Austin's biggest music festival is adding a second act this year. ACL Fest Nights, presented by American Express, is a new series of evening events running alongside the main festival, and it's built for a different kind of night out: smaller lineups, a lot of local and emerging talent, and shows spread across clubs around town rather than all at the main grounds. The idea is a more intimate, curated experience that's easier on the wallet and more laid back than the main festival, with lower ticket prices and a relaxed atmosphere.
Every week we pick 🏆 the 5 best 🏆 things to do in Austin and send them to your inbox. Just one weekly email, no spam.
By submitting your email, you accept our Privacy Policy
For context, the main Austin City Limits Music Festival still takes over Zilker Park on October 2-4 and 9-11, running from 11 am to 10 pm each day with more than 100 performances across nine stages. Weekend One is headlined by Charli XCX, Rüfüs Du Sol, Twenty One Pilots, and Skrillex, and Weekend Two brings in Kings of Leon, Lorde, The xx, and Rüfüs Du Sol again, with The Chainsmokers, Bleachers, Steve Aoki, Brandon Flowers, Parcels, and Suki Waterhouse filling out the rest of the bill. That lineup has been set since May 5, so there's plenty of time to plan around it.
ACL Fest Nights, meanwhile, builds its own schedule around that. It kicks off early on Tuesday, September 29, with Fcukers and Total Wife Mohawk. Thursday, October 1, is a busy one: The Chainsmokers and The Concourse Project at 9 pm, Brandon Flowers with Jess Williamson at Stubb's at 7 pm, Palace at Emo's at 7 pm, and Montclair back at Stubb's at 9 pm. Friday, October 2, is the biggest night of the series, with Steve Aoki's Dim Mak 30 at 9 pm, Rebecca Black's DJ set at Devil May Care at 10 pm, Bleachers with This Is Lorelei at Stubb's at 7 pm, BUNT. with Sarah Pederzani at Emo's at 9 pm, Finn Wolfhard with Malcy at Historic Scoot Inn at 6 pm, Hunx and His Punx with CorMae at Brushy Street Commons at 9 pm, Grocery Bag at Stubb's at 10 pm, Night Tapes with Alice Rivers at Antone's at 9 pm, and Villanelle at 3TEN at 8 pm.
Saturday, October 3, keeps it going with underscores' DJ set at 9 pm, it's murph at 9 pm, Parcels with Velvet Trip at Stubb's at 8 pm, Levity with Untitld at Emo's at 9 pm, CMAT with Fancy Hagood at 6 pm, Almost Heaven at Stubb's at 11 pm, and Paloma Morphy with LUEME at 3TEN at 8 pm. Sunday, October 4, winds down with Suki Waterhouse at Emo's at 9 pm, Ryan Beatty at 5 pm, and Rochelle Jordan at Antone's at 9 pm, before the series closes out on Monday, October 5, with Saint Motel and The 4411 at 5 pm.
If you're already planning a festival weekend, this is an easy way to fill the gaps. The main festival is produced by C3 Presents and takes its name from the KLRU/PBS series 'Austin City Limits'; it started in 2002 as a one-weekend event, grew to two weekends in 2013, and was cancelled in 2020 during the pandemic. Zilker Park, at 2100 Barton Springs Road, covers more than 350 acres and has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1997, and it's open daily from 5 am to 10 pm. Between the two weekends, the main festival offers 1-Day and 3-Day passes, General Admission+, and VIP tickets with complimentary drinks, an air-conditioned lounge, and a dedicated VIP entrance.
Published Date
21 August 2026
