What is ACL Festival
Austin City Limits Music Festival is one of the longest-running and most beloved music festivals in the United States, held every fall across two back-to-back weekends at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas. Presented by Austin Parks Foundation, it celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2026 with a lineup that spans pop, indie, electronic, rock, and everything in between. The two-weekend format means the same artist lineup plays across six total days, giving fans the option to attend either weekend or both.
The festival is famous for its setting as much as its lineup. Zilker Park is a genuine urban green space along Barton Creek and Lady Bird Lake, with the Austin skyline visible from the grounds. It is also famous for the October Texas heat, the dust that builds up across the weekend, and the logistical reality that no cars park anywhere near it during festival days. Getting in and out requires planning.
The 2026 headliners cover a wide range of artists and styles. Charli XCX and Skrillex anchor Friday of Weekend One. Kings of Leon headline Friday of Weekend Two. Rüfüs Du Sol and Lorde share Saturday top billing. Twenty One Pilots and The XX close out Sunday. It is a lineup that rewards people who attend all three days.
The Venue
Zilker Park sits along Barton Creek where it meets Lady Bird Lake in central Austin, just south of downtown. The festival uses a large portion of the park's open meadow area and has three entrances: East Barton Springs, West Barton Springs, and the Lady Bird Entrance. As of June 2026, the official ACL FAQ lists gate hours as 12pm to 10pm each day across both weekends. Hours are subject to change, so check aclfestival.com before your trip. Source: official ACL FAQ.
The park setting is part of what makes ACL feel different from festivals held at fairgrounds or speedways. There is grass, tree cover in parts, and a genuine sense of being in a city park rather than a temporary event facility. The tradeoff is that the grounds can get dusty as the weekend progresses, especially in dry October conditions, and the heat during afternoon sets is real.
Three entrances, know which one you are using. The East Barton Springs, West Barton Springs, and Lady Bird entrances are in different locations around the park. Rideshare, shuttle, and Cap Metro routes may drop you closer to one entrance than another. Check the official ACL map before you go so you are not walking the wrong direction. Source: official ACL FAQ.
Getting There
There is no festival parking at Zilker Park, and neighborhood parking in the surrounding area is heavily restricted during ACL. The official ACL site is clear on this: plan your transportation before you arrive. Options include rideshare, Cap Metro bus, official festival shuttles, walking, biking, and scooters. Source: official ACL getting here page.
Rideshare
Type "Austin City Limits Music Festival" or "Zilker Park" into your rideshare app as the destination. This updates your drop-off to the nearest designated drop-off point around the festival. Source: official ACL getting here page.
Have an exit plan before the headliner ends. Rideshare lines after the final set of the night can be extremely long. Walking a few blocks away from the park before opening your app, or leaving slightly before the headliner finishes, cuts your wait significantly. Source: ACL attendee community advice.
Cap Metro Public Transit
Cap Metro offers several bus routes that operate frequently near Zilker Park during the festival. The MetroRapid Route 803 is specifically recommended by ACL. Check capmetro.org for current schedules and routes. Source: official ACL getting here page.
Festival Shuttle
ACL provides official festival shuttles with details announced closer to the event dates. Check aclfestival.com for shuttle locations and hours as October approaches. Source: official ACL getting here page.
Walking, Biking, and Scooters
ACL encourages walking and biking as the easiest ways to arrive. The Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail connects much of central Austin to the festival grounds and is a practical option if you are staying nearby. Scooters are also an option. Bike parking details will be announced closer to the festival. Source: official ACL getting here page.
Driving and Parking
There is no parking at Zilker Park or in the surrounding neighborhoods. ACL notes that parking options in the broader Austin area may be available for purchase closer to the festival dates. Check aclfestival.com for updates. Source: official ACL getting here page.
Flying In
The closest airport is Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS). Source: official ACL getting here page.
Where to Stay
ACL has no on-site camping. Everyone attending stays in Austin hotels, short-term rentals, or homestays. The festival's official site links to Crewfare for hotel bookings and to Airbnb and VRBO for homestay options.
Downtown Austin and the South Congress corridor are the most convenient areas, putting you close to the park and within reach of Austin's restaurant and bar scene during non-festival hours. Most properties in these neighborhoods are 1 to 3 miles from Zilker, which is walkable or a short rideshare ride.
For a full breakdown of specific hotels near Zilker Park with neighborhoods, distances, and ACL weekend rate ranges, see the hotels near Austin ACL guide.
Tickets
As of June 2026, ACL Festival is all ages. Children 8 and under attend free with a ticketed adult, with a limit of two children per adult. This applies to all ticket types except Platinum. Children 9 and older need their own ticket. All pass sales are final. Prices below are confirmed from the official ACL tickets page as of June 2026. Check aclfestival.com/tickets for current availability.
