Austin hosts some of the biggest festivals in the United States — and this guide covers them all. From the massive cultural collision that is SXSW to the world-class ACL Music Festival, from Formula 1 racing at Circuit of The Americas to 1.5 million bats erupting from under a bridge — there’s a festival for just about everything here. If you’re searching for the biggest festivals in Austin, you’re in the right place. This is a city that throws a party for hot sauce, kites, and armadillos. And every single one of them has live music, because this is Austin.
This complete guide to Austin festivals covers every major festival and event in Austin for 2026, organized month by month. Whether you’re planning a trip around one of Austin’s biggest events or just trying to figure out what’s happening while you’re in town, this is your go-to Austin festivals calendar. One piece of advice — book your hotel early for the big ones. Seriously. ACL and SXSW will empty every room in the city.
Austin’s Biggest Festivals at a Glance
These are the biggest events in Austin that draw massive crowds and sell out hotels weeks (or months) in advance. If you’re planning around any of these, book accommodation early.
- SXSW — March 12–18 (40th anniversary in 2026)
- Rodeo Austin — March 14–28
- Moontower Comedy Festival — April 8–19
- Austin Reggae Fest — April 17–19
- Austin City Limits Music Festival — October 2–4 & 9–11
- Austin Film Festival — October (dates TBA)
- Formula 1 United States Grand Prix — October 23–25
- Trail of Lights — December (dates TBA)
- Armadillo Christmas Bazaar — December
January
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Free Week
Where: Red River Cultural District | When: First weekend in January
The year kicks off with Free Week — local Austin bands performing free concerts at venues across the Red River Cultural District. It runs over 4 days and it’s the perfect way to discover new music without spending a dime. Well, you’ll spend money on beer. But the music is free.
February
Austin Marathon
Where: Downtown Austin | When: February 15, 2026
Run through downtown Austin on a course that takes you past landmarks galore and finishes in front of the Capitol Building. There’s a full marathon, a half marathon, and a 5K — so no excuses. Even if you’re not running, grab a coffee and cheer on the lunatics who voluntarily run 26.2 miles in Texas.
Austin Oyster Festival
Where: Republic Square | Web: austinoysterfestival.com
Oysters cooked just about every way imaginable, cold drinks to wash them down, and live music. Everyone knows oysters are an aphrodisiac so a good time is pretty much guaranteed back at your hotel afterwards.
Carnaval Brasileiro
Where: Venue changes year to year | Web: sambaparty.com
Dance with wild abandon at the biggest Carnaval celebration outside of Brazil. The colour. The costumes. The energy. You can’t beat Carnaval, and this is the best you can get without flying to Rio. It’s one of Austin’s most spectacular events and one of the biggest cultural celebrations in Texas.
OUTsider Festival
Where: Various locations | When: February 18–22, 2026 | Web: outsiderfest.org
A provocative LGBTQ+ creative explosion of film, dance, music, theatre, performance art, writing, and visual media. OUTsider is where the queer community meets, collaborates, and creates. It’s one of the most progressive multi-arts festivals in the country.
March
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March is when Austin really starts to show off. Two of the biggest events in Austin happen this month — SXSW and Rodeo Austin — and both will pack out every hotel in the city. Book early or you’ll be sleeping in your car.
Rodeo Austin
Where: Travis County Expo Center | When: March 14–28, 2026 | Web: rodeoaustin.com
One of the biggest professional rodeos in North America. Top rodeo athletes from around the world compete over two weeks of action, with a carnival, fair, and live music every single night. If you want to get picked up by a cowpoke, ridden by a bull rider, bag a barrel racer, or go cowgirl on a cowboy then Rodeo Austin is the place to be. This is one of Austin’s major events so hotels fill up fast — book well in advance.
St Patrick’s Day Festival
Where: Jourdan-Bachman Pioneer Farms | Web: stpatricksdayaustin.com
Everything Irish. River dancin’, fiddle playin’, stout drinkin’ — what more could you ask for? This family-friendly celebration of everything Irish will bring out the Leprechaun in anyone who’s even the slightest bit Irish. And on St Patrick’s Day, everyone’s a little bit Irish.
SXSW — South by Southwest
Where: Downtown Austin, South Congress, venues citywide | When: March 12–18, 2026 | Web: sxsw.com
The mother of all festivals. SXSW is the biggest creative industry event in the world — a conference, music festival, film festival, and comedy festival all running simultaneously for 7 days. In 2026, SXSW celebrates its 40th anniversary with a reimagined format that brings all four festivals together for the first time. Expect 4,400+ musicians performing across 300+ showcases, 375+ film screenings, and 850+ conference sessions with speakers from tech, music, film, gaming, and beyond.
SXSW has grown into one of the biggest events in Austin — a genuine global phenomenon that draws visitors from every corner of the world. Every nice hotel in Austin will be booked up well in advance so book early if you don’t want to sleep in your car. Flatstock (the poster art expo) will always have a place in my heart.
April
April is absolutely stacked. Between the Kite Fest, Reggae Fest, Eeyore’s Birthday, Moontower Comedy, the Blues Festival, and the Lonestar Round Up, this might be the single best month for festivals in Austin. The weather’s gorgeous too.
