ACL Weekend 1 features Charli xcx, Skrillex, Lorde, RÜFÜS DU SOL, The xx, Twenty One Pilots and the latest festival updates.The acl lineup 2026 weekend 1 has brought some of the biggest names in pop, rock, electronic music and alternative music to Austin’s Zilker Park as Austin City Limits Music Festival celebrates its 25th anniversary. Weekend One runs from October 2 through October 4, with Charli xcx, Skrillex, Lorde, RÜFÜS DU SOL, Twenty One Pilots and The xx among the major acts scheduled across the three-day event.
The festival is already underway, and weather has become one of the biggest talking points surrounding the opening weekend. Heavy rain has left parts of Zilker Park muddy, but organizers have continued with the event while encouraging attendees to prepare for wet conditions.
When Is ACL Festival Weekend One 2026?
Austin City Limits Music Festival’s first weekend takes place from Friday, October 2, through Sunday, October 4, 2026.
The festival is being held at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas, and gates are scheduled to operate from noon until 10 p.m. each day.
The second weekend follows one week later, running October 9 through October 11.
ACL’s 25th-anniversary edition features more than 100 performances across nine stages, creating a large mix of established headliners, alternative acts, electronic artists, emerging performers and Austin-based musicians.
Who Is Headlining ACL Weekend One?
Weekend One has a different combination of major closing acts each night, giving attendees several significant choices when planning their schedules.
Friday, October 2: Charli xcx and Skrillex
Friday begins the weekend with two of the most recognizable names in contemporary pop and electronic music.
Charli xcx is scheduled to close the American Express Stage, while Skrillex takes the T-Mobile Stage later in the evening.
Skrillex is particularly notable because he is the exclusive Friday headliner for Weekend One. Fans attending the first weekend therefore get a performance that is not part of the corresponding Weekend Two schedule.
Friday’s lineup also includes Turnstile, Labrinth, The Chainsmokers, Leon Thomas, Brandon Flowers, Steve Aoki, Amyl and the Sniffers, LP, Paris Paloma, Jesse Welles, CMAT, BUNT., Molly Santana and numerous additional performers.
The combination gives Friday a strong emphasis on pop, electronic music and alternative rock.
Saturday, October 3: Lorde and RÜFÜS DU SOL
Saturday features one of the weekend’s most significant scheduling clashes.
Lorde is scheduled to headline the T-Mobile Stage, while RÜFÜS DU SOL closes the American Express Stage.
Both performances take place during the final part of the night, meaning fans hoping to experience both sets will have to make a choice or divide their time between the two stages.
Saturday’s supporting lineup includes Bleachers, Lola Young, Young Miko, Lykke Li, Levity, Suki Waterhouse, Finn Wolfhard, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Ryan Beatty, Palace, Snow Strippers and Balu Brigada.
With electronic, indie, pop, rock and Latin sounds represented, Saturday offers one of the weekend’s broadest genre mixes.
Sunday, October 4: The xx and Twenty One Pilots
Sunday brings the festival to its Weekend One conclusion with another simultaneous headliner situation.
The xx and Twenty One Pilots are both scheduled for 8:30 p.m., with the artists performing on separate major stages.
Sunday’s lineup also includes The War on Drugs, Parcels, Blood Orange, SOFI TUKKER, Geese, Saint Motel, Cannons, Max McNown, Audrey Hobert, Claire Rosinkranz, Noga Erez, Fcukers and Dexter and the Moonrocks.
The closing night therefore combines indie rock, alternative music, electronic sounds and pop-rock in a packed schedule.
ACL Weekend One Friday Schedule
Friday’s programming starts shortly after noon and gradually builds toward the headline performances.
Among the early performers are The 4411, Asleep at the Wheel, Hunx and His Punx, Faouzia, Elle Coves, Night Traveler and Solomon Hicks.
As the afternoon progresses, fans can see acts including CMAT, Paris Paloma, LP, Jesse Welles, Amyl and the Sniffers and Brandon Flowers.
The evening becomes especially busy with:
- Turnstile
- Labrinth
- Leon Thomas
- The Chainsmokers
- Steve Aoki
- Skrillex
- Charli xcx
One of the attractions of ACL’s multi-stage format is that several artists perform simultaneously, so visitors can build completely different experiences depending on their musical preferences.
Saturday’s Major Performances
Saturday starts with a wide range of artists before moving toward the two headline performances.
Early and afternoon options include Finn Wolfhard, Suki Waterhouse, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Young Miko, Balu Brigada, Arcy Drive and Ryan Beatty.
Later in the day, the schedule becomes increasingly crowded.
Bleachers and Lola Young are among the major evening choices, while Lykke Li and Levity lead into the final stretch.
The night ultimately reaches its biggest conflict with Lorde and RÜFÜS DU SOL performing at almost the same time.
For fans planning around Saturday’s schedule, choosing a preferred headline set ahead of time can make moving between stages easier.
Sunday’s Closing-Day Lineup
Sunday provides another full day of performances before the first weekend ends.
The early portion of the schedule includes artists such as The Moriah Sisters, Flight by Nothing, Calder Allen, Dexter and the Moonrocks, Claire Rosinkranz, underscores and Audrey Hobert.
The afternoon and evening schedule then brings larger names into the spotlight.
Geese, SOFI TUKKER, Parcels, Blood Orange, The War on Drugs, Saint Motel and Cannons are among the performers appearing before the final headline sets.
