Independent event guide
Santa Cruz Concerts 2026-2027
Discover Santa Cruz concerts and the best upcoming shows of 2026-2027. From boardwalk beach stages to historic downtown ballrooms, live music by the bay never slows down. Browse the lineup and grab tickets today.
THE CREPE PLACE AND (((folkYEAH))) Present: LAURIE ANDERSON
Rio TheatreSanta Cruz, CA
Duck Island Festival : Bands, Vendors, Food and Fun at San Lorenzo Park
San Lorenzo ParkSanta Cruz, CA
Thelma & The Sleaze w/ Micah Schnabel & Vanessa Jean Speckman
Moe's AlleySanta Cruz, CA
(((folkYEAH))) Presents: PEARL AND THE OYSTERS Live On the Grden Stage
The Crepe PlaceSanta Cruz, CA
Acid Bath with High On Fire, Melvins & Windhand
Quarry AmphitheaterSanta Cruz, CA
Bonnie Raitt: Live 2026 with Special Guest Jon Cleary
Santa Cruz Civic AuditoriumSanta Cruz, CA
Moe's Alley Presents: Alborosie & Shengen Clan w/ Rise Up + Selecta 7
Moe's AlleySanta Cruz, CA
Santa Cruz concerts in 2026 are shaping up to be something special, and the schedule is stacked with heavy hitters. One of the hottest tickets right now is Justin Martin (Sep 24), while fans are equally buzzing for the night when Snatam Kaur takes over the stage on Sep 25. Among the other top gigs happening are:
- Nashville Nights & Thompson Square (Sep 25)
- Battle of the Bands (Sep 25)
There's truly no shortage of music concerts coming to Santa Cruz, CA this season. The city's live scene is anchored by The Catalyst, the legendary downtown club where everyone from Nirvana to Snoop has torn up the stage, the elegant Rio Theatre, a restored 1949 cinema with warm, intimate acoustics, and the open-air Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk bandstand, where free summer shows meet ocean breezes. Whether your heart beats for rock, reggae, punk, or indie, there's a stage in Santa Cruz with your name on it.
Ready to make plans? Check what's playing this weekend, explore the full lineup of Santa Cruz concerts in September 2026, or look ahead to what October has in store. Grab your tickets early — the best seats by the beach never last long.