The lineup has officially dropped for the 25th year of Austin City Limits Music Festival, back for two weekends this October at Zilker Park. The bill features not only some of the biggest names in music but also artists who defined the 2010s and continue to perform at an elite level.
Coming off the album that elevated her career to new heights with Brat, Charli XCX will make her ACL debut as a headliner. She’s also set to headline Lollapalooza and Outside Lands, and I got to catch her at Coachella last year, so I can tell you firsthand she’ll bring true rave energy and revive Brat summer at Zilker.
Lorde is the other pop girlie fave returning to ACL for the first time since 2014, the year following her debut album, Pure Heroine. Along with Melodrama, those albums still resonate deeply with fans and should spark some of the loudest sing-alongs of the weekend.
RÜFÜS DU SOL returns to headline ACL after their 2021 appearance, now taking over the main AmEx stage. Their melodic and atmospheric EDM brand connects with so many people and will be the perfect way to close out an ACL night.
On the heavier side of electronic music, Skrillex serves as Weekend 1’s exclusive headliner, back for his first time since headlining in 2014. As one of the genre’s most exciting figures, he’s going to bring unbelievable energy to his performance.
Weekend 2’s exclusive headliner spot goes to Kings of Leon, the most traditional pick among the headlining acts. They appeal to the festival’s traditionally older demographic, while continuing to draw in arena-sized crowds with their catalog of familiar hits.
My two favorite headliners here are Twenty One Pilots and The xx. I’ve seen Twenty One Pilots twice, and they put on some of the best live shows you’ll ever see, blending storytelling, immersive production, and intimate fan engagement. I would’ve given anything to witness Tyler Joseph climb that ACL main stage in 2015, so it’ll be exciting to see what the duo has up their sleeve.
The xx, however, would be a first for me. After streaming their Coachella performance, I can’t imagine a better way to close out the weekend. There were concerns with Jamie xx’s availability around this time, so the trio reuniting in Austin as part of their first shows in years is going to be a special experience that fans won’t want to miss.
I’ll need to put in the hours diving deep into the undercard, but seeing Turnstile listed first was all I needed to want to head back to Zilker. My favorite band has appeared at nearly every major festival this year, including Coachella, where they absolutely killed it. Beyond their music, they have the rare ability to unite a crowd and foster a sense of community, even among those unfamiliar with hardcore.
As a Puerto Rican, my other undercard standout is Young Miko. She’s had an amazing year so far with new music and an upcoming arena tour. After seeing her live in 2024, I had a feeling this level of success was coming her way, and her performance is bound to be an absolute party at Zilker.
Rap, country, and K-pop fans may feel some disappointment here. While the lack of major rap names doesn’t surprise me, country music has long been a huge part of ACL’s DNA. Considering the most recognizable country name on the lineup was Asleep at the Wheel, I was a bit shocked.
After ACL booked RIIZE as their first K-pop group ever, I was hoping to see another group or two make their way out to Austin this fall, but it looks like fans will have to keep waiting a bit longer.
Where ACL truly showed up for 2026 was with EDM. Beyond the two electronic headliners, the undercard is stacked with names including Levity, it’s murph, Bunt., The Chainsmokers, Steve Aoki, ¥ØU$UK€ ¥UK1MAT$U. While ACL doesn’t have dedicated EDM stages like Coachella or Lollapalooza do, I love how the festival is embracing the genre and recognizing the impact it’s having in music today.
Other names on the undercard I’d love to shout out are Balu Brigada, Palace, Leon Thomas, Fcukers, Snow Strippers, Amyl and the Sniffers, Suki Waterhouse, and Night Tapes. I’ve seen the latter three live, and I can guarantee you’ll get a great show from them.
This may not resemble the ACL many longtime attendees have gotten accustomed to over its 25 years. Still, the festival clearly has its pulse on the music that is connecting with audiences right now. As a result, ACL has delivered a diverse lineup of artists set to put on memorable performances across all three days.
Three-day passes for Weekend 1 have already sold out, while passes for Weekend 2 remain available, but I wouldn’t expect that to be the case for much longer. Daily lineups are expected soon, with single-day passes for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday following right after for both weekends.