ABC Kite Fest
Where: Zilker Park | When: April 4, 2026 | Web: abckitefest.org
Go fly a kite. Spring is kite-flying time, and ABC Kite Fest is the place to do it. This family-friendly festival has been running for more than 90 years — making it one of the oldest festivals in Austin and the oldest kite festival in the country. In addition to the kite competition, Kite Fest also includes Mossfest, the popular children’s music festival.
Eeyore’s Birthday Party
Where: Pease Park | When: April 25, 2026
One of Austin’s weirdest and most beloved traditions. Eeyore’s Birthday is a free, all-ages celebration that’s been going since 1963 — decades before “Keep Austin Weird” was a bumper sticker. There are drum circles, costumes, face painting, live music, and a general atmosphere of joyful chaos. It’s free. It’s bizarre. It’s one of the most Austin things that exists. The 2026 party marks its 61st year.
Austin Reggae Fest
Where: Auditorium Shores | When: April 17–19, 2026 | Web: austinreggaefest.com
Put a tea cozy on your head, fire up the good vibes, and head to Auditorium Shores for 3 days of reggae. Reggae Fest is the biggest reggae festival in the Southwest and has raised over $1 million for the Central Texas Food Bank, so you’re supporting a great cause while you groove. The lineup includes world music and dub alongside some top reggae acts. It’s one of Austin’s best feel-good events.
Moontower Comedy Festival
Where: Paramount Theatre + 10 downtown venues | When: April 8–19, 2026 | Web: austintheatre.org/moontower-comedy
Two weeks of funny. Moontower is one of the biggest comedy festivals in North America, bringing a comedy onslaught to downtown Austin every April. Headliners perform at the historic Paramount Theatre while the Club Series sends you bouncing between 10+ venues within walking distance. The 2026 lineup features Marc Maron, Leslie Jones, Kathy Griffin, and dozens more. With Austin’s comedy scene growing rapidly, the lineups keep getting more impressive. Don’t sleep on the up-and-coming talent — some of today’s biggest names were Moontower unknowns a few years ago.
Lonestar Round Up
Where: Travis County Expo Center | Web: lonestarroundup.com
The Lonestar Round Up is a car show. A massive car show. And because it’s Austin, there’s live music too. If you love vintage hot rods and sweet custom rides, this is heaven. Held at the Travis County Expo Center, it’s less than a half-hour drive from any downtown Austin hotel.
Austin Blues Festival
Where: Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park | When: April 25–26, 2026 | Web: austinbluesfestival.com
Presented by Antone’s Nightclub and Waterloo Greenway, the Austin Blues Festival is a two-day celebration of blues, funk, and soul music at the beautiful Moody Amphitheater. The 2026 lineup features Parliament Funkadelic ft. George Clinton, BADBADNOTGOOD, Eric Johnson, and Larkin Poe. This festival traces its roots back to 1999 when the legendary Clifford Antone first hosted blues hall-of-famers like Buddy Guy and Ray Charles at Waterloo Park. A portion of proceeds benefit Waterloo Greenway Conservancy.
Fusebox Festival
Where: Downtown Austin | Web: fuseboxfestival.com
Fusebox is a celebration of live performance of almost every kind — from spoken word to interpretive dance. It now runs on a biennial schedule, so check the website for 2026 dates.
May
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Austin Psych Fest
Where: The Far Out Lounge, South Austin | When: May 8–10, 2026 | Web: levitation.fm
Austin Psych Fest is the original psychedelic rock festival, returning to its intimate roots at The Far Out Lounge with a two-stage outdoor setup. The 2026 edition features The Flaming Lips, The Black Angels performing their debut album Passover for its 20th anniversary, and Thee Sacred Souls. Founded by members of The Black Angels in 2008, this festival honors Austin’s psychedelic rock heritage dating back to the 13th Floor Elevators. Three days of mind-expanding music in South Austin — it’s a beautiful thing.
Cine Las Americas International Film Festival
Where: Theatres around Austin
Films made by or about Latinos, and indigenous people from around the Americas. Expand your horizons and see a little more of the world without leaving Austin. This festival consistently delivers powerful storytelling you won’t find in the mainstream.
Hot Luck Festival
Where: Various venues | When: Memorial Day weekend | Web: hotluckfest.com
Food and music. Need we say more? Hot Luck Festival was created by brisket legend Aaron Franklin and features innovative food from top chefs alongside great live music. Held over Memorial Day weekend, it’s one of Austin’s premier food events and a must for anyone who takes eating seriously. And in Austin, everyone takes eating seriously.
Pecan Street Spring Arts Festival
Where: Bee Cave (formerly 6th Street) | Web: pecanstreetfestival.org
Handmade art in metal, stone, glass, leather, and wood — the Pecan Street Festival showcases local and national artists, and because it’s Austin there’s live music and food trucks too. Note: the festival recently moved from its longtime home on 6th Street to a new location in Bee Cave.
