Austin City Limits Festival 2026 guide: Lineup, set times, stages and tickets

There is a moment on the first Friday of Austin City Limits Music Festival when you clear the gates at Zilker Park, hear music drifting from several directions and realize the entire weekend is still ahead of you.

kiThat feeling is what makes ACL different. Nine stages, two weekends, a wide-ranging lineup and Austin’s year-round live music culture turn the festival into more than three days in a park. You can spend the afternoon chasing major headliners, discovering a new favorite artist, eating your way through local food vendors or leaving Zilker Park for an official late-night show.

Whether you are planning around one headliner or building a full weekend with friends, here is what to know about ACL Fest 2026, including the lineup, set times, ACL Fest Nights, transportation, food, weather, venue policies and Austin City Limits Festival tickets on SeatGeek.

When is Austin City Limits Festival 2026?

ACL Fest 2026 takes place across two weekends at Zilker Park in Austin:

• Weekend 1: Friday, October 2 through Sunday, October 4

• Weekend 2: Friday, October 9 through Sunday, October 11

Both weekends feature three full days of music across nine stages. Gates are typically scheduled to open around 11 a.m. CT, with music continuing until approximately 10 p.m. CT each night.

The two weekends share many of the same major artists, but the lineups are not identical. The biggest difference comes Friday, when Skrillex closes the T-Mobile stage during Weekend 1 and Kings of Leon takes that slot during Weekend 2. Charli xcx headlines the American Express stage on both Fridays.

Single-day and three-day passes are available for each weekend separately. Check the official festival app and the ACL ticket listings on SeatGeek for the latest schedule, pass types and availability.

Austin City Limits Festival 2026 lineup

The ACL 2026 lineup spans indie, pop, hip-hop, electronic music, rock, R&B, country and singer-songwriter acts across nine stages.

Headliners anchor each night, established acts fill the afternoon and early evening slots and emerging artists take over the smaller stages. That mix is part of the festival’s design. You can see a major artist on the T-Mobile stage, then walk across the park for a set from someone you had not heard before the weekend began.

Austin City Limits Festival 2026 headliners

The major closing sets are:

Austin City Limits Festival 2026 set times

With performances happening simultaneously throughout Zilker Park, checking the schedule before you arrive can help you spot conflicts and build your day around the artists you most want to see.

Set times can change, so check the official ACL website or festival app before each day of the festival. The app is also useful for building a personal schedule, flagging artists and receiving updates.

Weekend 1 set times

Weekend 1 runs Friday, October 2 through Sunday, October 4.

Friday, October 2

Friday builds from afternoon sets into a packed evening:

Saturday, October 3

Saturday brings more highlights to the festival:

Sunday, October 4

Weekend 1 closes with even more heavy hitters:

Weekend 2 set times

Weekend 2 runs Friday, October 9 through Sunday, October 11. Saturday and Sunday retain many of Weekend 1’s major performers, while Friday features the largest lineup change.

Friday, October 9

Kings of Leon replaces Skrillex as the T-Mobile closer, while Charli xcx returns to headline the American Express stage.

Saturday, October 10

Saturday again ends with Lorde and RÜFÜS DU SOL, with additional major afternoon and evening performers.

Sunday, October 11

The final Sunday includes impressive overlapping sets before The xx and Twenty One Pilots close the festival at the same time.

What is ACL Fest Nights 2026?

ACL does not end when the Zilker Park gates close. The festival experience continues across Austin through ACL Fest Nights, the official aftershow series tied to Austin City Limits Music Festival.

The aftershows, which take place at separate venues, give festival performers a chance to play smaller rooms, often with longer sets and a closer connection to the audience. You do not need an ACL festival wristband to attend an ACL Fest Nights show, but you do need a separate ticket for each event.

Tickets for 2026 ACL Fest Nights go on sale to the general public on Friday, August 21, 2026, at 10 a.m. CT

Weekend 1 ACL Fest Nights highlights

Weekend 1 aftershows run Thursday through Sunday.

These events are separate from the main festival and may sell out well before the weekend begins.

Weekend 2 ACL Fest Nights highlights

Weekend 2 includes aftershows during the festival weekend as well as programming between the two weekends.

If you are staying in Austin for both festival weekends, the Monday and Tuesday shows are a way to keep the live music going without returning to Zilker Park.

More live music in Austin during ACL season

Austin’s live music scene gets even busier during festival season. Beyond Zilker Park and ACL Fest Nights, major touring artists will be playing Austin venues throughout October.

These shows are independent concerts rather than part of ACL, but they can fit naturally into an extended festival trip.

• Jack White at Moody Amphitheater on October 6

• Kacey Musgraves at Moody Center on October 7

• Gorillaz at Moody Center on October 15

• Phoebe Bridgers at Moody Center on October 16

• Foster the People at Moody Amphitheater on October 16

• Weezer at Moody Center on October 18

Check Austin concert tickets on SeatGeek for the latest listings and event details.

How to get to Austin City Limits Festival

Zilker Park is centrally located, but on-site parking is extremely limited during ACL. Transportation planning is one of the most important parts of a successful festival day.

Rideshare is convenient but can become expensive after the headliner. Biking can be efficient for fans staying near South Lamar, Zilker or South Congress. Festival shuttles and CapMetro service may also be available, depending on the current festival transportation plan.

Walking is practical from nearby neighborhoods, but less realistic if you are staying farther from the park or leaving after a long day in the heat.

Rideshare and public transit tips

Rideshare is one of the most common ways to leave ACL, but surge pricing and long wait times are common after the final sets.

