Thai Fest by the Beach returns to the Santa Monica Pier on Saturday, September 19, and Sunday, September 20, 2026. Admission is free.
The festival is built around food. Organizers describe a curated lineup of Thai vendors serving street food alongside fusion dishes, set against the pier’s boardwalk and ocean view.
The stage program runs traditional Thai music and dance, sets from Asian American vocalists and musicians, and Muay Thai demonstrations. Family programming includes photo stations and activities with the festival’s mascot.
The festival is one of a handful of Thai cultural events that draw on both the local Thai community and Thai government trade and cultural offices. Its listed supporters include RTCG and Infinite Friends alongside the trade agencies, and the organizers position the weekend as a showcase for Thai restaurants and food producers as much as a community party.
The event bills itself as “a curated Thai food and culture celebration” under the tagline “Food, Fun and Family, Harmony for All.” Partners listed on the festival’s site include the City of Santa Monica, Thai SELECT and DITP, the Thai government’s Department of International Trade Promotion, which certifies Thai restaurants abroad.
Hours listed on the festival’s ticketing page are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. both days. The pier is reachable by the Metro E Line to Downtown Santa Monica station.
Sources
- Thai Fest by the Beach official site
- Thai Fest by the Beach, Eventbrite listing
- Food Journal Magazine, “LA Food Events in September 2026”
