Here’s the 2026 lineup for both weekends of ACL Fest:
Pop girlies will be thrilled to see Charli XCX (brat summer is back!) and Lorde on the lineup. However, fans will likely notice there’s no big country act anchoring the festival, or a nostalgia play with a rock band of yore (unless you count Kings of Leon?). Lola Young is also back, fresh off a Grammy win, as well as Twenty One Pilots, who will take a headlining slot this year.
ACL Fest is marking its 25th festival this year (2020’s was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic). The annual outdoor music festival started in 2002 and has now grown into a huge festival with nine stages, multiple food courts, brand activations galore, and a series of late-night shows. Previous performers include Willie Nelson, Kendrick Lamar, Foo Fighters, Sabrina Carpenter, Kacey Musgraves, Mumford & Sons and many, many more.
To give fans a taste of the lineup early—and offer some nostalgia—the festival installed a throwback installation in Austin on May 3 featuring 2002-era tech that gave hints to the lineup. Predictions included EDM act The Chainsmokers, Grammy-winning hardcore band Turnstile and throwback pop queen Natasha Bedingfield (all ended up being correct).