Austin Psych Fest will return to South Austin on May 8-10, unveiling a lineup that stretches from psychedelic legacy acts to contemporary soul, global grooves and local stalwarts, all set for a three-day run at The Far Out Lounge.
The spring festival, now in its fifth year back in Austin after a hiatus and rebrand, has defined psychedelia less as a genre than as an experience. Since launching as a DIY gathering in 2008, Austin Psych Fest has traced a through line from the city’s 1960s psychedelic roots to modern interpretations shaped by reverb-heavy guitars, hypnotic rhythms and experimental songcraft — a mission that continues in this year’s newly announced bill.
Friday will be headlined by The Flaming Lips, whose decades-long career has made them synonymous with maximalist, communal live shows that blur the line between rock concert and psychedelic spectacle. They’ll be joined by Brooklyn’s DIIV, indie rock duo Momma, Texas shoegaze outfit Glare, Brazilian psych favorites Boogarins and Austin mainstays Holy Wave, among others.
Saturday’s lineup centers on a hometown touchstone: The Black Angels will perform their 2006 debut album “Passover” in full, marking its 20th anniversary. Also topping Saturday’s bill are Ty Segall and French psych-pop artist Melody’s Echo Chamber, alongside Italy’s New Candys, pan-Arab psych-funk group Al-Qasar, and local acts Grocery Bag and Annabelle Chairlegs.
The festival closes Sunday, with a bill leaning into soul and global groove. Headliners Thee Sacred Souls have emerged as one of the most visible names in modern soul, channeling classic R&B influences into a contemporary sound. They’ll share the day with LA LOM, singer Trish Toledo’s Latin soul and bolero, Austin psych-soul act Night Beats, Peruvian chicha revivalists Money Chicha, Como Las Movies and a DJ set by Adrian Quesada.
Tickets for the 2026 festival are on sale now, with three-day passes and single-day tickets available. Organizers say more artists and night shows will be announced in the coming months.