Weekend One — Single Day
| Ticket | Starting At |
|---|---|
| 1-Day GA — Weekend One | $170 |
| 1-Day GA+ — Weekend One | $345 |
| 1-Day VIP — Weekend One | $760 |
| 1-Day Platinum — Weekend One | $2,210 |
Weekend One — 3-Day
| Ticket | Starting At |
|---|---|
| 3-Day GA — Weekend One | $390 (waitlist) |
| 3-Day GA+ — Weekend One | $775 (waitlist) |
| 3-Day VIP — Weekend One | $1,850 (waitlist) |
| 3-Day Platinum — Weekend One | $5,800 |
| 3-Day Y'all Access — Weekend One | Sold Out |
Weekend Two — Single Day
| Ticket | Starting At |
|---|---|
| 1-Day GA — Weekend Two | $170 |
| 1-Day GA+ — Weekend Two | $345 |
| 1-Day VIP — Weekend Two | $710 |
| 1-Day Platinum — Weekend Two | $2,210 |
Weekend Two — 3-Day
| Ticket | Starting At |
|---|---|
| 3-Day GA — Weekend Two | $390 (waitlist) |
| 3-Day GA+ — Weekend Two | $760 |
| 3-Day VIP — Weekend Two | $1,760 |
| 3-Day Platinum — Weekend Two | $5,670 |
| 3-Day Y'all Access — Weekend Two | Sold Out |
Group Hospitality
| Option | Starting At |
|---|---|
| 1-Day Bungalow (W1 or W2) | $12,500 |
| 3-Day Bungalow (W1 or W2) | $30,000 |
| 3-Day Cabana (W1 or W2) | Contact ACL |
| 1-Day The Speakeasy (W1 or W2) | Contact ACL |
Re-entry is allowed at ACL. After entering the festival for the first time each day, you can leave and return up to two additional times. Your wristband is scanned and you go through security each time you re-enter. This applies to all ticket types. Source: official ACL FAQ.
The Lineup
The following lineup and day assignments are confirmed from the official Austin City Limits 2026 lineup poster. The same lineup plays both weekends unless noted otherwise. Artists marked W1 play Weekend One only. Artists marked W2 play Weekend Two only. Always check aclfestival.com/lineup for the most current version. Set times will be announced closer to the festival.
What to Know Before You Go
Bag Policy
The following is confirmed from the official ACL bag policy. Source: support.aclfestival.com.
- Small clutch purses and fanny packs 6" x 9" or smaller do not need to be clear but can have no more than one pocket
- All other bags larger than 6" x 9" must be smaller than 12" x 6" x 12" and clear
- Small, empty hydration packs are allowed and do not need to be clear. Hydration packs can have up to two pockets in addition to the one holding the water reservoir
All bags will be searched before entry. Leaving your bag at home gets you through security fastest. ACL cannot advise on specific bag models. Source: official ACL bag policy.
Allowed Items
- Empty reusable water bottles, hydration packs, and plastic or aluminum water bottles
- Baby strollers, including stroller wagons designed to transport children with children present
- Chairs, with the exception of inflatables and chairs with shade structures
- Binoculars
- Blankets, sheets, and towels
- Basic point-and-shoot consumer cameras without detachable lenses (no monopods, selfie sticks, tripods, GoPro mounts, or other attachments)
- Personal hand sanitizer 3.4 oz or less
- Portable battery packs
- Personal misting fans with a bottle no larger than 1.5L, empty upon entry
- Non-aerosol sunscreen, 3.4 oz or less
- Totems and totems with flags less than 7 feet tall and less than 1 inch in diameter, made of light material such as swim noodles, foam, cardboard tubes, fabric, or balloons
- Factory sealed Naloxone/Narcan kit
- Hydration and electrolyte packets in factory sealed single serving packages
Prescription medicine: must be in the pharmacy-labeled container with prescription, dosage, and patient name. Present to medical staff at the entrance gate. Only a sufficient supply for that day is allowed. Over the counter medications are allowed in a sufficient supply for the day and will be verified by medical staff at entry. Source: official ACL allowed and prohibited items page.
Prohibited Items
- Any bag not aligned with the bag policy
- Aerosol containers, including sunscreen and personal beauty products
- Coolers of any kind (exceptions may be made for medical use)
- Professional audio, photo, or video recording equipment of any kind
- Large professional detachable zoom lenses, stands, monopods, tripods, or selfie sticks
- Drones or any remote flying device
- Frisbees
- Hammocks
- Inflatables of any kind
- Glass containers of any kind
- Illegal and illicit substances of any kind
- Outside food or beverages including alcohol
- Umbrellas
- Pets (service animals excepted)
- Skateboards, scooters, bicycles, wagons, carts, or personal motorized vehicles
- Tents, canopies, or shade structures of any kind including chairs with shade structures
- Unauthorized vendors, solicitation, handbills, flyers, stickers, beach balls, giveaways, or samples
- Weapons or explosives of any kind
- Fireworks
- Large chains or spiked jewelry
- Bicycles inside festival grounds
- Carts of any kind including red wagons
Zilker Park is smoke free. Smoking and vaping are banned in all Austin parks. Source: official ACL allowed and prohibited items page. This list is subject to change. If an item is not explicitly listed it is up to security's discretion.
