Levitation is the world's most influential psych and experimental music festival, returning to Austin's Red River Cultural District for four days from September 10–13, 2026. Founded as Austin Psych Fest in 2008, Levitation has grown from a single-venue showcase into a citywide takeover of Austin's best independent venues — Mohawk, Empire Control Room, Stubb's, Hotel Vegas, Cheer Up Charlie's, and a network of clubs across the Red River corridor. The festival's reputation for adventurous booking has made it the must-attend event for psych rock, garage, krautrock, shoegaze, and experimental music fans worldwide.
The 2026 lineup is Levitation's own to announce, so check https://levitation.fm/ for it rather than this page. The booking team is known for landing both legendary psych acts and the next generation of underground bands at exactly the right moment, across the heavy/psych/experimental spectrum, with the bill spread over venues in the Red River Cultural District. The single-show ticketing option lets you cherry-pick specific venues; the festival pass gets you into everything.
The Red River Cultural District format is what makes Levitation special. Instead of a parking-lot festival ground, your wristband moves you between iconic Austin music venues over four days, with intimate 200-capacity rooms hosting acts that headline larger festivals in other cities. You can catch a heavy psych set at Mohawk, walk three blocks to Hotel Vegas for a shoegaze showcase, then end the night at Cheer Up Charlie's for experimental electronics. The Austin food scene is the second festival happening alongside the music, and the local music community is among the most knowledgeable in the country.