The 2026 ACL Festival will occur from October 2-4 and October 9-11 at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas. This year marks the festival’s 25th anniversary, showcasing a blend of pop icons and emerging artists. However, it will be notable for the absence of a major country headliner.
Headliners include Charli XCX, Lorde, Rüfüs Du Sol, Twenty One Pilots, and The xx. Skrillex and Kings of Leon will perform exclusively during Weekend 1 and Weekend 2, respectively. The festival has seen significant growth since its inception in 2002, hosting approximately 75,000 fans each day.
Key facts:
- The festival celebrated its founding in 2002 and has expanded to multiple stages.
- Three-day tickets go on sale on May 5, 2026, at 12 p.m. CT.
- Austin acts like Asleep At The Wheel and Night Traveler are part of the lineup.
Despite fan predictions, Olivia Rodrigo is not included in this year’s roster. C3 Presents promotes the festival and has contributed over $4.7 billion to Austin’s economy since 2006.
Observers note that the lack of a major country act is unusual for the festival. Additionally, there is no nostalgia play with a rock band from earlier years.
