Fans walk the grounds at Austin City Limits Music Festival in Zilker Park on Oct. 12, 2025.
Mikala Compton/American-Statesman
The Austin City Limits Music Festival returns to Zilker Park for its 25th year this October, and the Statesman is here to help you get ready. We break down what to expect once inside the fest and offer tips and tricks to elevate your experience. Here’s everything you need to know before heading into the belly of the beast.
When is ACL Fest? Where does it take place?
Maria Tamcredi, middle, cheers for Aidan Bissett at Austin City Limits Music Festival in Zilker Park on Oct. 10, 2025.
Jay Janner/American-Statesman
ACL Fest runs Oct. 2-4 and Oct. 9-11 in Zilker Park at 2100 Barton Springs Road. Gates open at noon and close at 10 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday of both weekends. The music starts at 12:45 p.m. every day.
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Who’s playing at the festival?
South Arcade performs at Austin City Limits Music Festival in Zilker Park on Oct. 11, 2025.
Jay Janner/American-Statesman
Charli XCX and Skrillex will take over Zilker Park with their brat-pop and EDM headlining sets on Friday during weekend one, and Kings of Leon will play opposite the pop star during weekend two. Friday’s electronic wave also brings Steve Aoki and The Chainsmokers, but dips into rock with rising alternative band Turnstile and Brandon Flowers, frontman of The Killers. We’re also looking forward to Rusowsky, Amyl and the Sniffers, Labrinth and Leon Thomas on Friday during both weekends.
RÜFÜS DU SOL and Lorde headline Saturday. The day will also see rising stars Lola Young, Young Miko, Snow Strippers and Fakemink make ACL Fest debuts. The Jack Antonoff-led band Bleachers, Suki Waterhouse and New Zealand rockers Balu Brigada round out the T-Mobile lineup. “Stranger Things” star Finn Wolfhard and “Stay High” singer Lykke Li will also perform Saturday.
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The energy doesn’t slow on Sunday, especially with The XX and Twenty One Pilots headlining. Rock newcomers Geese, dance duo Sofi Tukker, The War on Drugs, Blood Orange and Saint Motel are playing both weekends. Sunday will also include Max McNown, Audrey Hobert, Fcukers and Claire Rosenkranz.
Can I still buy tickets for ACL Fest?
Empire of the Sun performs at Austin City Limits Music Festival in Zilker Park on Oct. 10, 2025.
Mikala Compton/American-Statesman
If you’re seeking general admission or GA+ three-day passes for weekend one or weekend two of ACL Fest, you’ll have to join the waitlist or check out secondary markets. At press time, weekend passes averaged about $420 on ACL Fest’s official Ticketmaster exchange site and StubHub.
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For single-day tickets, some GA Sunday passes ($170 per day) are available for both weekends, but Fridays and Saturdays are on waitlists. GA+ passes ($345 per day) are up for grabs for both Sundays, but both Fridays and Saturdays are on waitlists. VIP tickets ($710 per day) are available for Friday and Sunday of both weekends, but single-day Saturday passes are also on waitlists.
If you’ve already received your wristband, you can register it and use it to make cashless payments for food, drink and merch. ACL Fest vendors also accept mobile payments.
For more information on tickets, visit aclfestival.com/tickets.
How do I get to the festival?
Attendees walk the grounds at Austin City Limits Music Festival in Zilker Park on Oct. 12, 2025.
Mikala Compton/American-Statesman
It’s … complicated, we’ll tell you that much.
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There are several ways to get to the festival: rideshares, driving yourself, walking, biking, scooting or taking a bus.
Our favorite option is convincing a nice friend or family member to drop us off as close as possible to the entry gates. Note: roads around the festival grounds will close from 9 to 11 p.m. each night of the festival, which could complicate pickups.
Here’s a breakdown of other methods of transportation:
Rideshares: Use “Austin City Limits Music Festival” or “Zilker Park” as your destination to be dropped near the entry gates. When you leave Zilker Park at night, you must walk away from the park before requesting a ride. Once you’ve crossed the river or reached South Lamar Boulevard or MoPac Boulevard frontage road, you’ll be able to use your rideshare app like normal, but expect long waits and surge pricing at the end of the night.
