Festival Guide · 25th Anniversary
Austin City Limits
Music Festival 2026
2026 lineup, festival navigation, transportation, Austin neighborhood breakdowns, and the logistics that make a festival weekend work.
On This Page
ACL 2026 at a Glance
Weekend One
Oct 2–4
Weekend Two
Oct 9–11
Venue
Zilker Park
Stages
9 Stages
Music
100+ Performances
Weekend Two
12 PM–10 PM
Overview
What to Expect at ACL 2026
From lineup to logistics — here’s what you’re walking into.
The Lineup
ACL’s 25th anniversary brings a deep lineup across all three days. Friday features Charli XCX with Kings of Leon exclusive to Weekend Two. Saturday includes RÜFÜS DU SOL, Lorde, Lola Young, and Young Miko. Sunday closes with Twenty One Pilots and The xx.
The Experience
More than 100 performances across nine stages in Zilker Park over two weekends. Expect plenty of walking, large crowds during peak sets, and changing October weather. Plan for sun, heat, and the possibility of rain.
ACL Eats
ACL Eats & Sweets brings a wide range of Austin food and beverage vendors into Zilker Park, with tacos, pizza, BBQ, burgers, Asian food, desserts, vegetarian options, and more.
Austin Beyond ACL
ACL weekend extends beyond Zilker Park. Austin’s restaurants, music venues, neighborhoods, and nightlife make it worth building extra time into your festival trip.
Planning for Weekend Two
- Weekend Two runs Friday, October 9 through Sunday, October 11
- Review the official schedule and 2026 festival map before choosing your entrance and transportation plan
- Activate your wristband before heading to Zilker Park
- If you still need lodging, transportation, or wristbands, availability is now time-sensitive
2026 Lineup
ACL 2026 Lineup
Weekend Two runs October 9–11.
No badge = both weekends ·
W1 Oct 2–4 only ·
W2 Oct 9–11 only
Headliners
Charli XCX
British pop artist whose 2024 album “BRAT” became a major cultural moment, blending electronic production with sharp pop songwriting.
Skrillex W1
Grammy-winning American producer and DJ known for high-energy electronic performances.
Kings of Leon W2
Nashville rock band behind arena staples including “Sex on Fire” and “Use Somebody.”
Turnstile
Baltimore band whose energetic live performances have brought hardcore and alternative rock to a much wider audience.
Major Acts
Labrinth—British singer, songwriter, and producer known for cinematic pop, soul, and electronic production.
The Chainsmokers—Electronic duo known for crossover hits including “Closer” and “Don’t Let Me Down.”
Leon Thomas—American R&B singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist.
Brandon Flowers W1—Lead singer of The Killers performing solo.
Amyl and the Sniffers—Australian punk and rock band known for high-energy live performances.
Steve Aoki—American DJ and producer known for energetic festival sets and dance collaborations.
Natasha Bedingfield W2—British pop singer known for hits including “Unwritten.”
LP—Singer-songwriter known internationally for distinctive vocals and the hit “Lost on You.”
Faouzia—Moroccan-Canadian singer-songwriter known for powerful vocals and dramatic pop production.
Rebecca Black W1—Independent pop artist who has developed a contemporary electronic-pop catalog.
Headliners
RÜFÜS DU SOL
Sydney electronic trio blending deep house, indie dance, and emotive songwriting.
Lorde
New Zealand singer-songwriter known for influential modern pop albums including “Pure Heroine” and “Melodrama.”
Lola Young
South London singer-songwriter whose music blends soul, indie, pop, and R&B.
Young Miko
Puerto Rican rapper and singer and one of the leading contemporary voices in Latin urban music.
Major Acts
Bleachers—Rock project fronted by songwriter and producer Jack Antonoff.
Lykke Li—Swedish singer-songwriter known for atmospheric indie pop.
Suki Waterhouse—British singer-songwriter with a cinematic indie-pop sound.
Rodrigo y Gabriela—Mexican acoustic guitar duo blending flamenco, rock, and world music.
Finn Wolfhard—Canadian actor and musician with indie-rock and singer-songwriter projects.
Ryan Beatty—Los Angeles singer-songwriter known for intimate alternative pop.
Headliners
Twenty One Pilots
Columbus duo blending alternative rock, pop, hip-hop, and electronic music with large-scale live production.
The xx
London group known for minimalist indie pop, atmospheric production, and intimate songwriting.
Geese
Brooklyn rock band known for adventurous songwriting and energetic live performances.
Sofi Tukker
New York electronic duo known for multilingual dance music and energetic festival sets.
Major Acts
Parcels—Australian five-piece known for polished disco, funk, and pop.
The War on Drugs—Philadelphia rock band known for expansive guitar-driven songwriting.
Blood Orange—Dev Hynes’ project blending R&B, pop, post-punk, and electronic music.
Saint Motel—Los Angeles indie-pop band known for theatrical, upbeat performances.
Cannons W1—Los Angeles dream-pop trio with a retro-influenced electronic sound.
Houndmouth W2—Indiana indie folk-rock band known for roots-driven Americana.
Claire Rosinkranz—California singer-songwriter known for hook-driven indie pop.
