
Austin City Limits (ACL) is a two-weekend music festival held down in Austin, Texas, featuring well-known artists as well as smaller, evolving artists. ACL’s growing popularity has caused it to split up into two weekends, rather than one. In 2002, the festival’s first year, only about 40,000 people attended. ACL’s growing popularity has brought on a prediction of approximately 450,000 attendees over what is now two weekends for 2025.
Over the years, ACL has hosted a variety of many notable artists such as Willie Nelson, Paul McCartney, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Cure, Lorretta Lynn, and so much more. As for this year’s lineup, the headliners were Sabrina Carpenter, Hozier, Luke Combs, The Strokes, and The Killers, who ended up replacing Doja Cat after she backed out. The 2026 lineup should be released sometime around May.
There’s music and food for everyone! The variety of artists in different music genres that the lineup features provides the perfect opportunity for adventurous listeners to discover new artists and gives smaller artists the platform to expand their audience. There are also limitless food options located all around the park, ranging from tacos, burgers, hot dogs, pizza, gyros, ice cream, and beyond.
If you feel like 3 days is too much of a commitment, or if the only artists you want to see are all playing on the same day, you can just buy a one-day pass. I’ve been fortunate enough to go almost every year since 2010, and I would highly recommend going all three days, but a one-day pass would be just as good to get the experience.
ACL itself has endless food options, music selections, social events, and even a picturesque view of the downtown skyline from behind one of the stages. The festival also makes a perfect excuse to get dressed up and join the latest fashion trend-driven stomping grounds. Austin, in general, is a great place to visit and worth making a weekend trip out of, whether or not you plan to attend the festival all three days. Outside of Zilker Park, there are shops, restaurants, scenic trails, and college life.