At 8:30 p.m., The xx and Twenty One Pilots take their respective stages for the final major performances of Weekend One.
Which Artists Are Exclusive to Weekend One?
A key difference between the two ACL weekends is that the artist schedules are not identical.
Some performers appear during only one of the two weekends, making the choice of weekend important for fans with specific artists in mind.
For Weekend One, notable exclusive names include Skrillex, Brandon Flowers, Rebecca Black, Asleep at the Wheel, Palace, Cannons and underscores.
Skrillex is the biggest difference among the top-billed artists. Weekend Two instead features Kings of Leon as its exclusive Friday headliner.
Fans should therefore check the individual weekend schedule rather than assuming that every artist will perform during both weekends.
Weather Creates a Major Challenge for ACL Weekend One
Weather has been a significant factor since Weekend One began.
Rain moved through Austin around the festival’s opening, leaving parts of Zilker Park covered in mud and standing water. The conditions created a very different environment from the typical sunny festival experience associated with Austin.
Organizers continued with the festival, although Friday’s opening was briefly delayed as rain fell around the time attendees were arriving.
The wet conditions mean comfortable footwear is particularly important. Festivalgoers should also protect phones, cameras and other electronic equipment from rain.
The official festival guidance emphasizes preparing for the weather, and umbrellas are prohibited inside the festival grounds.
Because conditions can change, attendees should check the latest official festival announcements before traveling to Zilker Park each day.
How to Watch ACL Festival From Home
People who cannot attend Austin City Limits in person can still watch selected Weekend One performances.
The official festival livestream is available through Disney+ and Hulu for subscribers, with coverage running throughout October 2–4.
The livestream features selected performances rather than every artist appearing at the festival.
Among the performers included in the published Weekend One streaming schedule are Charli xcx, Skrillex, Brandon Flowers, Turnstile, Leon Thomas, The Chainsmokers, Lorde, RÜFÜS DU SOL, Twenty One Pilots, The xx, Blood Orange, The War on Drugs and Parcels.
The streaming schedule uses two channels, allowing viewers to follow different performances throughout the afternoon and evening.
For fans outside Austin, the livestream provides one of the easiest ways to experience the 25th-anniversary festival without attending Zilker Park.
Why the 2026 Festival Is Special
The 2026 edition marks 25 years of Austin City Limits Music Festival.
That anniversary is reflected in the scale and diversity of the lineup. The festival continues the tradition of combining major international performers with emerging artists and musicians connected to Austin’s local music scene.
Weekend One includes performers working across pop, punk, rock, R&B, hip-hop, electronic music, indie, Latin music and singer-songwriter styles.
Local Austin artists also have prominent opportunities throughout the weekend, including performers such as Asleep at the Wheel, The 4411, Grocery Bag, DJ Cassandra, Coleman Jennings, The Moriah Sisters, Flight by Nothing and Calder Allen.
That balance between major touring names and local talent remains an important part of the festival’s identity.
Important Tips for ACL Weekend One Attendees
Anyone heading to Zilker Park during the remaining Weekend One schedule should prepare for both crowds and changing weather.
A few practical considerations can make the experience easier:
Prepare for Mud
Recent rain has left portions of the festival grounds muddy. Waterproof or water-resistant footwear can be more useful than regular festival shoes.
Protect Electronics
Phones are essential for schedules, payments and communication, so keeping devices inside a waterproof pouch or protected pocket is a smart precaution.
Allow Extra Travel Time
Traffic, pedestrian congestion and weather can all affect arrival times around Zilker Park. Visitors should avoid cutting arrival too close to the beginning of their favorite performance.
Plan Stage Changes
Because multiple stages operate at once, moving from one side of the festival to another can take time. A realistic schedule is generally easier to follow than attempting to see every act.
Use the Official Schedule
Set times can be important, particularly for major performances. Fans should check the official festival schedule for the latest information before each day.
Biggest Schedule Conflicts to Watch
The acl lineup 2026 weekend 1 presents several major clashes that could force fans to choose between artists.
Friday’s closing period puts Charli xcx and Skrillex in the spotlight at separate stages.
Saturday’s major conflict comes when Lorde and RÜFÜS DU SOL perform during the same late-evening period.
Sunday closes with The xx and Twenty One Pilots both scheduled for 8:30 p.m.
These overlaps are typical of large multi-stage festivals, but they can be especially noticeable when two highly anticipated performers are scheduled simultaneously.
What Comes After Weekend One?
After the first three days conclude on October 4, Austin City Limits Music Festival returns to Zilker Park for its second weekend from October 9 through October 11.
The second weekend features many returning performers but also has notable differences in its lineup.
For people following Weekend One, the immediate focus remains on the final performances Sunday and the continuing weather and operational updates around the festival grounds.
ACL’s 25th-anniversary celebration is therefore unfolding as a two-weekend event with a changing mix of artists, weather conditions and live performances.
Final Thoughts
ACL Weekend One combines major international headliners with emerging performers and Austin talent across three days at Zilker Park. Charli xcx, Skrillex, Lorde, RÜFÜS DU SOL, The xx and Twenty One Pilots headline the most anticipated portions of the schedule, while the supporting lineup offers dozens of additional choices for fans across different genres.
With rain and muddy conditions affecting the opening day, preparation is just as important as choosing which stage to visit. Fans attending in person should monitor festival updates, dress appropriately and leave enough time to move between performances.
Which ACL Weekend One artist are you most excited to see? Share your pick and keep checking back for the latest festival updates.