Welcome to your official ACL reminder! The Austin City Limits Festival 2025 buzz is real, and Weekend 1 is shaping up to be an absolute vibe. If you’re on the fence, consider this your official FOMO warning: you do not want to miss what’s coming to Zilker Park October 3–5. The lineup is stacked, the city will be alive, and the energy is going to be unmatched.

Let’s talk headliners. Hozier is bringing those haunting, gospel-tinged anthems and raw emotional storytelling to Austin, and his live sets always feel like a deeply cathartic communal moment. Then there’s Sabrina Carpenter. Her pop energy, infectious hooks, and dynamic stage presence are going to light up the park in a way that feels exciting and nostalgic. We’ll be sure to drink allllll her Espresso (and some bangers from her new album!). On top of that, Luke Combs will bring that real good, feel good, big, stomping country energy, giving us those sing-along moments you’ll want to be front and center for. And don’t sleep on Maren Morris. Her Texas roots, soulful voice, and genre-blending style make her set a can’t-miss moment, especially for Weekend 1. Modest Mouse will also be making their ACL return, delivering classic indie rock energy that feels perfect for twilight hour digging in deep and dancing like no one’s watching.

And because we’re absolutely here for the hype, let’s shine a spotlight on even more Weekend 1 gems that make ACL impossible to resist. We’re talking Doechii, who’s quickly becoming one of the fiercest voices in hip-hop, and we can already picture the energy in the crowd when she takes the stage. We have Cage the Elephant, Empire of the Sun, John Summit for you house hotties, T Pain, and SO many more. We could be here forever and only get through HALF of the wonderful artists who are going to be up on that stage.

Beyond the headliners, ACL is so much more than just a concert. It’s a full-on festival universe. Imagine wandering through Austin’s food vendor wonderland, grabbing local bites, and sipping on drinks under the skyline, then weaving through crowds who are stoked to be here and now. There are few things more magical than watching the sunset over Zilker Park, hearing those opening chords, and feeling the bass roll through your chest as you dance with people you just met and people you’ve known forever. Then there are the festival nights. After shows, Austin transforms into a whole city of after-hours gigs, so the party doesn’t stop when the main stage lights go down.

If you’re on the fence about going, listen: get your ticket and trust me. Weekend 1 is going to be full of big moments, surprise crowd singing, emotional highs, dance floor abandon, and those fleeting festival connections that stick with you forever. It’s not just about seeing great music. It’s about being in the energy, in the crowd, in the city, and in that uniquely ACL moment where everything just clicks. I can’t wait to see the field full, hear the roar when your favorite act hits the stage, and soar through three days of Austin magic. If you’re not coming, I’ll see you next year—just know, your FOMO will be real. ✨