LB Amphitheater Announces First Concert

In early January of this year, Long Beach city officials announced the upcoming construction project of a new outdoor amphitheater. Set to be built along Long Beach’s iconic waterfront with a view of the historic Queen Mary, the Long Beach Amphitheater will be the city’s first-ever outdoor concert hall.

The concept of building an 11,000 capacity amphitheater in the city goes back to 2016, as a recommendation in a plan focusing on developing the area surrounding the Queen Mary.

According to Chelsey Magallon, the public affairs officer for the Long Beach Department of Economic Development & Opportunity, the selected location of the Long Beach Amphitheater truly makes it stand out from other outdoor concert halls one would find in California, such as the Hollywood Bowl or the Greek Theatre.

“The Long Beach Amphitheater’s location is truly one-of-a-kind, positioned on the waterfront with sweeping views of the Downtown Long Beach skyline,” said Magallon. “This scale creates a valuable opportunity to attract top-tier music acts and large touring productions.

In addition, the venue’s proximity to Harry Bridges Memorial Park – already a well-established special events space – offers the flexibility to expand the event footprint when needed, providing concert promoters with a level of versatility and enhancing Long Beach’s appeal as a premier live entertainment destination.”

Construction of the Long Beach Amphitheater is scheduled to begin in late December which, according to Magallon, will include various improvements to the surrounding area of the project’s location, including but not limited to:

• Repairs to the existing parking lot
• New storm drain infrastructure
• Electrical enhancements

Magallon has also stated that, once these improvements are finished, the project will move forward with setting up and installing the amphitheater’s grandstands, seating, stage and all other expected fixtures and equipment.

The amphitheater is currently set to operate on a five-year term as a temporary venue, with the possibility of the amphitheater becoming a permanent resident of the city afterward, according to an official press release issued in January.

“To enter the amphitheater market more quickly and cost-effectively, the city opted to develop a temporary amphitheater,” said Magallon. “This approach allows for an earlier market entry while assessing the potential return on investment of a permanent venue as broader planning efforts continue.”

However, despite construction of the outdoor venue yet to begin, officials in charge of the Long Beach Amphitheater have already made a huge announcement of who will be one of the first musical artists to headline the amphitheater – American Heavy Metal Band Mötley Crüe.

The concert is scheduled to take place on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, and will be a part of the band’s “The Return of Carnival of Sins” tour, which celebrates the 20th anniversary of Mötley Crüe’s iconic 2005-2006 world tour.

While it is yet to be confirmed if Mötley Crüe will be the Long Beach Amphitheater’s inaugural show, tickets for the upcoming concert are already on sale.

Future announcements on other shows to be held at the Long Beach Amphitheater will be shared with the public when available. As for the venue itself, the Long Beach Amphitheater is scheduled to open for business in Summer 2026.

For more information on the venue, including upcoming events or ticket prices, you can visit their official website at https://longbeachamp.com/.