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Driving yourself: If you want to drive yourself to the fest, parking is very limited. There is no parking for festivalgoers at Zilker Park or in the surrounding neighborhoods, so reserving a spot in a nearby business parking lot is your best bet. Nearby LAZ Parking lots at Barton Oaks and 1221 MoPac Garages start at $40. The Austin High School parking lot is closer, but costs $55 to $65 per day.
Bikes and scooters: Biking or scooting are top ways to get to Zilker Park. You can lock up your bike on Stratford Drive after crossing MoPac bridge or on Toomey Road at Sterzing Street. You also can drop off your bike on Azie Morton Road across from Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum.
Bus: ACL Fest provides complimentary shuttles to and from Zilker Park. Shuttles will run from Sand Beach Park at the corner of Walter Seaholm and Electric drives starting at 11:30 a.m. each day during both weekends. The shuttle drops off outside the west entrance of the festival. After the festival, meet at the west entrance for a ride back to Sand Beach Park.
Walking: Get dropped off or park close to the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail and walk to the park. Check out the interactive map of the trail to see possible routes at thetrailconservancy.org.
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Where do I enter ACL Fest?
Fans walk through Zilker Park at Austin City Limits Music Festival at sunset on Oct. 5, 2025.
Jay Janner/American-Statesman
The 2026 festival map is largely unchanged from previous years.
There are two entrances on Barton Springs Road: a west entrance near Andrew Zilker Road and an east entrance near Azie Morton Road. There’s also the Lady Bird entrance at Stratford Drive, near Loop 1 (MoPac Boulevard). The Azie Morton Road entrance is usually the busiest.
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Pro tip: Plan to see some early afternoon sets. Yes, it’s hot (usually), but crowds will be heavier and your wait time will be significantly longer by late afternoon.
Pro tip: Google Maps’ destination guidance will automatically show the entrances for Zilker Park as you approach it, in addition to showing you nearby parking lots. Festivals are notorious for spotty cell service, but Google Maps offline might help. Download a map of the area to navigate the festival grounds and the way home.
Can I leave and come back during the festival?
You can leave and re-enter twice more after your first entry on the same day. Make sure to scan your wristband when you leave. You will have to go through security when you re-enter.
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What can I bring to ACL Fest?
Fans find shade under a tree at Austin City Limits Music Festival in Zilker Park on Oct. 11, 2025.
Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
Bags: There are some stipulations. Bags larger than 6 by 9 inches must be clear and no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches. Small purses and fanny packs 6 by 9 inches or smaller do not need to be clear, but they can’t have more than one pocket. All bags will be subject to a search before entry.
Some allowed items: Sunscreen is allowed (and encouraged) but must be in non-aerosol containers 3.4 ounces or smaller. Personal hand sanitizer, baby strollers, blankets, towels, and a factory-sealed Narcan kit are also OK. Personal-use cameras are allowed, but professional equipment, selfie sticks and GoPro mounts are prohibited. Chairs are allowed in designated areas away from the front of each stage, and Austin Parks Foundation will operate a chair check by the Guest Services booth if you don’t want to haul your chair around all day.
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Some prohibited items: Coolers, hammocks, glass containers, outside food and drink, umbrellas, tents or other shade structures, fireworks and weapons of any kind are not allowed.
See the full list of allowed and prohibited items at aclfestival.com.
A few things we always pack: A bandana, sunglasses, earplugs, sunscreen, lip balm with sunscreen, a light long-sleeved shirt or scarf for sun protection and warmth after dark, Band-Aids in case we get blisters and a portable phone charger.
Pro tip: If you don’t want to carry a chair or a blanket, pack a pillowcase to spread on the ground when you need to sit.
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That brings us to water bottles
Staff sprays water on the crowd at Austin City Limits Music Festival in Zilker Park on Oct. 3, 2025.
