Austin City Limits 2025: Lineup, Tickets & Must-Know Festival Tips

For two weekends in October, Zilker Park transforms into a melting pot of sound and culture, where indie bands play side by side with global superstars, and you can jump from an intimate folk set to a high-energy electronic performance within minutes. The skyline of Austin glows in the background, food trucks serve some of the best bites you’ll ever eat at a festival, and the crowd? It’s a mix of die-hard music lovers, first-time festival-goers, and locals who have made ACL their yearly tradition.

Unlike those festivals where everything feels rushed, ACL gives you the chance to breathe, explore, and experience Austin beyond the festival gates. You’ll catch an unforgettable set, then head downtown to dive into the city’s legendary nightlife. You’ll spend the afternoon soaking in indie performances under the Texas sun, then grab a brisket taco from a food stall that might just change your life.

If you’ve been to ACL before, you already know—it’s one of those festivals that stays with you long after the last encore. And if you haven’t? This is the year to change that.

There’s nothing quite like the moment ACL drops its lineup—the excitement, the speculation, the last-minute ticket purchases when your favorite artist confirms they’re playing. Austin City Limits is famous for blending legendary headliners with breakout acts, meaning you’re just as likely to see a Grammy-winning superstar as you are to discover your next favorite band.

The official lineup hasn’t been announced yet, but if history is any indication, we can expect a massive mix of genres, from rock and indie to hip-hop, country, EDM, and beyond. Previous years have seen names like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Billie Eilish, The Cure, Tame Impala, Kendrick Lamar, and Foo Fighters—a testament to just how diverse ACL’s roster can be.

• When will the lineup be announced? Usually, ACL reveals its full lineup in early spring, so keep an eye out around March or April 2025 for the big drop.

One of the best things about ACL is how it’s designed for exploration. With nine stages spread across Zilker Park, you’re never far from an unforgettable performance.

• The main stages draw the biggest names, with massive headliners, huge production, and thousands of fans singing along.

•The Tito’s Handmade Vodka Stage and Honda Stage have housed everything from indie anthems to legendary rock bands.

• The Miller Lite Stage and BMI Stage focus on up-and-coming artists, where you can catch future superstars before they blow up.

•The Austin Kiddie Limits Stage? Perfect for families, featuring kid-friendly performances and activities so even the youngest music fans can join in the fun.

ACL is known for spontaneous magic—the kind of moments that aren’t on the schedule but become legendary overnight. Maybe it’s a surprise guest jumping onstage, a one-time-only collaboration, or an acoustic set from an artist who wasn’t even announced. ACL thrives on these surprises, so expect the unexpected.

Finding the right place to stay during Austin City Limits can make or break your experience. Unlike other major festivals, ACL is smack in the middle of Austin’s city life, which means no camping, no isolated festival grounds—just pure urban energy. That also means hotels, Airbnbs, and vacation rentals book up fast, so the earlier you figure out where to stay, the better.

If you want to be in the heart of the action, downtown Austin is the best choice. Staying here means quick access to the ACL shuttle, an easy walk to bars and afterparties, and the convenience of being surrounded by other festival-goers. Hotels like The LINE Austin, Fairmont Austin, and The Driskill are on the pricier side, but they put you right in the middle of everything. If you’re planning to go all-in on the festival experience, it’s worth the splurge.

For something a little more laid-back but still close to all the fun, South Congress (SoCo) is a solid option. This neighborhood has a more artsy, local vibe, with boutique hotels, vintage shops, and incredible food spots lining the streets. It’s not as hectic as downtown, but it’s still super easy to get to Zilker Park. If that sounds like your vibe, Hotel San José or the South Congress Hotel are great picks.

If you’re looking to save some money but still stay in a cool area, East Austin might be the move. It’s got a mix of trendy hotels, affordable Airbnbs, and local restaurants that’ll make you fall in love with the city. It’s a bit further from Zilker, but rideshares and public transit make it manageable. Plus, it’s the kind of place where you might stumble into a live music show at a random dive bar after the festival, which is what Austin is all about.

Then there’s Barton Hills and Zilker, which are the closest areas to the festival. If you manage to find an Airbnb within walking distance of ACL, you’ve basically won the jackpot. No traffic, no waiting for a shuttle, just walk straight to the park and back whenever you want. The catch? These spots disappear FAST, so if this is your plan, you need to book months in advance.

Choosing the right accommodation all comes down to what kind of festival experience you want. If you’re in it for the full ACL party, downtown is where you want to be. If you like a mix of chill and fun, South Congress is your best bet. If you’re on a budget but still want a good time, East Austin will treat you well. And if you’re lucky enough to snag a spot near Zilker, you’ll be living the dream.

Whatever you choose, just book it early—ACL weekends turn Austin into a music-lover’s playground, and hotels fill up faster than the festival itself.

Austin is one of the coolest cities in the U.S., and if you’re coming for ACL, you’d be crazy not to explore it while you’re here. Whether you want to chill after the festival, dive into the city’s legendary food scene, or keep the party going, there’s plenty to see and do beyond Zilker Park.

