Everything You Should Know About ACL Music Festival 2025

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September 30, 2025

Austin City Limits, a widely known and loved music festival in Austin’s Zilker Park, attracts over 400 thousand attendees every October. What started as a single weekend event with about 40,000 attendees has quickly turned into one of the most anticipated music events in the country, attracting people from all across the globe. It’s loved for its impressive lineups of famous singers from all genres, jaw-dropping performances, and fantastic food and atmosphere. ACL isn’t just a festival, it’s a unifying experience that mixes world-class performances with Austin’s legendary food scene, laid-back vibe, and sense of community. With the festival just days away, it’s important to be prepared and know what you’re in for. With that being said, here’s what to know about ACL Music Festival 2025.

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Kokos Bavarian and Mama Fried by Nathan Zucker for ACL Fest

What To Bring

ACL can be strict about what you can and cannot bring, so always double-check what you pack in your bag.

According to their website, here’s some of what they allow (more details on site): Small clutch purses and fanny packs that are 6″ x 9″, empty water bottles and hydration packs, baby strollers, binoculars, blankets, sheets, towels, sunscreen in non-aerosol containers, small empty misting fans, pharmacy labeled and prescribed medicines, and portable battery packs.

Some of the things that they prohibit include professional cameras, selfie sticks, coolers, hammocks, fireworks, e-cigs, and more.

A general, safe recommendation of what to bring would be your wallet, phone, portable charger, refillable empty water bottle, sunscreen, and sunglasses.

Getting To & Entering The Festival

ACL festival has three entrances: the north, east, and west of Zilker.

The gates are open noon to 10 pm on Fridays and 11 am to 10 pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

To get to the north, you can use the pedestrian bridge under MoPac to reach the festival’s Lady Bird Entrance. To get to the east and west, you can approach them using Barton Springs Road.

Parking and transportation can be tricky in Austin since there’s no parking around Zilker or the surrounding neighborhoods and a lot of chaos around the park.

Planning a ride before can make all the difference with festivals like these. There are many ways to get to the park, but make sure to know that many roads around the festival– including Barton Springs Road, Stratford Drive, Lou Neff Road, and Toomey Road – will be closed to traffic. A few options are taking a shuttle or bus, walking or biking if you’re staying nearby, or rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft.

Free shuttles will pick you up at 11:30 am at Sand Beach Park, drop you at the Barton Springs west festival entrance, and pick you back up at that exact spot when you’re ready to leave.

If you plan to walk or bike, you can get to the festival via the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail.

For Uber and Lyft, the easiest way to get a ride is to schedule a pickup and drop-off at least a day before you plan to go, since ACL weekends are some of the busiest the drivers are all year. If you do not schedule one and want to find one on the spot, get in a pickup zone shown on the app and type “Austin City Limits Music Festival” or “Zilker Park” into the app as your destination. This will update your drop-off to the nearest drop-off point around the festival. Pickup and drop-off points are typically located under the MoPac Pedestrian Bridge at Veterans Drive, Lee Barton Drive, and Wallingwood Drive.

The Lineup

The festival runs for two weekends– the first from October 3-5 and the second from October 10-12.

Among other prominent artists, both weekends feature headliners such as Luke Combs, Sabrina Carpenter, and originally Doja Cat, who The Killers replaced.

There are over nine stages and 100+ performances featuring a wide range of music from pop, rock, and country to EDM and indie.

The lineup also includes popular artists like Cage the Elephant, Empire of the Sun, the Backseat Lovers, and John Summit.

Some artists play for only 15 minutes, while headliners can play up to two hours.

For more information on the lineup schedule, visit the official website. For more artist details, read our Ultimate Artist Guide to ACL Music Festival 2025.

Where To Eat & Get Water

Between ACL’s “Big Tent” and “Tito’s Stage,” you can find ACL Eats, the main spot for food and drinks at the festival. This area is packed with local favorites and diverse options, offering everything from ice-cold beverages to hearty meals that can keep you fueled throughout the day. Whether you’re craving authentic Texas barbecue, a street taco, homemade pizza or savory German sausages with sauerkraut, ACL Eats has it all.

The festival also has an ACL Sweets section near the Lady Bird and Bonus Track stages, featuring local dessert vendors like Amy’s Ice Creams, Bananarchy, and Tiff’s Treats, offering sweets such as ice cream, snow cones, and cookies. With the smell of sweets drifting through the air and crowds gathering to grab their favorites, ACL Sweets turns dessert into its own event, adding a playful and delicious element to the festival.

For more dining information read our Ultimate Dining Guide to ACL Music Festival 2025 and Where to Eat and Drink Near ACL Music Festival 2025 guide.

Final Thoughts

Austin City Limits is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that encapsulates Austin’s eclectic vibe, fantastic food scene, and love for all types of music.

Every little part of the festival– the performances, food, songs, and unified community offers something unique.

The amazing energy, the unspoken bond of uniting through music, and the vivid atmosphere have kept ACL a highlight of Austin for over two decades.

With the proper preparation and knowledge of the event, ACL can be the highlight of your year. Pack smart, get there early, and soak in the music, food, and energy only Austin City Limits can deliver.

Joanie Sanders

Joanie is from Houston, Texas, and is a junior year journalism major at the University of Texas at Austin. She loves animals, music and exploring different events around the Houston and Austin areas. She has a passion for writing and loves spending time with her friends and family in her free time.