ACL Fest 2026: The Austin acts to catch

Austin City Limits Music Festival is about to turn Zilker Park into a giant concert ground again, and 2026 is a big one: the festival's 25th anniversary. It runs over two weekends in October, October 2-4 and October 9-11, with nine stages and more than 100 performances spread across both. The whole thing takes its name from the long-running television series 'Austin City Limits' and has been going since 2002, so a quarter-century is a nice milestone for a festival that started as a nod to the city's music scene.

While the headliners get the headlines — Charli XCX, Rufus Du Sol, Twenty One Pilots, Lorde, Skrillex on the first weekend, and Kings of Leon and The XX on the second — the local Austin acts are the ones that make the festival feel like home. If you're going to build your schedule around home-grown talent, here's who to look for. The 4411 play the first weekend, an indie folk and alternative rock band with Cogan McBride on vocals, Tomas Gerlach on drums, Alan Holmquist on guitar, and Nick Speer on bass, and they're touring their new EP 'Haven't Seen You In So Long'. Grocery Bag, a four-piece psych-rock and psych-garage outfit that formed in 2022 with Bella Martinez, Dillon Aitala, Logan Kerman, and Jimmy Mercado, also play the first weekend and bring the sound of their self-released debut album 'Break You'. Coleman Jennings, a local western ensemble, rounds out the first weekend's Austin contingent. The second weekend hands the baton to Lluvii, a Latin Neo Soul and Art Rock collective that came together in 2023 with Carol Gonzalez, Kaylin Martinez, Ryan Gordon, Felix Kimbrell, and Sophia Nance, and Almost Heaven.

Beyond the music, the festival fills the gaps with a lot of Austin flavor. ACL Eats brings in food and drinks from local favorites, the Barton Springs Beer Hall pours local craft beers, the Wine Grove handles the wine, and the Art Market sells handmade jewelry, clothing, posters, and crafts. Families have the Austin Kiddie Limits area, which comes with its own stage, child-focused performances, and interactive activities. There's also a Bonus Tracks stage for eclectic lineups, artist interviews, and cooking demos, and Disney+ and Hulu will stream select live performances and interviews over the three days of the first weekend. A new in-app 'Festival Persona' experience will show you where your Spotify history overlaps with the 2026 lineup.

Getting there is the one part that needs planning. There's no direct parking in or around Zilker Park, so the ACL shuttle from Republic Square Park in downtown Austin is the main way in, with Cap Metro, biking, Uber and Lyft, and pedicabs as the other options. Accessible entrances, parking, and accommodations are available, and you can reach access@aclfestival.com to arrange them. Tickets are sold at aclfestival.com, with 1-Day, 3-Day, General Admission+, and VIP options — VIP adds free drinks, an air-conditioned lounge, a dedicated entrance, and private dressing rooms and viewing decks. One-day tickets go on sale later, so if you're planning a single day, keep an eye on the site.