Walking several blocks away from the festival exit before requesting a ride can make the pickup process easier. Screenshot your pickup location before entering the park because cell service can become unreliable in the crowd. Build at least 30 to 45 minutes of extra time into your post-headliner plan.

CapMetro buses serve the Barton Springs Road area. Check routes and schedules before you go rather than relying on a last-minute connection.

Parking at Austin City Limits Festival

On-site parking at Zilker Park is extremely limited and is not generally available for festival attendees.

If you drive, check the official ACL transportation information for designated off-site lots and advance parking requirements. Nearby street parking fills quickly, particularly on headliner days, and paid lots in surrounding neighborhoods may also reach capacity early.

If you are staying near a shuttle route or within biking distance, leaving your car at the hotel may save time and money.

What to bring to Austin City Limits Festival

Because the festival grounds include grass, gravel, mulch and paved surfaces, comfortable shoes that can handle a full day of walking and standing are a priority.

Your ACL wristband is what gets you into the festival, so make sure it is securely on your wrist before you arrive. ACL recommends activating it ahead of time, which lets you add emergency contact information and register for wristband-based cashless payments, although activation is not required for entry. (

Other useful items include sunglasses, a hat, earplugs and a portable battery pack, which is explicitly allowed under the 2026 policy. If you bring sunscreen, it must be non-aerosol and 3.4 ounces or smaller. A packable rain poncho is a better choice than an umbrella because umbrellas are prohibited. Check the Austin forecast before your festival day and dress for the conditions rather than relying on typical October weather.

Bring an empty reusable water bottle or compliant hydration pack as well. ACL provides free water stations throughout the festival and its safety guidance specifically encourages fans to refill their bottles and take advantage of hydration and cooling stations around the grounds.

ACL Festival bag policy

ACL has published specific bag requirements for 2026. Small clutch purses and fanny packs measuring 6 by 9 inches or smaller do not have to be clear, but they may have no more than one pocket. Any bag larger than 6 by 9 inches must be clear and smaller than 12 by 6 by 12 inches.

Hydration packs are an exception to the clear-bag requirement. They can be non-clear but must arrive empty and may have no more than two main compartments and one smaller compartment. All bags are searched before entry and ACL recommends going bag-free when possible for the fastest trip through security.

What not to bring

ACL’s 2026 prohibited-items list includes outside food and beverages, coolers, glass containers, umbrellas, aerosol products, drones, hammocks, inflatables, selfie sticks, professional recording equipment, professional cameras with large detachable zoom lenses, tents and shade structures, fireworks, weapons and illegal substances. Pets are also prohibited except for service animals. Smoking and vaping are banned in Zilker Park.

One important distinction from some festival packing lists: chairs are allowed at ACL in 2026. Inflatable chairs and chairs with attached shade structures are not. Blankets, sheets and towels are also permitted.

Because ACL notes that its allowed and prohibited item list remains subject to change, it is worth checking the official policy again shortly before your festival weekend.

Food, drinks and amenities at ACL

Food is a major part of the ACL experience. General Admission includes food for purchase from local chefs and restaurants, with vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free choices available. Bars are located throughout Zilker Park and serve beer, wine, seltzers, cocktails, mixed drinks and mocktails.

Rather than planning around an assumed dinner rush, use the newly released 2026 performance schedule to identify longer gaps between the artists you want to see. That can be a better time to grab food, refill your bottle or pick up merchandise without sacrificing part of a must-see set.

Is Austin City Limits Festival cashless?

Yes. ACL Festival is 100% cashless in 2026. Credit cards, debit cards and mobile payment methods are accepted throughout the festival. Fans can also register their ACL wristband for cashless payments and use it to buy food, drinks and merchandise with a tap.

That makes a portable battery pack especially useful if you plan to rely on Apple Pay, Google Pay or another phone-based payment method.

Tips for attending Austin City Limits Festival 2026

A few small decisions can make the difference between a smooth ACL weekend and one spent waiting in lines or searching for a lost friend.

• Arrive 30 to 45 minutes before your first priority set.

• Download the official ACL app and build your schedule before entering the park.

• Screenshot your ticket, schedule and stage map in case cell service becomes unreliable.

• Choose a group meeting point near a landmark rather than in front of a stage.

• Bring a portable charger and wear broken-in shoes.

• Plan food and water breaks before the evening rush.

• Check the forecast each morning and pack rain gear if needed.

• Decide how you will leave before the headliner ends.

• Remember that ACL Fest Nights tickets are separate from festival passes.

• Pace yourself if you are attending both weekends.

How to buy Austin City Limits Festival 2026 tickets on SeatGeek

If you are comparing ACL passes, the most important details are the weekend, pass type and final price.

On SeatGeek, use the Austin City Limits Festival ticket page to compare single-day and three-day passes for Weekend 1, Weekend 2 or both weekends. Inventory may include GA, GA+, VIP and Platinum options depending on availability.

Deal Score ranges from 1 to 10 and helps compare the relative value of available listings based on factors such as price and ticket details. A higher score indicates stronger value based on SeatGeek’s available data, but the right pass still depends on your schedule and preferred experience.

All-In Pricing displays mandatory fees in the listed ticket price, helping you compare pass options with a clearer view of the total cost. Applicable taxes or venue-mandated charges may vary. Every qualified order is backed by the SeatGeek Buyer Guarantee.

ACL is the kind of festival that stays with you after the last note fades: the skyline behind the main stage, the food you did not expect to love and the artist you stumbled across on a Saturday afternoon who becomes the highlight of your weekend.

Find Austin City Limits Festival tickets on SeatGeek, compare your options and start planning for October.