Austin City Limits Music Festival 2026

Austin City Limits Music Festival 2026 — Week Schedule

1. May 5, 2026 · Lineup announced
   ACL revealed its 25th-anniversary lineup and put three-day passes on sale.
2. October 2, 2026 · Weekend One opens
   The first weekend of the festival begins at Zilker Park (Oct 2-4).
3. October 4, 2026 · Weekend One closes
   The first weekend wraps after three days.
4. October 9, 2026 · Weekend Two opens
   The second weekend begins, with Kings of Leon among the weekend-two-only acts (Oct 9-11).
5. October 11, 2026 · Weekend Two closes
   The festival concludes its 25th-anniversary edition.

Austin City Limits Music Festival 2026 Weekend Planning Blueprint

An ACL trip runs smoothly when you lock the big decisions early.

1. Pick your weekend by the lineup. Five headliners play both weekends, but Skrillex is Weekend One only and Kings of Leon is Weekend Two only. Decide which acts are non-negotiable, then choose your dates.
2. Buy passes early — and check what is left. Three-day and single-day tickets are on sale; Weekend One three-day GA sold out and Weekend Two stock was limited by spring 2026.
3. Book a hotel by how you want to travel. For the shortest walk to the gate, stay in South Austin near Zilker; for a nightlife base, downtown’s Rainey Street area puts you next to the bars.
4. Plan the food before you are hungry. Carpenters Hall is the closest sit-down spot to the grounds, Terry Black’s covers Texas barbecue on Barton Springs Road, and Home Slice extends its hours during festival weekends.
5. Map your off-hours in South Austin. Build in a brewery stop or a cocktail bar so the trip is a city visit, not just a festival.

Who This Event Fits Best

ACL is a broad-tent festival, but the 25th-anniversary lineup rewards some fans more than others.

• The both-weekends headliner fan. If your must-see list is Charli xcx, RÜFÜS DU SOL, Twenty One Pilots, Lorde or The xx, either weekend works — buy on price and hotel availability.
• The weekend-specific completist. If you need Skrillex, you need Weekend One. If you need Kings of Leon, you need Weekend Two. Read the dates twice before you check out.
• The walk-to-the-gate fan. If skipping the rideshare crush matters, base in South Austin near Zilker and treat the festival like it is in your backyard.
• The 25th-anniversary regular. If you have been before and the milestone year is the draw, this is the edition to come back for — same park, a quarter-century in.
• Maybe sit this one out if… you are hoping for a single blockbuster pop headliner or a heavy hip-hop top of the bill — the 2026 lineup is built around alt-pop, rock and electronic.

Official Links & Tickets

Official Austin City Limits Music Festival 2026 site
Three-day passes (GA, GA+, VIP, Platinum) and one-day tickets sell through aclfestival.com. By spring 2026 Weekend One 3-Day GA had sold out, with limited Weekend Two stock remaining.