Austin City Limits Music Festival

Austin City Limits Music Festival brings together over 100 bands across 9 stages at Zilker Park for two separate three-day weekends—October 2-4 and October 9-11, 2026—celebrating the festival's 25th anniversary. The 2026 lineup is led by headliners Charli xcx, RÜFÜS DU SOL, Twenty One Pilots, Lorde, Skrillex (Weekend 1), Kings of Leon (Weekend 2) and The xx, alongside acts such as Turnstile, Labrinth, Lola Young, The Chainsmokers, Young Miko, Bleachers, SOFI TUKKER and The War on Drugs. The festival offers multiple ticket tiers to suit different preferences and budgets, from General Admission starting at $370 to premium experiences like Platinum ($5,670+) and exclusive hospitality packages like Bungalows ($30,000+) and Cabanas. Layaway payment plans are available, with some options requiring as little as $25 down.

History

Austin City Limits Music Festival was founded in 2002 by concert promoter Charlie Jones, who set out to create an Austin counterpart to the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, and it takes its name from the city's long-running public-television music series. The inaugural event drew 42,000 fans on its busiest day; the festival later expanded to two consecutive weekends and now hosts roughly 75,000 fans per day. It is produced by C3 Presents—founded by Austin industry veterans Jones, Charles Attal and Charlie Walker, and majority-owned by Live Nation since 2014—which also stages Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo and other major festivals. Over 25 years the event has grown into one of the country's premier destination festivals, earning the 2026 Pollstar "Music Festival of the Year" award, and Disney+ and Hulu now globally livestream its opening weekend.

Festival Experience

Attendees enjoy access to food vendors featuring local chefs and restaurants with vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options. Bars throughout the grounds serve cocktails, beer, wine, seltzers, and mocktails. Children 8 and under receive free General Admission when accompanied by a ticketed adult. Higher-tier tickets unlock additional amenities: GA+ includes lounge seating on a first-come, first-served basis; VIP adds viewing decks and grove seating; and Platinum provides dedicated lounges, premium viewing, and entry to exclusive ACL Fest Nights events. The festival's Bungalow and Cabana packages accommodate groups of 10 to 30+ guests with premium positioning and private facilities.

Specialized programming includes Austin Kiddie Limits for younger festival-goers, while elevated viewing areas and VIP experiences cater to those seeking premium access. The festival features ACL Eats, highlighting local food vendors and culinary experiences. Special programming like Bonus Tracks has attracted notable performances, broadening the festival's cultural reach beyond traditional musical performances.

Community Impact

A portion of every ticket sale benefits the Austin Parks Foundation, supporting over 300 public parks, trails, and green spaces; since 2006 the festival has generated more than $79 million for Zilker Park and Austin parks, including $8.5 million in 2025. Beyond the parks, ACL Fest is a major economic engine for the city, contributing $557.8 million to the Austin economy in 2025 and more than $4.7 billion since 2006, and organizers have signed an agreement to keep the festival at Zilker Park through 2040. The festival partners with major brands including American Express, T-Mobile, Miller Lite, and others, enhancing on-site experiences and entertainment offerings. The outdoor setting at Zilker Park creates an atmospheric backdrop for performances, with drone photography and aerial perspectives capturing the scale and energy of the event.