Mikala Compton/American-Statesman
You absolutely must bring a reusable water bottle. October in Austin is often hot and sweaty, shade in the park is limited, and you’ll need to drink plenty of water throughout the day. Water stations are dispersed throughout the festival grounds for refills. Make sure your water bottle is empty at when you enter. Hydration packs, such as CamelBaks, are allowed but must be empty before entering the park.
Pro tip: Hydration and electrolyte packets in factory-sealed, single-serving packages are allowed and we’ve found them to be clutch on hot days.
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What should you wear?
Friends gather for a group photo at Austin City Limits Music Festival in Zilker Park on Oct. 10, 2025.
Jay Janner/American-Statesman
October in Austin can bring a mixed bag of weather. High temperatures, limited shade and dense crowds mean functionality and style should both be top of mind.
Western wear has exploded in popularity across the country, so the aesthetic — already popular at ACL Fest in previous years — should be on full display in the park. Cowboy hats can help prevent sunburn, and if you’re looking for cowboy boots, we just published a guide to help you find a perfect pair in Austin. Opting for lighter fabrics like cotton, linen and chambray can help you stay as cool as possible.
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If you plan to stay at the park for long stretches, prioritize comfort. You will be walking a lot. Also, when you break out your favorite sneakers, keep in mind that the ground will probably be dusty and, if it rains, muddy.
What’s it like in the park?
A large crowd watches Empire of the Sun at Austin City Limits Music Festival in Zilker Park on Oct. 10, 2025.
Jay Janner/American-Statesman
The fest has seven main music stages, with the headlining T-Mobile and American Express stages on opposite ends of Zilker. That’s where the big acts play at the end of each night. Superfans start staking out spots early in the day (you’ll see them running to those stages as soon as the “Star Wars” theme starts as gates open). Tito’s Handmade Vodka will have a tent which overflows during packed sets. The Miller Lite, BMI and Snapchat stages are also on Zilker Park’s Great Lawn.
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The BeatBox stage is right across Barton Springs Road. This is where you may find a more chill experience away from the main hustle and bustle. The eighth and ninth stages are Austin Kiddie Limits and Bonus Tracks.
Along with the iconic photo frame, the park is full of photo and video opportunities. Check the official map on the fest’s website for special brand installations and experiences.
What else is there to do during the fest?
Matthew McConaughey and Brené Brown appear on the Bonus Tracks stage at Austin City Limits Music Festival on Oct. 10, 2025.
Ashley Osborn/Provided by C3 Presents
Stop by the blissfully shady Bonus Tracks stage for an adventurous slate of nonmusic programming. This year’s schedule has not been released yet, but the stage has hosted political speakers, guided meditations, yoga classes, drag shows and live podcasts and interviews. Past Bonus Tracks stage highlights include a 2019 sit-down with Billie Eilish, a 2023 interview with Dave Grohl and last year’s conversation between Matthew McConaughey and Brené Brown.
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You can also grab your favorite artist T-shirt in the merch tent or head over to the air-conditioned ACL merch store for official festival gear.
If you’re looking for a custom souvenir, check out the ACL Fest Market where you can find one-of-a-kind gifts and trinkets from Austin’s top artisans and makers. This year features Austin Art Garage, Roommate Collective, Pancho Sueño and more.
Pro tip: Buy your favorite band shirt early; sizes often sell out.
What about the children? Check out Austin Kiddie Limits
Otsie Stowell, 6, gets a punk rock hairdo at Austin Kiddie Limits during Austin City Limits Music Festival on Oct. 7, 2022.
Jay Janner/American-Statesman
Austin Kiddie Limits runs both weekends from noon to 6 p.m. daily. Children ages 8 and younger can attend the fest for free when accompanied by a ticketed adult. Two children are allowed per adult.
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Children 8 and younger must be registered in the festival’s “Tag-A-Kid” program to receive a wristband. According to the ACL Fest website, parents can register their children or pick up their T.A.K. wristbands at any of the Guest Services tents, during festival hours. Two are located outside the East entrance and one inside the Lady Bird entrance.
