Sea.Hear.Now 2026 guide: schedule, bags and trains

Sea.Hear.Now Festival runs on the Asbury Park waterfront on Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20, 2026. Entrances open at noon and the festival ends at 10:30 p.m. each day. Mumford & Sons close Saturday; The Strokes close Sunday.

The schedule is live, but the official public map page still shows the 2025 map for reference. Do not use that older layout to choose a 2026 entrance, accessible viewing area or route between stages. Save the current schedule now, then check the official app for the 2026 map before leaving for Asbury Park.

*Original editorial illustration of a waterfront music festival. It does not show Asbury Park, Sea.Hear.Now 2026, a named artist or the final festival layout.*

The practical plan: take only a compliant bag, arrive before the late-afternoon crowd, and decide how you will get home before the headliner begins. If you use NJ Transit, check the live departure for that night rather than relying on a timetable copied into a festival guide.

The operational details below were checked on September 13 against the festival's current schedule and support pages.

Sea.Hear.Now 2026 at a glance

Saturday or Sunday: which lineup should you choose?

Saturday puts Chaka Khan, The Offspring and Mumford & Sons on the Surf Stage. The Park Stage has Fitz and the Tantrums, The All-American Rejects and The War on Drugs, while the Sand Stage has Tom Odell, Susanna Hoffs and Shaggy.

Sunday's Surf Stage moves through Ben Howard, Fontaines D.C., Goo Goo Dolls and The Strokes. Alice Phoebe Lou, flipturn, Ziggy Marley and Moby play the Park Stage. Die Spitz, Kim Gordon and Pixies are among the Sand Stage choices.

The difficult sets are the simultaneous ones:

Those pairs are scheduled at the same time, so a complete performance by both is not realistic. Choose one before the day starts. If you plan to split a set, wait for the 2026 map and allow for sand and crowd movement rather than assuming the stages are a quick walk apart.

The official schedule can change. Take a screenshot each morning, but use the live app for a cancellation or moved set.

The 2026 map is still pending

Sea.Hear.Now's official map support page says 2026 information is not yet available and displays the 2025 map only as a reference. That distinction matters because the current festival support pages identify 2026 entrances and accessible services separately.

Use the older map only to understand the broad waterfront setting. Do not use it as evidence for this year's bars, toilets, lockers, medical tents, accessible platforms, merchandise, food vendors or stage paths.

Until the new map appears, save these anchors:

• The festival address is 1300 Ocean Avenue.
• Accessible entrance lanes are listed at Ocean Avenue and 5th Avenue, and at Ocean Avenue and 7th Avenue.
• The accessibility center is listed just inside the Ocean Avenue and 5th Avenue entrance.
• Bicycle parking is listed at 5th Avenue and Kingsley Street.
• Asbury Park railway station is west of the waterfront, so check the final walk in the live map app.

News 12 reported on September 10 that organizers had added local-business maps to the event's app and Instagram while Asbury Park businesses prepared for the crowd. That is a current reason to install the app, but it is not confirmation that every 2026 festival facility is already shown.

Sea.Hear.Now bag policy

The fastest entry is with no bag. If you need one, the festival's current rule allows:

• A clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bag no larger than 12 by 12 by 6 inches.
• A non-clear clutch or fanny pack no larger than 6 by 9 inches, with no more than one pocket.
• An empty hydration pack with no more than two main compartments and one smaller compartment.

Backpacks and bags with multiple pockets are prohibited unless they meet a stated medical or hydration exception. Every bag is searched. Staff will not pre-approve a specific model from a photo, so measure the bag at home and simplify its contents.

Baby strollers, blankets, sheets and towels appear on the allowed list, but there is a no-blanket or towel zone at Surf Stage. Empty reusable plastic or aluminum bottles are allowed under the current item policy, subject to the listed size and inspection rules. Glass, outside alcohol, aerosol containers, chairs and professional recording equipment are among the prohibited categories.

Prescription medicine must be in the pharmacy-labeled container showing the prescription, dose and patient name. The policy limits entry to a sufficient supply for that day and directs visitors to medical staff at the gate.

How re-entry and wristbands work

Re-entry is permitted on the same day, but the wristband must be scanned when you leave. Expect security and a bag search again when returning.

Wear the wristband securely and do not remove it between days. The organizer says a removed or transferred wristband can be void. A lost, damaged or over-tightened wristband can be replaced only after order verification, with the current support page listing a $20 replacement fee.

