Austin City Limits 2026: Mud, Music, and Madness - Cheers to 25 Years
Austin City Limits, affectionately rebranded as Mud Fest 2026, has officially wrapped its first weekend. Thousands of fans descended on Zilker Park October 2–4 for the 25th anniversary of the beloved three-day festival, which continues to bring together an impressive mix of artists, brands, food and, of course, a healthy dose of Austin hospitality.
This year’s lineup put some of music’s biggest names front and center, including Lorde, Charli XCX, Twenty One Pilots, The xx, Parcels, Saint Motel, Lola Young and more. But there was one unexpected addition to the bill: mud.
The weather may not have exactly rained on anyone’s parade, but it did force festivalgoers to rethink their looks as ponchos and rain boots became essential accessories. By the end of the weekend, plenty of attendees had sacrificed the soles of their shoes to Zilker Park’s muddy terrain—but walked away with memories that will last far longer than their festival footwear.
With Weekend Two just around the corner, here are the top standout performances and moments from Weekend One.
Leon Thomas: The Voice That Stops You in Your Tracks
Photo Credit: leonthomas by j.baura for Austin City Limits Festival 2026
Leon Thomas will always get you in your feels. The Grammy-winning R&B artist ripped through a smooth, soulful catalog that included “Vibes Don’t Lie,” “Lucid Dreams,” “Party Favors” and, of course, “Mutt.” Placing a vocal powerhouse like Thomas on the festival bill instantly elevated the afternoon.
His set had the kind of effortless magnetism that makes time stand still. Honestly, it was a little shocking that festivalgoers managed to pull themselves out of the trance long enough to make it to their next set.
Charli XCX Brings Out Troye Sivan:
Charli XCX by Henry Redcliffe for Austin City Limits Fest 2026
It may officially be fall, but brat Summer is still alive and well. Charli XCX closed out the opening day of ACL with a performance that was pure adrenaline. The crowd was electrified, the energy was immaculate, and from the first beat to the last, Charli commanded the stage.
Then “Von Dutch” hit—and the party went into overdrive.
One of the biggest surprises of the night came when Troye Sivan joined Charli onstage for “1999,” giving the crowd a full-circle pop moment. The set also incorporated songs from her latest era, Music, Fashion, Film, offering a glimpse into the evolution of Charli’s sound following the maximalist, punk-inflected world of brat.
The result was a set that felt both familiar and forward-looking—a reminder that Charli has never been particularly interested in staying in one lane.
Bleachers Forever, Literally:
Bleachers by Pooneh Ghana for Austin City Limits Fest 2026
Lola Young: Headliner in the Making
Lola Young by Chad Wadsworth for Austin City Limits Festival 2026
Lola Young is officially for the people. The British singer delivered an emotional yet triumphant set packed with songs that feel like the soundtrack to a personal turning point. Her hour-long performance showcased a rejuvenated Young, and that renewed energy was impossible to miss.
Following a health hiatus in 2025, Young returned to the stage with her signature rasp-heavy vocals, high energy and magnetic presence. And the crowd gave it right back. When “Messy” began, the audience erupted into a full-blown singalong—a particularly bright moment on an otherwise cloudy festival day.
Young also recently announced her Everything Ends tour, which will kick off in 2027. If this ACL performance was any indication, headlining ACL feels less like a question of if and more like a matter of when.
Lorde:
Lorde by Dusana Karam for Austin City Limits Festival 2026
Lorde, meanwhile, is no stranger to commanding a stage. In many ways, it feels as though we’ve watched the New Zealand artist grow and evolve in real time. Through life’s highs and lows, the “Royals” singer has taken her fans along for the ride. Each album feels distinct from the last, yet there’s something uniquely special about the vulnerability she continues to pour into her music. It’s a sense of trust between artist and audience—and perhaps that’s why fans connect so deeply with her work at every stage of her career.
The “Ribs” singer first took the stage at just 17 years old. Now 30, this performance felt like another chapter in that evolution: an embrace of vulnerability, while also using her platform to speak out about injustice and the importance of freedom.
“Keep dancing, keep doing drugs … keep moving,” Lorde told the crowd. “It’s important to get comfortable with that feeling of freedom.”
Saint Motel:
Saint Motel by Charles Reagan for Austin City Limits Festival 2026
Saint Motel heard the location of the festival and didn’t disappoint. Frontman A.J. Jackson flashed a dazzling smile as an uplifting guitar-and-saxophone introduction rang out, his cowboy hat and denim-esque jacket perfectly suited to the Austin setting. The indie-pop band, which quickly rose to fame in Los Angeles with its high-energy, contagious single “My Type,” brought that same electricity to the stage. For a moment, that energy seemed to clear the skies and coax the sun out on the final day of a cooler ACL.
With no shortage of stage presence, Saint Motel proved to be a solid addition to the bill.
Parcels: Just Vibes
Parcels by Anna Downs for Austin City Limits Festival 2026
“We are Parcels, let’s have some fun,” the Australian disco-funk five-piece announced Sunday evening. And that’s exactly what they did. The group’s hour-long set was nothing short of a groove-filled good time, channeling the spirit of a high-energy party band with a polished, dramatic disco edge. Funky guitar riffs, infectious rhythms and ’70s-inspired fashion made for a performance that felt tailor-made for a festival crowd.
