Whalefest  Music

Update: 2026 musician spots are FULL

MUSIC has always been a vital part of the Whalefest experience, with live performances by local bands and orchestras filling Old Fisherman’s Wharf with vibrant sound.

Interested in performing at the next Whalefest Monterey? Join us in building community while celebrating and raising awareness for the incredible Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Application Questionnaire: The questionnaire below will add your interest to a waitlist for a future festival season.

Opportunity Opens: After mid-2026. Inquiries before such time will not be reviewed.

Opportunity Waitlist: Complete questionnaire. You will not receive immediate contact until after the current festival season ends.

Qualifications: Each musician or artist must qualify, be within our scope, family-friendly, and have experience performing in front of a live audience. Our committee must review your musical or artistic work and approve all setlists or performances. Once preselected, you will have the opportunity to submit a video reel or YouTube link of your work. If you perform live shows, you will have the opportunity to invite a committee member to see you live before being invited to the next Whalefest festival.

Spots: Opportunities and spots are limited and not guaranteed.

Volunteer: Whalefest is a free community event, and performances are volunteer-based. Musicians, artists, and performers will not be paid.

Apply for waitlist at Whalefest 2027

Whalefest Monterey Got Talent!

Interested in volunteering your talent and performing at a future Whalefest Monterey event? Donate your talent for the community while raising awareness of our beautiful Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Fill out the questionnaire to be added on a waitlist.

Waitlist Opens Mid-Year

Let’s make music together

A group of six musicians playing saxophones outdoors near a marina with numerous sailboats and yachts. The setting appears to be during daytime, and there are a few onlookers in the background.

Get on the waitlist:

An outdoor jazz band performing under a canopy on a pier with shops and boats in the background. The band includes several saxophonists and other musicians, with a conductor standing in front.
A man singing and playing guitar on an outdoor stage with a microphone, wearing sunglasses, a denim jacket, and a colorful hat, with an amplifier and a sign that says 'Please do not feed the wildlife' in the background.