Use the official festival ticket page or Ticketmaster Verified Exchange for a resale purchase. The organizer warns that it cannot fix a problem with a wristband bought through an unauthorized broker or private listing.

Taking NJ Transit to Sea.Hear.Now

Asbury Park station is on NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line. The train removes the parking search, but it does not remove the need for a return plan.

Check the NJ Transit app or website for the exact trip on September 19 or 20. Some journeys from New York Penn require a transfer at Long Branch, and engineering work or event service can change the useful connection. Save the outbound and return legs separately.

The festival's current accessibility guide lists an 11:57 p.m. train from Asbury Park connecting with a 12:18 a.m. train at Long Branch. Treat that as a prompt to check, not as a permanent timetable. The festival ends at 10:30 p.m., and the time needed to leave the crowd and walk to the station varies.

For a New York day trip, work backwards from the final usable train before deciding to watch an encore. If the last connection is too tight, choose accommodation within walking distance or arrange another return instead of assuming a late rideshare will be immediate.

Driving, parking and drop-off

Sea.Hear.Now does not provide a reserved general parking field in the support guidance. The festival directs drivers to Asbury Park's public parking information and warns that road closures make some public spaces unavailable during the event.

Do not mistake an Asbury Park Parking app payment for a reservation. A meter session pays for an available space; it does not hold one while you drive into town. Check the posted zone and time limit after parking.

A workable driving plan has three parts:

1. Choose a city parking area before entering the beachfront streets.
2. Keep a second legal option farther from the gates.
3. Save the parked-car location and the road route home before the crowd exits.

If a passenger has limited walking capacity, use the festival's current accessibility parking and entry guidance rather than selecting a general city lot by distance alone. Road controls can change the usable drop-off point.

Cyclists can use the festival bicycle parking at 5th Avenue and Kingsley Street. Bikes are not allowed inside the grounds, and the festival does not provide the lock.

Accessibility on sand and in viewing areas

Sea.Hear.Now provides accessible lanes at the Ocean and 5th and Ocean and 7th entrances. The accessibility center just inside Ocean and 5th handles accessibility wristbands, information and charging for powered mobility devices. Bring the required charging cable and accessories.

All festival tickets are general admission. Visitors do not need a separate accessible ticket. Eligible visitors can request an accessibility wristband for themselves and one companion, but the organizer says accessible viewing areas are first come, first served and can reach capacity.

Accessible portable toilets are placed at the ends of toilet banks, according to the current guide. The festival does not rent wheelchairs, provide personal care, push wheelchairs or offer golf-cart rides. Anyone who needs effective communication support, ASL, assisted listening or a guided tour should use the organizer's request process before the event.

The site includes beach terrain. Ask the accessibility team about the route to the required stage and the latest map rather than assuming every shortest path is suitable for a mobility device.

Friday's free Kickoff on Cookman

Kickoff on Cookman runs on Friday, September 18 from 5 to 9 p.m. on Cookman Avenue between Grand Avenue and Main Street. It is a separate, free, all-ages street event before the ticketed festival weekend.

Use it as an orientation evening rather than treating it as early admission to the beach grounds. It can help a first-time visitor locate Asbury Park station, Cookman Avenue and the waterfront in daylight. Late-night concerts at local venues require their own tickets and age checks.

Weather, beach conditions and a group meeting plan

This is an outdoor, waterfront festival. Check the National Weather Service forecast close to the day and pack within the entry rules. A warm afternoon can turn cooler near the ocean after sunset. Use sunscreen, a permitted empty bottle and a light layer that fits inside the bag.

Choose one fixed meeting point from the final 2026 map. Do not use "near the main stage" or a moving food truck. The festival identifies the main Guest Services tent as the meeting point for lost or separated people, but a group should also agree on its own low-traffic landmark.

Put an emergency contact on the phone lock screen and in the wristband registration. Save each traveler's accommodation address and return route. In a dense crowd, messages may arrive late even when the phone shows signal.

Useful apps for Sea.Hear.Now weekend

• Sea.Hear.Now app: current schedule, final map, local-business map and festival updates.
• NJ Transit: live rail planning, service changes and tickets where supported.
• Asbury PARK: city parking payment after finding a legal space. It is not a parking reservation.
• Google Maps or Apple Maps: offline Asbury Park area, station, accommodation and meeting point.
• Weather app: rain, wind and temperature checks before packing.
• Messaging app: one group thread with the fixed meeting point and return plan.

