The iconic Austin City Limits (ACL) Music Festival is back for its 23rd year. One of the most eagerly anticipated music festivals in the United States, this year’s event will be held Oct. 4-6 & 11-13 in Austin’s Zilker Park. 

ACL celebrates a diverse array of musical genres, blending the best of rock, indie, country, folk, hip hop, and electronic music. Drawing tens of thousands of music lovers from around the world, it represents not just a festival, but a cultural phenomenon, offering a unique snapshot of Austin’s vibrant music scene and broader cultural landscape.

The festival is renowned for showcasing a wide variety of music genres. This year’s lineup features major acts like Dua Lipa, Tyler the Creator, country star Chris Stapleton, punk rock icons Blink-182, Leon Bridges, Barry Can’t Swim, Norah Jones, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Elderbrook, Dom Dolla, and Jess Glynne, among others.

ACL Music Fest Lineup

One of the hallmarks of the festival is showcasing local Texas talent. Bands like Gary Clark Jr, Conan Grey, and the Black Pumas have graced the stage numerous times. Combined with global superstars, this gives the festival a distinctly Austin flavor and honors the city’s storied musical history and embraces its future. Be sure to check out these local bands who will be taking the stage during the festival -– Bob Schneider, Chief Cleopatra, Daiistar, and West 22nd, along with renowned ACL favorite, Asleep at the Wheel. And yes, the always popular silent disco will once again be back!

A few of the bands we recommend seeing during the festival include Say She She, who recently opened for the Black Pumas, Malcolm Todd who is embarking on his Sweet Boy tour, and local Austin band West 22nd. Also as a friendly reminder, make sure you double check the ACL fest lineup for bands that only play on weekend one or weekend two so you don’t miss a band you want to see.  

If you cannot make it to the festival but still want to see one of the bands in town for ACL Fest, then be sure to check out the ACL Fest Nights schedule. These shows will start two days before the festival and run throughout the festival. 

ACL Eats and Sweets

ACL’s commitment to showcasing the best of Austin doesn’t stop at music. Some of Austin’s best and most beloved food and drink establishments can be found at ACL Eats. Pick up a taco at Cuantos Tacos or go to Gus’s for their famous fried chicken. We also love the Rice Bowls and the Kimchi Fries at Chi’Lantro. Wash it all down with a tasty beverage from Karbach.

For those festival goers needing to satisfy their sweet tooth, the festival has added the new ACL Sweets. This new area is dedicated to the wide variety of desserts and sweets. Here you will find the returning fan favorites such as Amy’s Ice Cream, Tiff’s Treats, and GoodPop as well as festival newcomers JP Pancake Company and Holla Mode. ACL Sweets can be found near the T-Mobile stage and the Austin Kiddie Limits area. 

ACL Experience

One unique aspect of ACL is its family-friendly environment. The festival offers a special section called Austin Kiddie Limits, designed for families with young children. This area provides kid-friendly music performances as well as other activities. Remember, if you are bringing a kid who is under the age of 8, they can enter the festival for free. You will simply need to register them in the festival’s Tag-Your-Kid program. 

A major emphasis for ACL over the years has been sustainability. The festival encourages attendees to minimize their environmental impact by promoting recycling, composting, and the use of reusable water bottles. Water refill stations are scattered throughout the grounds, and the festival’s “Rock & Recycle” program rewards attendees who collect recyclables with an exclusive specially designed ACL t-shirt. This commitment to sustainability extends beyond the festival grounds, as ACL donates a portion of its proceeds to local environmental organizations and partners with local groups to preserve Austin’s green spaces.

Whether you are going for one day, or you are a hardy festival goer who will be there for both weekends, ACL fest promises to be a unique experience for all ages. Be sure to follow Texas Lifestyle Magazine’s coverage on our social channels. 

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Cover photo Dusana Risovic

Brian Maass is a native Austinite who has a passion for music, travel and sharing his experiences through his camera lens. He lives in Round Rock, Texas, with his wife Dana Kent Maass and their faithful dog Chester.