtown and now accepts contactless payments. Free bike valets will operate on Ocean, Arizona and Colorado avenues, and several downtown parking structures will remain open for those who do choose to drive.
Why this matters for downtown
City and business leaders say COAST is more than a party; it is a live test of people-first streets and a potential boost for local businesses ahead of LA28. Coverage of the series has suggested COAST could draw up to 100,000 visitors on Sunday, underscoring the scale of Santa Monica’s World Cup programming, according to L.A. Magazine. Organizers hope that the combination of free public viewing zones and curated hospitality areas will send fans into nearby shops and restaurants while showing how downtown can host major cultural moments without relying on cars.
