Annual music festival celebrating Austin's famous bat colony with live performances, food, arts and crafts, and children's activities.
Bat Fest 2026 returns to the Congress Avenue Bridge on Saturday, September 5, from 3 PM to 11 PM. Presented by Roadway Productions, it's the only festival in Austin that takes place on a bridge, and this year marks its 20th anniversary.
The music is the main draw, with Sheck Wes, Ben Kweller, and Wild Child on the bill. Between the sets, there are arts and crafts and activities for kids, so it works as a full afternoon and evening out rather than just a concert. The festival runs rain or shine, and there are no refunds or rescheduling if the weather turns.
Of course, the whole thing is built around the bats. Austin is home to the world's largest urban bat colony—about 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats that roost under the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge downtown and fly out each night during spring and summer. The emergence usually begins between 7 PM and 8:45 PM and can last up to half an hour. You can watch it from the bridge itself or from below at the Statesman Lot.
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Tickets are $15 for general admission in advance, with VIP available for $150. If you wait until the day of, the price at the gate is $25, which includes all fees. Children 10 and under get in free with an adult.