There was no unnecessary spectacle—just musicianship, chemistry and vibes. Sometimes that’s all you need.
Twenty One Pilots Goes for a Ride:
Twenty One Pilots by Ashley Osborn for Austin City Limits Festival 2026
Is it even a Twenty One Pilots show if the entire crowd isn’t completely electrified?
The rock duo brought the energy—and then some—delivering the extra jolt needed to close out a muddy, exhausting festival weekend.
At one point, Tyler Joseph stood on a door held above the crowd by fans while belting out “Ride,” turning the audience into part of the performance. And in a perfect nod to the conditions that had taken over Zilker Park, Joseph even slapped some mud onto his shirt.
If there’s one thing you can count on with Twenty One Pilots, it’s that they’ll find a way to turn fatigue into adrenaline. By the end of the set, the crowd wasn’t thinking about sore feet or muddy shoes. They were jumping. Never a dull moment.
The XX: A Perfect Return to ACL
I initially thought closing out ACL with The xx might be somewhat of a downer. Boy, was I wrong. The chemistry between Romy and Oliver Sim’s voices is something that genuinely deserves to be studied. After an eight-year absence from the stage, seeing the band return to ACL felt like one of the weekend’s most meaningful moments.
The set leaned into nostalgia, giving longtime fans the songs they came to hear while largely forgoing new material. And honestly, that was exactly the right move.
It felt less like a standard festival set and more like a welcome-back celebration—a chance for fans to reconnect with a band whose music has soundtracked countless late nights, heartbreaks and everything in between.
For a festival celebrating 25 years, there was something fitting about ending on a note that felt both nostalgic and new.
BMI Stage Offered Up Close Performances:
Photo Credit Frankie Vergara for BMI
The BMI Stage returned to the 2026 Austin City Limits Music Festival for its twenty-third year this past weekend (Oct. 02-04), as it remained a standout fixture to discover the next wave of breakthrough talent. On Friday (10/2), Grocery Bag brought “a ferocity that emphasized why they are one of Austin’s hottest new bands," (The Daily Texan). Austin Monthly’s “must-see” artist Coleman Jennings served as a standout on Saturday (10/2) while Emma Ogier shared “intimate performances with a surprising amount of choogle, perfect for an afternoon starter,” (Austin Chronicle). The BMI Stage was a “hotbed of new music discovery” (Billboard) this weekend with ACL festival debuts from Aaron Rowe, Elle Coves, Fai Laci, Fancy Hagood, Izzy Escobar, Lauren Sanderson and Vinny Tovar.
Vinnie Fallico for Austin City Limits Festival 2026
Beyond the Music: Brands Join the Party
These days, ACL is about more than what happens onstage. Brands have increasingly become part of the festival experience, creating activations that give attendees another reason to wander, explore and stay awhile.
Aperol Brightened the Weekend:
An Aperol Spritz in hand will always brighten the day. Aperol brought a little extra sunshine to an otherwise soggy weekend, with guests lining up to grab a token and try their luck at winning an assortment of freebies and exclusive festival swag.
Because if you’re going to brave the mud, you might as well have a spritz in hand.
T-Mobile Brought Club Magenta to Zilker:
T-Mobile by Anna Downs at Austin City Limits 2026
T-Mobile brought its member-first festival experience to life across Club Magenta, surprise fan upgrades, side-stage access and more.,
T-Mobile’s ACL experience includes:
Club Magenta: A shaded member space near the T-Mobile Stage with lounge seating, complimentary charging, a private bar and views of some of the weekend’s biggest sets.
Surprise upgrades: The Magenta Gumball Machine gives fans a shot at side-stage viewing, aftershow tickets, skip-the-line access, drink vouchers, merch gift cards and more.
Festival essentials: T-Mobile members can also access complimentary lockers, free lawn chairs and portable chargers throughout the weekend.
Hacienda Delivered More than Margaritas:
Romy celebrates Austin City Limits weekend with PATRÓN Tequila, spinning a surprise vinyl set at the Hacienda PATRÓN pop-up. Photo Credit: Roger HoRoger Ho
PATRÓN Tequila returned to the Austin City Limits music festival, kicking off the weekend by surprising fans with an unforgettable performance by Romy, guitarist and co-vocalist of indie rock band and headliner of the festival, The xx, with an incredible DJ set at Hacienda PATRON.
Guests sipped on Headliner Margaritas served in the iconic PATRÓN Tequila Collector’s Cups – all while enjoying first-row access to Romy spinning vinyl. Hacienda PATRÓN transformed into a high-energy space, curating an experience that fostered music and tequila enthusiasts alike for a celebration of culture and sound.
Dolly Parton Drag by Ashley Osborn for Austin City Limits Festival 2026
Weekend one may be over, but weekend two is underway! The production and team behind ACL did a stellar job overcoming the many hurdles set forth to make the festivals comfortable as possible. Keep an eye out on socials as if there are any changes or delays, the crew will keep attendees informed. Allow for more time between stages than you may think due to possibly slippery conditions. Grab your crew and prepare for weekend two! Let’s run it back!
Twenty One Pilots by Ashley Osborn for Austin City Limits Festival 2026
*Cover photo: Lola Young by Chad Wadsworth for Austin City Limits Festival 2026