Download the event app and ticket before travel. Screenshot the day's schedule, ticket barcode, final train and accommodation address. Offline copies do not replace live updates, but they prevent a weak connection from becoming an entry or navigation problem.

Ten Sea.Hear.Now questions visitors ask

1. When and where is Sea.Hear.Now 2026?

The festival runs September 19 and 20 at North Beach, Bradley Park and Atlantic Park in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Entrances open at noon and the event ends at 10:30 p.m. each day.

2. Has the Sea.Hear.Now 2026 map been released?

Not on the official public map page when checked on September 13. That page still labels the displayed map as 2025 reference information. Use the official app and support pages for the final 2026 layout.

3. What is the Sea.Hear.Now 2026 bag policy?

Use a clear bag no larger than 12 by 12 by 6 inches, or a non-clear clutch or fanny pack no larger than 6 by 9 inches with no more than one pocket. Hydration packs have a separate empty-container and compartment rule.

4. Can I take NJ Transit from New York?

Yes. The North Jersey Coast Line serves Asbury Park, and some New York journeys require a Long Branch transfer. Check the event-day itinerary in NJ Transit before travel and save the final usable return.

5. Is the Asbury Park Parking app a reservation?

No. The app pays for an available city parking space. It does not reserve a space in advance. Festival road closures also remove some normal parking from use.

6. Can I leave Sea.Hear.Now and come back?

Yes, on the same day, if the wristband is scanned on exit. You must pass through security and bag inspection again when returning.

7. Are the Saturday and Sunday lineups different?

Yes. Mumford & Sons headline Saturday, while The Strokes headline Sunday. Each day has a separate lineup and several simultaneous Park and Sand stage sets.

8. Can children attend Sea.Hear.Now?

The festival has a child ticket policy and allows baby strollers, but screening and event conditions still apply. Check the current age and ticket page for the child's age before buying, and bring hearing protection suitable for the child.

9. Is Sea.Hear.Now accessible for wheelchair users?

The festival provides accessible entrance lanes, viewing areas, toilets and an accessibility center. It does not rent wheelchairs or provide push service. Beach terrain and viewing-area capacity make advance route planning important.

10. Will phone service work in the festival crowd?

No provider can guarantee fast data in a dense event crowd. Save the ticket, timetable, map and meeting point offline. Use live data for changes, but do not make it the only copy of essential information.

Mobile data during Sea.Hear.Now

Mobile data is useful for the final map, set changes, NJ Transit alerts, parking payment and group messages. It cannot reserve a parking space, create capacity in an accessible viewing area or guarantee priority on a busy local network.

Roaming eSIM's public United States catalog returned 37 plans when checked on September 12, with fixed and daily-data options. The live package card controls the current price, allowance, validity, network access, hotspot support and top-up eligibility.

The practical Roaming eSIM advantage for an international visitor is route choice. A United States plan fits a New Jersey-only visit. USA and Canada can fit a trip that continues north, while North America suits a wider regional itinerary. Global 120 Areas is relevant only when its current destination list covers the whole trip. Install on a compatible, unlocked phone before the airport so the arrival plan does not depend on finding a physical SIM shop.

Keep the usual SIM active only under settings that avoid unintended roaming charges. Roaming eSIM provides mobile data on the selected package; it does not include festival admission, NJ Transit fares or venue Wi-Fi priority.

Use the travel data calculator to estimate an allowance. Check whether the phone supports eSIM and when to install it before travel. Visitors combining the festival with a longer US trip can use the United States with kids guide for broader planning.

Roaming eSIM options for an Asbury Park trip

The cards below cover a United States visit and wider North American or global routes. Compare the live destination list and package terms before paying. A broader plan is useful only when the rest of the itinerary needs it.

How this Sea.Hear.Now guide is maintained

The dates, hours, schedule, bag measurements, item rules, re-entry process, map status, entrances, bicycle parking and accessibility details were checked against the festival's current pages on September 13. NJ Transit and Asbury Park remain the final sources for live trains, roads and parking.

This guide will be reviewed if the organizer publishes the final 2026 map or changes the schedule, entrances, item policy, accessibility arrangements or transport advice. On the festival weekend, use the official app, NJ Transit and posted city signs as the final operational sources.