Charlotte Lawrence W2—Los Angeles singer-songwriter known for atmospheric alternative pop.
W1 Weekend One only
W2 Weekend Two only
No badge = both weekends
Festival Navigation
2026 Stage & Navigation Guide
The 2026 festival map is available. Use the official ACL app and map for current stage locations, set times, entrances, amenities, and festival updates.
American Express Stage
What to Know
One of ACL’s primary stages and a major destination for headline performances. Expect some of the festival’s largest crowds around major sets.
Planning
Give yourself additional time to reach the area before a high-demand performance.
T-Mobile Stage
What to Know
Another of the festival’s major stages. Crowd levels can increase significantly around headline performances.
Planning
Build extra transition time into your schedule around major evening sets.
Miller Lite Stage
What to Know
One of the nine stages operating during ACL 2026. Check the official schedule before entering the park and save the sets you want to see.
BMI Stage
What to Know
Check the 2026 schedule for daily performers and use the festival map to plan transitions between this stage and your next set.
Snapchat Stage
What to Know
Part of the 2026 festival layout. Check the official ACL schedule for performance times and the festival map for location.
BeatBox Stage
What to Know
Part of the 2026 festival layout. Use the official schedule and map to plan arrival times and movement between sets.
Tito’s Stage
What to Know
Part of the 2026 festival layout. Check the ACL app for current set times and festival information.
2026 Navigation Notes
- Entrances: East Barton Springs, West Barton Springs, and Lady Bird Entrance
- Families: A dedicated family entrance lane is available at Barton Springs East for families with small children
- Festival map: Check the official 2026 map and ACL app before leaving for Zilker
- Planning: Save your must-see sets and allow extra time between stages during peak periods
From the Field
Insider Tips
Plan Your Sets
- Headliners: Give yourself extra time to get into position for high-demand sets
- Schedule: Save your must-see artists in the official ACL app before arriving
- Transitions: Build walking time into your schedule instead of stacking sets back-to-back
- Meeting spot: Pick a landmark in advance in case your group gets separated
- Premium viewing: Viewing areas may be capacity-controlled
Weekend Two Timing
- Gates: Scheduled to open at 12:00 PM Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Festival hours: 12:00 PM–10:00 PM each day
- Festival shuttle: Service from Sand Beach Park begins at 11:30 AM
- Arrival: Give yourself time for transportation and security screening
- After headliners: Expect transportation demand to increase significantly
What to Bring
- Wristband: Activate it before arriving
- Water: Bring an allowed empty reusable water bottle or hydration pack
- Phone: A portable battery pack is worth bringing
- Weather: Check the forecast before leaving
- Bag: Review the current ACL bag and prohibited-items policy
Payments & Food
- Cashless: ACL is a cashless festival
- Payments: Cards, mobile payments, and registered wristband payments are accepted
- Water: Free refill stations are available throughout the festival
- Food: ACL Eats & Sweets features a large selection of vendors
- Dietary options: Vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free choices are available
Worth Knowing
- Download the official ACL app before you go for schedules, maps, and festival updates
- Activate your wristband before arriving at the entrance
- Bring an empty reusable water bottle and portable battery pack
- Check the current weather forecast and festival alerts before leaving for Zilker
Where to Stay
Austin Neighborhoods
For a last-minute Weekend Two stay, location can make a significant difference in your transportation plan.
Central
Downtown Austin
- Best for: Restaurants, nightlife, and downtown access
- Hotels: Large selection of full-service properties
- Transportation: Convenient for reaching the festival shuttle area
- Trade-off: Rates can be high during ACL weekend
Close to Zilker
South Congress
- Best for: Restaurants, shops, and South Austin atmosphere
- Transportation: Rideshare, biking, or other festival transportation options
- Pros: Strong dining and entertainment nearby
- Trade-off: Availability can be limited during ACL
Dining & Nightlife
East Austin
- Best for: Restaurants, bars, breweries, and nightlife
- Transportation: Plan on rideshare or transit to the festival
- Pros: Large selection of things to do outside ACL
- Trade-off: Farther from Zilker than downtown or South Austin
Closest
Zilker / Barton Hills
- Best for: Festival proximity
- Options: Primarily vacation rentals and limited nearby lodging
- Pros: Potential to walk to the festival
- Trade-off: Last-minute availability can be extremely limited
Last-Minute Lodging
Weekend Two begins Friday, October 9. Availability and rates can change quickly. Downtown, South Congress, East Austin, and areas with convenient access to Zilker are all worth checking based on current availability and your transportation plans.
Tickets & VIP
Wristband Access
Looking for Weekend Two access? Check current Xenia Events inventory for available wristbands.
Current Inventory
ACL 2026 Wristband Pricing
View current ACL wristband availability and pricing. Inventory can change quickly as Weekend Two approaches.
ACL Eats & Sweets
Food & Drinks
The 2026 ACL Eats & Sweets lineup includes food and beverage options throughout Zilker Park.
Tacos & Latin
The 2026 lineup includes vendors such as Cuantos Tacos, Cabo Bob’s, Veracruz All Natural, Vaquero Taquero, Four Brothers Venezuelan Kitchen, and other Latin food options.