Austin Kiddie Limits programming includes live performances, crafts, snacks, photo booths and more. Your little ones can visit a lounge inside Austin Kiddie Limits to chill out, color or read. Button making, hairdos and airbrush tattoos for kids are also available.
Let’s talk about food. All that festing makes you hungry, right?
Festivalgoers wander through the ACL Eats food vending area at Austin City Limits Festival on Oct. 9, 2015.
Suzanne Cordeiro/American-Statesman
The traditional ACL Eats setup, with rows of vendors stationed on both north and south sides of the fest grounds, will feature more than 70 food vendors. The park is divided into a few main food, drink and merch areas. Like previous years, gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options will be available.
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Food is served in The Big Tent and The Grove. You’ll find pizza and sandwiches from Bambino, as well as corndogs, push-pop sushi and Frito pies. Austin favorites like P. Terry’s, Chi’Lantro, JuiceLand, Cabo Bob’s, La Santa Barbacha, Dan’s Hamburgers and Thai Fresh are also on the food list this year.
The fest is bringing back the “Buy 4, Chill More” deal. If you buy any combination of four canned drinks, you’ll receive a free carrier with ice. The fest is also offering a limited-edition 25th anniversary food bucket, which can carry chicken fingers, fries and other bites to feed the whole group.
Select bars will carry an attachable can lid, which snaps closed to keep your drink secure while dancing. If you order the fest’s signature cocktail, “The Set Break,” you’ll get it served in a souvenir cup. ACL Fest’s ground crew of “food hawkers” will once again be selling popsicles and ice cream to passersby throughout the day.
You can find the whole list of this year’s ACL Fest food options at aclfestival.com/food.
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What are this year’s drink options?
Tyler Gaffney at Austin City Limits Music Festival in Zilker Park on Oct. 10, 2025.
Mikala Compton/American-Statesman
In addition to canned beer, cocktails will be available at bars around the park. The Big Tent, formerly known as the Barton Springs Beer Hall, is where you can get craft beers, kegged cocktails and more. The festival will also have a slushy bar, and complimentary drinks are back for VIP ticket holders.
What about desserts?
Looking to satisfy a sweet tooth? You’ll find all the dessert options at the festival in one location: ACL Sweets. The setup is near the Snapchat stage and Austin Kiddie Limits. This year’s vendors include ACL Fest veterans Amy’s Ice Creams, plus Bananarchy, Blenders & Bowls, Dulce Amor Mio, Gati Ice Cream, Gelato Paradiso, Sno-beach, GoodPop and more.
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Can I hear some of the bands without going to Zilker Park?
Fans cheer as The Strokes perform at Austin City Limits Music Festival in Zilker Park on Oct. 11, 2025.
Mikala Compton/American-Statesman
If your ACL dreams don’t involve standing in Zilker Park with the masses, you have options.
Tickets are on sale for ACL Fest Nights concerts, which run from Sept. 29 to Oct. 10. Shows will be held at venues around Austin, ranging from The Concourse Project to Antone’s, and ticket prices vary by venue and performer. Festival passes do not grant admission to these evening shows. Here are some of this year’s highlights:
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Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater will host Brandon Flowers of The Killers on Oct. 1, along with Bleachers on Oct. 2 and Lola Young on Oct. 6. The Concourse Project is stacked with The Chainsmokers on Oct. 1, Steve Aoki on Oct. 2 and It’s Murph on Oct. 3. Scoot Inn has Finn Wolfhard on Oct. 2 and Saint Motel on Oct. 5, and Jess Williamson is at The Continental Club on Oct. 8.
The other essential destination is Emo’s on Riverside Drive. The club is bringing Palace on Oct. 1, Levity on Oct. 3, Suki Waterhouse on Oct. 4 and Rodrigo y Gabriela on Oct. 9. Looking for a special DJ set? Rebecca Black is playing Devil May Care on Oct. 2 and Fcukers will be there Oct. 10, but the band is also playing a regular show at Mohawk on Sept. 29.
For a full lineup of ACL Fest Nights, visit aclfestival.com.