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Austin City Limits 2026

Two Weekends in Zilker Park — Texas's Biggest Music Festival Brings 150+ Artists to the Heart of Austin

📅 October 2–4 & 9–11, 2026📍 Austin, United States🏟 Zilker Park🎵 Multi-Genre · Indie · Rock
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Date
October 2–4 & 9–11, 2026
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Location
Austin, United States
Camping
No
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Price
$$$$
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Size
Massive
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Genre
Multi-Genre

What is Austin City Limits 2026?

Austin City Limits Music Festival is Texas's biggest music festival and one of the most prestigious multi-weekend events in North America. Held each October across two consecutive weekends at the 350-acre Zilker Park in the heart of Austin, ACL brings 75,000+ festival-goers per day to experience 150+ artists across eight stages. Since 2002, ACL has been a taste-making booking staple — the mix of indie rock, hip-hop, electronic, pop, and country reflects the eclectic musical identity of Austin itself.

Eight stages anchor ACL: American Express Stage and Honda Stage (mainstages), Miller Lite Stage, T-Mobile Stage, BMI Stage, Vrbo Stage, Tito's Stage, and the Kiddie Limits (family area). Electronic music has grown significantly — past lineups include Skrillex, FISHER, Flume, ODESZA, and John Summit alongside the rock and hip-hop anchors. The two-weekend format means the same lineup plays both weekends, giving fans options for travel and lodging.

ACL is a day-festival experience in an urban park — no camping, walkable back to downtown Austin hotels, and integrated with the city's food and nightlife scene. Food trucks curated from Austin's famous restaurant scene deliver some of the best festival cuisine in America. The vibe is more upscale and chill than pure rave festivals — think fashion-forward indie kids rather than kandi-covered Headliners. Families, locals, and international travelers mix with music fans across all ages.

Artists & Performers

Billie EilishHeadliner
Dua LipaHeadliner
The KillersHeadliner
Tyler, The CreatorHeadliner
Kendrick LamarHeadliner
Olivia RodrigoHeadliner
Sturgill SimpsonHeadliner
HozierHeadliner
SZAHeadliner
Post MaloneHeadliner
Chappell RoanMainstage
KhruangbinMainstage
Four TetMainstage
FISHERMainstage
FlumeMainstage
Noah KahanMainstage
Vampire WeekendMainstage
Peso PlumaMainstage
KaytranadaMainstage
The NationalMainstage
ClairoStage Act
Japanese BreakfastStage Act
Faye WebsterStage Act
Caroline PolachekStage Act
MitskiStage Act
Remi WolfStage Act
Fred again..Stage Act
Tame ImpalaStage Act
Cage The ElephantStage Act
The War on DrugsStage Act

Festival Essentials

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Ticket Type3-day weekend passes (W1 or W2), GA+, VIP, and Platinum tiers
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Price RangeGA 3-day from $399 / GA+ from $649 / VIP from $1,999 / Platinum from $4,999
Festival HoursGates 11 AM, music 12 PM until 10 PM (Austin noise ordinance)
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Austin FoodCurated food trucks from Austin's restaurant scene — best festival food in America
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Must-Have AppDownload the official ACL app for set times, map, and notifications
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HydrationFree water refill stations — October Texas heat still hits 85°F+ afternoons
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Phone ChargerPortable battery pack essential — cell service struggles with 75K people
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Comfortable ShoesZilker Park is grass and dirt paths — sneakers over boots or sandals

Travel & Planning Guide

Austin City Limits takes place at Zilker Park, a 350-acre urban green space in the heart of Austin, Texas. Most ACL-goers fly into Austin-Bergstrom International (AUS) — the airport is 15 minutes from Zilker Park by rideshare. Delta, American, Southwest, and United all have strong Austin route networks. If you're road-tripping from Dallas (3 hours), Houston (2.5 hours), or San Antonio (90 minutes), traffic into Austin peaks heavily on Friday afternoon during festival weekends.

ACL does NOT offer camping — this is a day festival in an urban park. The huge advantage is lodging flexibility: downtown Austin hotels (walkable to the festival via the Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge), South Congress / SoCo hotels (15-minute rideshare), and East Austin Airbnbs all work. Hotel rates spike 3x during ACL weekends — book by April for best availability. The city's Capital Metro buses and B-cycle rental stations also connect downtown hotels to Zilker Park.

Pro tip for first-timers: October Austin weather is the friendliest of any major US festival — 75–85°F warm days, 60–70°F cool nights, minimal rain. Pack lightweight layers, comfortable sneakers, SPF, and a reusable water bottle. The two-weekend format means ticket prices are cheaper for Weekend 2 (slightly smaller crowds, same lineup). Explore Austin beyond the festival: Franklin Barbecue for lunch, Rainey Street for drinks, Lady Bird Lake for morning runs, and South Congress for shopping.

What to Know Before You Go

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Weekend 2 Saves Money

ACL runs the same lineup both weekends. Weekend 2 is typically 10-15% cheaper for tickets and hotels, with slightly smaller crowds. If you're flexible on dates, Weekend 2 is the smart play. Weekend 1 sells out first because it comes before the mid-month ACL Fest slowdown.

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Book Hotels by April

Austin hotel rates triple during ACL weekends. Downtown hotels (walkable to Zilker) sell out by March. South Congress and East Austin Airbnbs offer more options but still sell out by May. Book by April for both weekends and cancel the one you don't use closer to the date.

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Eat at the Festival

ACL's food truck curation is legendary — the best festival food in America. Franklin Barbecue, Torchy's Tacos, and dozens of top Austin restaurants run pop-ups. Budget $40/day for food because you'll want to try everything. Skip bringing bars from home; you'll regret it.

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October Austin is Perfect

October is the best festival weather in America. 75–85°F warm days, 60–70°F cool nights, minimal rain. Pack lightweight layers, sneakers, SPF, sunglasses, and a light jacket for evening. Unlike Coachella or Bonnaroo, you won't need tarps or heavy-duty gear.

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B-cycle to the Festival

Austin's B-cycle bike-share network connects downtown hotels to Zilker Park via dedicated paths and the Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge. A $25 day pass gets you unlimited rides. This beats rideshare surges during peak gate times and is genuinely faster than driving.

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Mix Genres Deliberately

ACL's genre diversity is the point — don't just camp at the mainstage for headliners. Indie rock in the afternoon, hip-hop at twilight, electronic at night is the move. The Tito's Stage and Vrbo Stage often deliver the best surprise sets of each day. Follow the schedule with intention.

Frequently Asked Questions

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