Pizza
Pizza options include Austin’s Pizza, Southside Flying Pizza, Bambino, and other festival vendors.
BBQ, Burgers & More
BBQ, burgers, chicken, sandwiches, fries, and other festival favorites are available from a range of 2026 vendors.
Desserts & International
ACL also features Asian food, sweets, frozen desserts, dumplings, and other options from vendors including Amy’s Ice Creams, Bao’d Up, Thai Fresh, Tiff’s Treats, and more.
Food & Payment Notes
- ACL is a cashless festival
- Cards, mobile payments, and registered wristband payments are accepted
- Free water refill stations are available throughout the festival grounds
- Vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free food choices are available
- Check the official festival map for current vendor locations
Getting There
Parking & Transportation
- No parking at Zilker Park: There is no festival parking at Zilker Park or in the surrounding neighborhoods.
- Free festival shuttle: Board at Sand Beach Park near Walter Seaholm Drive and Electric Drive in downtown Austin. The shuttle drops guests near the Barton Springs West entrance and returns downtown after the festival. Service begins at 11:30 AM each festival day.
- Official parking options: Paid parking options include Barton Oaks, 1221 MoPac, and Austin High School at 1715 W. Cesar Chavez Street.
- Rideshare to ACL: Use the festival/Zilker Park destination in your rideshare app and follow current event routing and drop-off instructions.
- Rideshare after ACL: Current pickup areas include Austin High School, Carpenter Hotel, 2525 Wallingwood, Lee Barton Drive, and West Riverside Drive.
- CapMetro: Public transportation serves the Zilker Park area. Check current CapMetro routing before leaving.
- Walking & biking: Walking and biking can be practical from nearby areas. Check the official festival map for current bicycle and scooter parking locations.
- Festival entrances: East Barton Springs, West Barton Springs, and Lady Bird Entrance.
- Families: A dedicated family entrance lane is available at Barton Springs East for families with small children.
The City
Austin Beyond the Festival
If you’re visiting for ACL, there’s plenty to do before gates open and after the festival.
Live Music
Red River District: One of Austin’s primary live-music areas with venues including Mohawk and Cheer Up Charlies
Continental Club: Long-running South Congress venue known for live roots, rock, and blues
Antone’s: Historic Austin music venue with deep ties to blues and Texas music
ACL Live: Downtown venue at the Moody Theater with concerts throughout the year
Food
BBQ: Austin has one of the country’s deepest barbecue scenes
Breakfast tacos: A staple worth working into at least one morning
South Congress: Restaurants, coffee, and casual options within a walkable district
East Austin: One of the city’s strongest areas for restaurants, bars, and food trucks
Outdoor Austin
Barton Springs Pool: Spring-fed swimming pool immediately adjacent to Zilker Park
Lady Bird Lake: Kayaking, paddleboarding, and the Butler Trail through central Austin
Zilker Park: Home of ACL and one of Austin’s best-known outdoor spaces
Mount Bonnell: Popular overlook with views across Lake Austin and the surrounding area
Neighborhoods
South Congress: Shopping, restaurants, hotels, and classic Austin landmarks
East Austin: Restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and nightlife
Downtown: Hotels, restaurants, nightlife, and convenient transportation options
South Lamar: Restaurants and bars with relatively easy access to the Zilker area
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get wristbands now?
Weekend Two wristbands are available through Xenia Events based on current inventory. See our wristband pricing page for availability or contact us for assistance.
When is Weekend Two?
Weekend Two runs Friday, October 9 through Sunday, October 11, 2026 at Zilker Park in Austin.
What time do gates open?
For Weekend Two, gates are scheduled to open at 12:00 PM on Friday, October 9, Saturday, October 10, and Sunday, October 11. The festival is scheduled to run until 10:00 PM each night.
Where does the free ACL shuttle leave from?
The free festival shuttle boards at Sand Beach Park near Walter Seaholm Drive and Electric Drive in downtown Austin. Service begins at 11:30 AM each festival day and drops guests near the Barton Springs West entrance.
Is there parking at Zilker Park?
There is no general festival parking at Zilker Park or in the surrounding neighborhoods. Paid options are available at designated locations including Barton Oaks, 1221 MoPac, and Austin High School.
Is ACL cashless?
Yes. ACL is a cashless festival. Cards, mobile payments, and registered wristband payments can be used at festival vendors.
Is the festival rain or shine?
Festival operations are generally rain or shine, but weather can affect schedules or operations. Check official ACL alerts and the festival app for current information before heading to Zilker.
Is Xenia Events affiliated with ACL?
No. Xenia Events is an independent ticket and travel provider. We are not affiliated with Austin City Limits Music Festival, C3 Presents, or the official festival organizers.
Weekend Two
Heading to ACL This Weekend?
Need wristbands or help with last-minute ACL plans? Contact Xenia Events for current availability.
Disclaimer
Unofficial, independent festival guide. Xenia Events is not affiliated with Austin City Limits Music Festival, C3 Presents, or any official festival organizer. Festival schedules, policies, transportation details, vendors, and other information may change. Check official festival sources for the latest event-day information.