Key Takeaways
- How to survive the heat, crowds, and long days at ACL Fest
- Why arriving early can lead to the best music discoveries
- The local Austin artists worth catching at ACL 2026
- Why electronic music has such a major presence in this year’s lineup
- The biggest schedule conflicts and artists to watch across both weekends
- How ACL reflects where music—and Austin’s culture—is heading
Show Notes
What does it take to make the most of Austin City Limits Music Festival—and which artists should be on your schedule before you even step into Zilker Park?
In this special episode of Austin Eras, Adam Flagg sits down with Austin American-Statesman music reporter Mars Salazar for a full preview of ACL Fest 2026, from surviving the Texas heat to finding the artists you’ll be talking about long after the festival ends.
With more than 100 performances spread across nine stages and two weekends, ACL can be overwhelming. Mars shares her advice for first-timers, including what to bring, when to arrive, how to prepare for the heat, why comfortable shoes are non-negotiable, and how to navigate the crowds, food, transportation, and inevitable schedule conflicts.
Then, Adam and Mars dig into the 2026 lineup. They break down the festival’s growing electronic influence, the nostalgia factor behind artists like Kings of Leon and Twenty One Pilots, the strength of its female-led acts, and the notable absence of major country and rap headliners. From Charli XCX, Skrillex, Lorde, RÜFÜS DU SOL, Turnstile, Leon Thomas, Steve Aoki, and The xx to emerging artists that may be unfamiliar today, they share the performances they’re most curious to see.
They also spotlight the Austin artists getting their moment at Zilker—including Grocery Bag, Almost Heaven, Yuvi, The 4411, and Night Traveler—and make the case for arriving early. Some of the most exciting artists at ACL aren’t playing the headline slots. They’re on smaller stages in the afternoon, potentially just a few years away from becoming the names everyone knows.
Mars also reflects on what makes ACL different from other major festivals: its compact setting in the heart of Austin, its connection to the city’s parks, its local food and music, and the way thousands of people come together around artists and sounds they may not have discovered otherwise.
Along the way, Mars shares some of her most memorable ACL experiences—from Paul McCartney and Chappell Roan to mosh pits, mud, unforgettable sets, and a few performances she’d rather forget.
Whether you’re heading to Zilker for the first time, returning for another year, or looking at the lineup wondering who half these artists are, consider this your guide to ACL Fest 2026—and a reminder that sometimes the best festival discovery is the artist you didn’t know you needed to see.