Austin isn’t called the Live Music Capital of the World for nothing. When the festival ends, the city keeps going, and there’s no shortage of bars, clubs, and venues where you can catch even more live music.

If you’re in the mood for dive bar vibes and late-night jamming, head to The White Horse for honky-tonk, cheap beer, and two-stepping until 2 AM. For a more indie, underground scene, Mohawk Austin always has great post-festival shows, and if you want to dance until sunrise, Barbarella throws one of the wildest parties in town.

And of course, Rainey Street is always buzzing, with bungalow bars, live bands, and a party atmosphere that somehow feels both chaotic and laid-back at the same time.

ACL is the highlight of your trip, but Austin has a unique personality that’s worth exploring while you’re here.

Take a walk down South Congress Avenue (SoCo) and check out the funky shops, vintage stores, and street art. The iconic “I Love You So Much” mural is here if you’re into festival recap photos, and the whole area has a laid-back vibe that makes it fun to explore.

If you’re feeling adventurous, rent a kayak or paddleboard on Lady Bird Lake and get a killer view of the skyline. And if you’re in town on a warm night, head to the Congress Avenue Bridge at sunset to see over a million bats fly out—it sounds weird, but it’s an Austin tradition.

If you’ve got extra time before or after ACL, taking a short trip outside of Austin is 100% worth it. Texas is full of cool, unique towns, and some of the best ones are less than an hour away. Whether you’re looking for a scenic road trip, a quieter place to stay, or just a different vibe, these small towns show a whole other side of Texas.

Fredericksburg is one of Texas’ most charming small towns, known for its German heritage, wineries, and scenic hill country views. If you love wine tasting, this is your spot—there are over 50 wineries and tasting rooms along the famous 290 Wine Trail.

Beyond the wine, Fredericksburg has a cute, walkable downtown with boutique shops, local bakeries, and historic buildings. If you need a post-festival detox, the area also has great hiking spots, like Enchanted Rock, a massive pink granite dome with killer sunset views.

• If you don’t feel like driving, you can book a wine tour from Austin that includes transportation, tastings, and lunch perfect for recovering after ACL.

If chilling in a river with a drink in hand sounds like the perfect way to recover from ACL, head to New Braunfels. This town is famous for floating the Guadalupe and Comal Rivers, where you can rent a tube, grab a drink, and let the current do all the work.

Right next door is Gruene (pronounced “Green”), a tiny historic town that feels like stepping back in time. It’s home to Gruene Hall, the oldest dance hall in Texas, where you can catch live music in an intimate, rustic venue. If you’re still in the mood for music but want something more low-key than ACL, this is the perfect spot.

• If you visit Gruene Hall, check their lineup—big-name artists sometimes play surprise sets in this tiny venue after ACL.

San Antonio is Austin’s laid-back cousin, with a mix of history, culture, and some of the best Mexican food in Texas. If you’re into historic sites, the Alamo and the San Antonio Missions are worth checking out, but the real gem is the San Antonio River Walk—a beautiful, tree-lined stretch of restaurants, bars, and markets right along the water.

Food-wise, San Antonio is famous for Tex-Mex, and a stop at Mi Tierra Café for late-night tacos and margaritas is a must. If you’re looking for a more relaxed, cultural experience after ACL, San Antonio is a perfect post-festival destination.

• If you don’t have a car, you can take a bus from Austin to San Antonio in under 1.5 hours—cheap, easy, and perfect for a quick day trip.

Austin City Limits is not just about the music—it’s about how you experience it. After years of hitting festivals, I can tell you that the difference between a good ACL and an unforgettable one comes down to a few key things.

First, know your limits. ACL is a three-day endurance test, and I’ve seen too many people burn out on Day 1, only to spend the rest of the weekend sitting in the back, exhausted. Hydrate, take breaks, and don’t feel like you need to be at every single set—the real magic happens when you actually soak in the moments instead of rushing through them.

Second, trust your instincts and explore. Some of the best sets aren’t the headliners but the ones you randomly stumble upon. Stay open to new sounds, hit up a stage you wouldn’t normally check out, and follow the energy, not just the schedule. ACL’s layout makes it easy to move around, so if something isn’t vibing with you, don’t waste time—there’s always something happening elsewhere.

Third, Austin is part of the festival experience. If you’re coming from out of town, don’t just do ACL and leave. Hit up a barbecue joint, check out the bars on Rainey Street, spend a recovery morning at Barton Springs. ACL isn’t just a festival, it’s an extension of the city, and skipping out on that means missing a huge part of what makes this weekend special.

Finally, document less, experience more. I get it—you want the best videos, the perfect recap for Instagram. But the best ACL moments? They don’t fit into a 15-second clip. Put your phone away, be present, and actually live the music instead of recording it.

If you go into ACL with the right mindset—prepared, open, and ready to experience it fully—you’re going to leave with a festival memory that actually stays with you. And when that final set ends, when the last song plays out over Zilker Park, you’ll already be thinking about the next time you’ll be back.

Because once you do ACL right, you never really stop coming back.