October is one of my favorite times of the year, and Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL) is a huge reason why. Held at Zilker Park in the heart of Austin, ACL brings together some of the biggest names in music, rising artists, local food vendors and thousands of fans for a weekend full of music, dancing and unforgettable memories.
Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, ACL Fest returned for its second weekend October 9–11, and it did not disappoint! After a rainy and muddy first weekend, Weekend 2 brought a completely different challenge with dry weather and plenty of dust, but that didn’t stop fans from showing up and making the most of the festival.
THE MUSIC: FROM POP TO ROCK AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN
One of my favorite things about ACL is the variety of music. Whether you’re there for pop, indie, alternative, rock or electronic music, there is always something happening across the park. This year’s lineup brought an exciting mix of established artists and rising talent, giving fans plenty of reasons to run from one stage to the next.
Friday brought an eclectic mix of performances, with Turnstile, Leon Thomas, Kings of Leon and Charli XCX among the day’s highlights. Charli XCX kept the energy going with her headlining set, bringing out special guest Tinashe for a surprise appearance that had fans talking.
Saturday and Sunday continued the momentum with performances from artists including Lorde, RÜFÜS DU SOL, Twenty One Pilots, The xx and more. With multiple stages and artists playing throughout the day, ACL makes it easy to discover someone new while still catching the artists you’ve been waiting all year to see.
Beyond the headliners, I always love seeing the mix of local talent and emerging artists that ACL brings to the festival. Austin has such a vibrant music scene, and giving these artists a platform alongside internationally recognized performers is one of the things that makes the festival so special.
MORE THAN JUST THE MUSIC
Of course, ACL is about more than just the lineup. Between sets, fans can explore activations, grab a bite to eat, cool down and spend time with friends. There is always something new to discover around the park, and the festival continues to find ways to make the experience feel bigger than just watching performances.
New for 2026, The Big Tent offered expanded drink options and comfortable seating, making it a great place to take a break, catch a live feed from the stages or watch the game. And for anyone needing relief from the Texas heat, The Big Chiller brought a 40-foot-long walk-in freezer to the festival grounds. Located next to The Big Shade between the BMI and Snapchat stages, it offered fans a chance to cool down before heading back out into the crowd.
ACL also introduced a new photo opportunity to celebrate its 25th anniversary, featuring a redesigned festival frame with native Texas plants. As someone who loves photography, I always appreciate the little details that give fans something fun to remember the weekend by.
The festival’s pop-up experiences were another way to spend time between sets. From custom photo opportunities and giveaways to interactive games, music and specialty drinks, the brand activations gave attendees plenty to explore. Whether you’re charging your phone, grabbing a drink with friends or finding a shady spot to recharge, there are plenty of ways to make the most of your time outside the stages.
ACL EATS: LOCAL FAVORITES AND FESTIVAL BITES
Let’s talk about the food! ACL Eats and Sweets returned with a variety of options, including Austin favorites like P. Terry’s, JuiceLand, La Santa Barbacha and Cabo Bob’s. If you were lucky, you might’ve even ran into Patrick Terry himself (owner of P. Terry’s).
One of the best parts of any festival is getting to try different food and drink options without having to leave the grounds. Between local favorites, sweet treats and refreshing drinks, there is something for everyone, including vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.
And after spending hours walking between stages, photographing performances and dancing in the crowd, taking a break for a good meal is always appreciated.
A FESTIVAL THAT GIVES BACK
While the music and festival experiences are what bring people to Zilker Park, ACL’s commitment to the Austin community is another reason to celebrate.
Austin Parks Foundation continues to benefit from the festival, supporting the parks and green spaces that make Austin such a wonderful place to live and visit. The partnership has generated more than $79 million for Austin parks to date, with a portion of every festival ticket supporting the foundation.
ACL also continues its sustainability initiatives throughout the grounds, including recycling and composting programs, reusable water bottles and hydration stations, and partnerships to recover and reuse festival materials.
Programs like Rock & Recycle encourage attendees to collect recyclables in exchange for a limited-edition festival T-shirt, while volunteers help fans properly sort their waste. These efforts are a reminder that large-scale events can bring people together while also supporting the communities that host them.
UNTIL NEXT YEAR, ACL!
There is something special about ACL that keeps me coming back year after year. From the music and the crowds to the local food, festival experiences and spontaneous moments in between sets, it is an event that brings people together in a way few others can.
Whether you’re singing along with thousands of fans, discovering a new favorite artist, taking photos with friends or catching the sunset over Zilker Park, ACL has a little something for everyone.
As the festival wraps up its 25th anniversary celebration, I’m so thankful to be part of this special moment. Thank you to the staff, artists, vendors, volunteers and everyone who helped make Austin City Limits into the festival it is.
ACL, thank you for another amazing year, cheers to 25 more!
Cover image by Vinnie Fallico
