Live, in Photos: Sea.Hear.Now 2026 with The Strokes. Die Spitz, Moby, and More

Live, in Photos: Sea.Hear.Now2026 with The Strokes. Die Spitz, Moby, and More

Kim Gordon, The War on Drugs, Mumford & Sons, Chaka Khan, and the surf and sights along the waterfront in Asbury Park, New Jersey.

Words: David Iskra

Photos: David Iskra

September 22, 2026

New Jersey’s favorite festival by the sea returned over the weekend with yet another eclectic lineup spanning numerous genres and decades. Day one of the two-day Sea.Here.Now kicked off with Jarod Clemons—nephew of E Street legend Clarence Clemons—whose early-afternoon set quickly got the festival moving. Tom Odell started his set with a half-filled beach, but within minutes of sitting down at his piano, the crowd filled in as his low-key vibes felt perfect for a breezy day by the ocean.

Chaka Khan began her set with a video montage featuring everyone from Whitney Houston and Joni Mitchell to Prince himself introducing Khan at an old performance. Later, Susanna Hoffs hit the sand stage where she battled the wind with a set packed with favorites, covers, and tracks from her latest album.

Taking a sharp turn from sunny pop songs to punk, The Offspring came out swinging with “Come Out and Play.” Their upbeat set was a perfect way to wake the crowd back up, but the day wasn’t done yet. Up next was The War on Drugs, who drew a huge crowd eager to hear new material from their forthcoming album. The day-one headliners were Mumford & Sons, whose gorgeously lit performance and relentless barrage of energy brought the first day to a fitting close.

The forecast for day two called for rain, and while it did drizzle, fans came prepared with ponchos, raincoats, and towels. Alice Phoebe Lou took the stage early with a charming personality and a low-key delivery that certainly created new fans. Without a doubt one of the highlights of the weekend, Die Spitz drew an energetic crowd that resulted in a rare Sea.Hear.Now mosh pit after bassist Kate Halter came out onstage walking on her hands.

Moby was another artist who came out swinging with his combination of techno and rock music kicking off a Sunday night party. The set only slowed down for a prerecorded message from his friend—the “last living saint,” Jane Goodall—who pleaded for the protection of animals. As the night began to wind down, the entire festival grounds seemed to be swimming toward The Strokes. There wasn’t an inch of sand left to stand on as Julian Casablancas and his band took the stage, shrouded in darkness and illuminated only by neon lights. The band’s dark, hypnotic presentation was a fitting way to close out the weekend.

In addition to its impressive lineup, Sea.Hear.Now is known for its amazing local food and another unique feature: surfing. The ocean hasn’t been particularly cooperative in recent years, but the waves were churning this weekend, with multiple surfers showing off their skills in the rough surf. Another festival staple is the gallery tent, which was filled with art by current and former musicians, as well as Danny Clinch’s stellar photography. Other artists joined in on the action, with Shepard Fairey creating an installation featuring everyone from Public Enemy’s Chuck D to Henry Rollins.

With yet another Sea.Hear.Now in the books, take a look at highlights from both days of this year's festivities in Asbury Park below.