At a Regular West Hollywood City Council meeting on Monday, October 20, 2025, the city council will consider a proposal to bring back a reimagined version of the Sunset Strip Music Festival, a once-iconic event celebrating the city’s musical legacy, with plans for a relaunch in fall 2026.
The proposal, introduced by Vice Mayor John Heilman and Councilmember Danny Hang, would authorize the city manager to begin negotiations with experienced festival promoters connected to Sunset Strip venues to develop a new concept for the festival.
The original Sunset Strip Music Festival ran from 2008 to 2014, featuring performances from venues such as the Whisky a Go-Go, the Roxy, and the Viper Room. The event evolved from an indoor concert series into a two-day street festival that drew up to 15,000 attendees before financial challenges led to its discontinuation.
According to the staff report, the new version could include a series of monthly events leading up to a large-scale music festival on Sunset Boulevard, along with tributes to legendary artists connected to the Strip. The proposal also calls for exploring the use of city-controlled billboard time to generate revenue and promote the festival.
City staff noted that a revived festival would require a significant investment, with costs potentially comparable to large-scale city events such as WeHo Pride and Halloween Carnaval. A two-day street closure for the event could represent a multi-million-dollar expense for infrastructure, public safety, and production.
The council is expected to discuss whether the city should allocate funding for the event or leverage existing resources from programs such as the Sunset Arts and Advertising Program, which oversees digital billboards along the Strip.
If approved, staff would engage local businesses and music venues in the planning process and develop a proposal for council review.
The item will be heard under new business at the City Council meeting on Monday.
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