Palm Tree Music Festival Montecito returns to the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club Oct. 10-11, 2026, doubling the fun with two full days of music for its second year. The lineup brings together Kygo, The Chainsmokers, T-Pain, Zedd, The All-American Rejects, Loud Luxury, Frank Walker, Natalie Jinju and Myles O’Neal, pairing major live performances with cocktails, food vendors, brand activations and Palm Tree’s signature VIP-forward hospitality. Doors open at 3 p.m. and the music wraps at 10 p.m. each day.
Instead of treating the festival as a quick concert stop, turn it into a long weekend in Santa Barbara. Beach mornings, leisurely brunches, waterfront adventures and plenty of good food make an easy complement to two afternoons and evenings at the polo fields.
Day 1: Check In and Get Into Weekend Mode
Afternoon
Arrive Friday with enough time to settle in before the weekend gets underway. Festival-goers who want to stay closer to the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club can make Rosewood Miramar Beach their home base, or look to Montecito Inn, Coast Village Inn or the Inn on Summer Hill. For more time immersed in Santa Barbara before and after the music, consider a stay downtown or along the waterfront at hotels such as Hotel Californian, Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort, Kimpton Canary Hotel or Drift Santa Barbara.
Staying downtown adds a little more travel time on festival days, but puts the Funk Zone, State Street, beaches, restaurants and nightlife within easy reach throughout the rest of the weekend.
Once the bags are dropped, head toward the waterfront for lunch. Flor de Maiz makes an easy first stop, while Lucky Penny keeps things casual with wood-fired pizza and an open-air patio within walking distance.
From there, spend the afternoon easing into Santa Barbara. Wander the Funk Zone, browsing galleries and boutiques before stopping in for a tasting at Pali Wine Co. or another one of the many tasting rooms along the Urban Wine Trail. Then, end the afternoon by following Cabrillo Boulevard toward Stearns Wharf for a walk over the water.
Evening
Come evening, head up State Street to the ARTS District for dinner and drinks. Try Californian-Indonesian plates at Sama Sama Kitchen, settle in for a leisurely dinner at Bouchon or Opal Restaurant & Bar, then cap the night with cocktails at The Good Lion. Keep things relatively relaxed, though. Two festival days are still ahead.
Want to keep going? Browse Visit this guide to Nightlife in Santa Barbara for more cocktail bars, live music and late-night spots.
Day 2: Beach Time, Brunch and Festival Day One
Morning
Festival gates do not open until the afternoon, leaving plenty of room for a classic Santa Barbara morning.
Head to Gracie for breakfast, or fuel up in the Presidio neighborhood at Alessia Patisserie. Then keep the activity level low. Walk along East Beach, cruise the waterfront bike path or wander State Street before heading back to your hotel to change and get ready.
Afternoon
Have an early lunch at Honor Bar in Montecito, where sandwiches, salads, craft cocktails and a lively Coast Village Road setting make for an easy pre-festival stop. From there, make your way to the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club for the first day of music.
Then, it’s festival time.
Saturday’s lineup is led by The Chainsmokers and Zedd, with The All-American Rejects also scheduled for the first day. Festival programming runs from 3-10 p.m., with food and beverage vendors, sponsor activations and upgraded hospitality experiences woven throughout the grounds.
Those looking to level up the experience can choose from GA+, VIP and Palm Club options. GA+ adds dedicated entry, bar and restroom access, while VIP includes front-row viewing, dedicated bars, shaded lounge areas and private restrooms. Palm Club tables offer reserved seating, premium stage views and dedicated hospitality.
Evening
With the festival ending at 10 p.m., there may still be time for a nightcap back in Santa Barbara. Head downtown if you want to extend the evening, or head back to your hotel to get some rest before round two.
Day 3: Recharge Before Festival Day Two
Morning
After a full first festival day, Sunday morning is for taking it easy.
Start with coffee at Dart Coffee Co. or Helena Avenue Bakery, then pick the kind of reset that sounds best. Take a leisurely stroll along one of these scenic walking routes or slow things down underground with a restorative session at Salt Cave Santa Barbara.
There is no need to pack the morning. Leave time to head back to the hotel, recharge and get festival-ready all over again.
Afternoon
Before returning to the polo fields, stop in Summerland for lunch at Field + Fort, a relaxed garden café along Lillie Avenue, or The Nugget for burgers, salads and classic American fare. From there, it’s a short trip south to the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club for festival day two.
Sunday closes out the festival weekend with Kygo and T-Pain among the headliners, alongside Loud Luxury. Frank Walker is also currently listed for Sunday.
Plan to arrive with time to spare before the sets you most want to see. Once you are inside, settle in for another afternoon of live music, drinks, food and festival activations before the final performances wrap at 10 p.m.
Day 4: Stay for One More Santa Barbara Morning
The last headliner may take the stage Sunday night, but there is no reason your Santa Barbara weekend has to end there.
Stay through Monday morning and give yourself a gentler send-off. Sit down for breakfast at D’Angelo Bakery, Scarlett Begonia or Goat Tree, then opt for a morning at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, where native California landscapes and winding trails offer one last dose of the outdoors before starting the trip home.
Palm Tree Music Festival may be what gets the weekend on the calendar, but two days of music leave plenty of room to experience Santa Barbara around it. Come for Kygo, The Chainsmokers, T-Pain and Zedd, and make a long weekend out of everything happening beyond the polo fields.
Know Before You Go
A little advance planning will make both festival days much smoother.
Age requirements: GA and GA+ are open to all ages. VIP and Palm Club are limited to guests 21 and older. The festival advises guests to bring a physical government-issued ID.
Parking: As of Aug. 14, Palm Tree Music Festival has not yet posted 2026 Montecito-specific parking lot, parking pass, shuttle or rideshare instructions on its official event page. If you plan to drive, check the festival website before the weekend for updated parking information and purchase any required parking pass in advance if one is offered. Do not assume general Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club parking procedures will apply during the festival.
Rideshare and transportation: Visitors staying in Santa Barbara, Montecito or Summerland should also confirm the designated rideshare pickup and drop-off areas before departing for the festival. Build extra time into both arrival and departure, particularly at the end of the night when demand is likely to be highest.
Tickets and entry: Have your ticket ready before reaching the entrance and review the festival’s latest entry, bag and prohibited-item policies before leaving your hotel. Palm Tree publishes location-specific event information, so check the Montecito page rather than relying on policies from another Palm Tree Music Festival destination.
Check for updates: Set times, transportation logistics and other event details may continue to be released as festival weekend approaches. Visit the official Palm Tree Music Festival Montecito website and follow @palmtreefestival on Instagram for the latest information.