Re-Entry Policy
After entering the festival for the first time each day, you can leave and return up to two additional times. Your wristband is scanned and you pass through security each time you re-enter. Source: official ACL FAQ.
Gate Times
Gates open at 12pm and close at 10pm on all six festival days across both weekends. Source: official ACL FAQ.
Kids and Age Policy
As of June 2026, ACL Festival is all ages with no minimum age to attend. Children 8 and under at the time of the festival may attend free with a ticketed adult. The limit is two children per ticketed adult. This applies to all ticket types except Platinum. A Platinum Kids ticket is required for children ages 3 through 8 to access Platinum areas. Children 2 and younger are free in Platinum with a ticketed adult. Children 9 and older need their own ticket for all areas. Proof of age is required for entry with a Platinum Kids ticket. Age policy is subject to change. Source: official ACL FAQ.
Insider Tips
There is no parking at Zilker Park or anywhere nearby during the festival. Rideshare, Cap Metro, the official festival shuttle, biking, walking, and scooters are your options. Decide before you get to Austin and have a backup plan for the end of the night when rideshare demand spikes.
Post-headliner rideshare lines are notoriously long. Walking a few blocks away from the park before opening your app makes a real difference. Or leave slightly before the final song if you have an early start the next day. Having a plan before you need one beats scrambling in a crowd of thousands.
October in Austin still means real heat during afternoon sets. Multiple attendees in the ACL community flag this every year. Bring an allowed reusable bottle or empty hydration pack and use the water stations throughout the day. By the time you feel thirsty you are already behind.
Zilker Park gets progressively dustier as the weekend goes on, especially later in the day when the crowds have churned up the ground. A bandana or light scarf around your neck that you can pull up when needed is one of the most practical things you can bring. Veteran ACL attendees mention this every year.
ACL involves a lot of walking across a large park over multiple days. Boots and fashion-forward shoes are a recurring mistake in the ACL community. Wear something comfortable that you have already broken in. Your feet will be the deciding factor in whether Day 3 is fun or miserable.
Entry lines during peak arrival times can be long. Getting there earlier in the day means faster entry, better positioning for early sets, and time to get oriented before the crowds hit full density around the headliner windows.
Going all-out on Friday is a pattern that ends Saturday for a lot of first-timers. ACL is a marathon across three days. Plan rest time between sets, stay fueled and hydrated, and treat it like something you want to be standing for on Sunday night when the headliners close out.
Once your wristband is on, it stays on for the entire weekend. Cutting it off or losing it means you are locked out. Be careful putting it on, make sure it is secure, and keep it dry when you shower. This sounds obvious until it is not.
What to Pack
ACL allows re-entry, which gives you more flexibility than a no-re-entry festival. But the bag policy is strict and the Texas October heat is real. Pack for the weather, stay within the bag dimensions, and bring everything you need for a long day on your feet in the sun.
- Approved bag: A fanny pack or clutch 6" x 9" or smaller (does not need to be clear), or a clear bag up to 12" x 6" x 12". A fanny pack is the fastest through security and the most practical for a hot day.
- Empty reusable water bottle or hydration pack: Both are allowed. Fill up at the water stations inside. Staying hydrated in the afternoon heat is the difference between a great day and a rough one.
- Non-aerosol sunscreen, 3.4 oz or less: Aerosol cans are prohibited. Texas October sun is strong during afternoon sets. Reapply throughout the day.
- Bandana or light scarf: The park gets dusty as the weekend progresses. Pull it up when needed and let it hang when you do not.
- Comfortable broken-in shoes: Boots and new shoes are the most common regret at ACL. Wear something you trust.
- Light layer for the evening: Austin October nights cool down after the sun goes down. A light jacket or hoodie in your bag is worth having for late sets.
- Portable battery pack: A long day on your feet drains your phone. Keep it small enough to fit your approved bag.
- Wet wipes and small pack of tissues: Porta-potties run out of supplies. Having your own means you are covered regardless.
- Earplugs: High fidelity earplugs let you hear clearly while protecting your hearing across multiple long days. Bring a backup pair.
- ID: Required for alcohol purchases and for Platinum Kids ticket entry.
- Official app downloaded and set up: Do this before you leave the hotel. Signal inside the grounds is not always reliable when 75,000 people are all on the same network.
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