Julie Andrews once said, “A queen is never late; everyone else is simply early.”
Illuminated against Austin’s panoramic skyline at Auditorium Shores, Christina Aguilera greeted the Sips & Sounds spectators in a plunging red latex bodysuit, matching elbow gloves and thigh-high black boots. Her long platinum blond hair blew in the cool night air drifting off Lady Bird Lake.
Sips & Sounds, a South by Southwest-adjacent but separately ticketed event, felt like a mini-Austin City Limits Music Festival. Its expanded perimeter this year stretched from the Long Center lawn to the pond in Butler Park — and the space was needed. Attendance skyrocketed this year as fans rushed to buy tickets to this now sold-out fest.
Just like ACL, concession prices were steep and mini activations peppered the field. However, lines were manageable compared to the Zilker Park behemoth. The majority of Sips & Sounds attendees seemed to be locals who opted to bypass the SXSW Music Festival this year. While lacking the thrill of music discovery, this mini-fest hosts superstar acts in a far more contained and manageable setting — especially for the many young families in attendance.
‘Xtina’ danced, pranced and sang the house down
Christina Aguilera headlines the first day of the Sips & Sounds Music Festival during South by Southwest as the festival celebrates its 40th year in Austin Friday, March 13, 2026. (Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman)
All of Austin echoed with Aguilera’s growling vocal runs as she kicked off Friday night with “Dirrty,” “Can’t Hold Us Down” and “Fighter.”
“Xtina” and a posse of background dancers upped the energy even more for “Genie in a Bottle,” the lead single from her 1999 self-titled debut album and the song that launched an 18-year-old Aguilera into stardom after her childhood on “The All-New Mickey Mouse Club” alongside Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and Ryan Gosling.
“This is dedicated to you all, for giving everything this little girl could ask for,” Aguilera said before launching into her early hit “What a Girl Wants.”
Aguilera is arguably the millennial’s Mariah Carey, comparable for her impressive vocal range and powerhouse delivery. However, unlike Carey, who was uneven in a 2024 Austin performance, the 45-year-old singer maintains an incredibly dynamic onstage performance. She could probably get away with sitting down, letting her voice carry the show, but Aguilera danced, pranced and showed genuine engagement with her sprawling audience.
Vibes shifted as Xtina transitioned into her 2010 catalog, slaying into her electropop era as she strutted down the catwalk that extended into the crowd during “Bionic,” “Glam,” “Vanity” and “Bobblehead.”
Christina Aguilera headlines the first day of the Sips & Sounds Music Festival during South by Southwest as the festival celebrates its 40th year in Austin Friday, March 13, 2026. (Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman)
“There’s no shame in being a little bit cocky — we just love ourselves,” Aguilera said.
She donned a fluffy, floor-length red fur coat for her 2006 hit “Candyman,” then abruptly shifted the vibe again with “Say Something,” her 2014 collaboration with A Great Big World.
Next came Xtina’s soundtrack staples: “Express” from the 2010 musical she did with Cher and “Lady Marmalade,” the song she covered with Lil’ Kim, P!nk and Mya for “Moulin Rouge!” in 2001.
Aguilera closed out with her power ballad “Beautiful,” the 2013 Pitbull collab “Feel This Moment” and “Let There Be Love,” which came with a fireworks show igniting the night sky.
Is Sips & Sounds emerging as Austin’s new spring break destination? The SXSW-affiliated event packed the biggest punch of the festival so far, featuring one of the world’s biggest stars.