June
ATX Television Festival
Where: Downtown Austin | Web: atxfestival.com
TV for all y’all. The ATX Television Festival is 50% focused on TV viewers and 50% on the industry. There are screenings of new shows with cast Q&As, never-before-seen pilots that didn’t make it to air, and cancelled-too-soon favorites given a proper farewell. This festival celebrates everything about television and it’s a great time whether you’re a casual viewer or an industry insider.
Austin Asian American Film Festival
Where: Venues across Austin | Web: aaafilmfest.org
A carefully curated selection of short and feature-length films from Asia and Asian American filmmakers. Get out and broaden your worldview — you’ll see stories told from perspectives you won’t find in mainstream cinema.
July
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Fourth of July Fireworks and Symphony
Where: Auditorium Shores
Free live music from the Austin Symphony followed by fireworks over Lady Bird Lake. Food vendors open from 4pm, the concert starts at 8pm, and fireworks light up the sky from 9:30 to 10pm. These fireworks are spectacular from the park but they’re also magnificent from a hotel balcony overlooking the lake.
August
August is hot as hell in Austin. But that doesn’t stop the city from throwing some of the year’s biggest parties. Between hot sauce, bats, and Pride, this month brings the heat in every sense.
Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival
Where: Fiesta Gardens
What started as a small hot sauce contest is now the biggest hot sauce competition in the world. More than 10,000 visitors come to sample 350+ different sauces. This festival is pure fire. If you want to spice things up — and by that I mean destroy your taste buds and spend the next two days questioning your life choices — it’s a must do.
Austin Pride Parade & Festival
Where: Downtown Austin / Congress Avenue | Web: austinpride.org
There are two ways to destroy your asshole in Austin in August. If the Hot Sauce Festival didn’t do it then the festivities after the Pride Parade just might. Austin Pride is one of the biggest Pride celebrations in the South, with a giant parade down Congress Avenue and some truly spectacular parties afterwards. It’s a huge, joyful, loud, and proudly Austin event.
Bat Fest
Where: Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge
Get out your bat costume and head to Congress Avenue Bridge for Bat Fest. This celebration of the biggest urban bat colony on Earth draws 12,000+ people to watch 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats take flight at sunset. There’s live music on 3 stages, 100+ art and food vendors, and a costume contest. The bats typically emerge between 7:00 and 8:45pm — the exact time depends on their mood. Please do not eat the bats. Thank you.
Prism Film Festival (aGLIFF)
Where: Venues across Austin
Run by aGLIFF (All Genders, Lifestyles and Identities Film Festival), Prism is one of the most inclusive film festivals in the world — showing films by, for, and about all genders, lifestyles, and identities. It’s a celebration of queer cinema at its finest.
Capital City Black Film Festival
Where: Austin Convention Center
Celebrate everything great about Black filmmakers. This is one of the best film festivals around with a huge array of films from drama to horror. No crappy sequels or remakes of remakes — these are quality original films that’ll make you laugh, cry, scare the livin’ shit out of you, or just flat out entertain you.
Hot Summer Nights
Where: Red River Cultural District
Hot Summer Nights is a free music festival in downtown Austin’s Red River District. Bands play at venues throughout the area while food trucks line the streets. It’s a great way to discover new music over 4 days in August. Free music in August? In Austin? Yeah, it doesn’t get more Austin than that.
September
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Fantastic Fest
Where: Theatres around Austin | Web: fantasticfest.com
Fantastic Fest is all about supporting film in its most provocative, groundbreaking, and underseen forms. It’s hands down the most fun film festival in Austin and one of the biggest genre film festivals in the world. Past premieres include Zombieland, John Wick, and There Will Be Blood. If you love movies that push boundaries, Fantastic Fest is your people.
LEVITATION
Where: Red River Cultural District | When: September 10–13, 2026 | Web: levitation.fm
LEVITATION is one of the most interesting music festivals anywhere. It’s a beautifully curated selection of psychedelic rock, garage bands, and post-punk — a super interesting mix of stunningly talented musicians a little outside the mainstream. The festival takes over multiple venues in the Red River Cultural District for 4 days of mind-bending music. You can get a feel for what to expect by watching past performances at levitation.fm/live. This is a great festival and you need to be there, so find a cheap hotel and book yourself in.
Pecan Street Fall Arts Festival
Where: Bee Cave (formerly 6th Street) | Web: pecanstreetfestival.org
The fall installment of the Pecan Street Arts Festival. Artists sell all manner of beautifully made objects while musicians play, chefs cook, and drinks flow. Like the spring edition, the festival has moved from its longtime home on 6th Street to Bee Cave.
Texas Tribune Festival
Where: Downtown Austin | Web: festival.texastribune.org
Some festivals are fun, and then there’s the Texas Tribune Festival. Politics, policy, and news. If you like people in suits telling you what to do this could be your thing. I know it’s somebody’s idea of a good time but honestly it’s not mine. That said, if you’re into politics, this is one of the biggest political festivals in the country.
October
October is the biggest month for events in Austin. ACL, the Formula 1 Grand Prix, Austin Film Festival, LEVITATION, Old Settler’s Music Festival, and more all draw huge crowds. Hotels sell out fast — book accommodation early or you’ll be stuck on a friend’s couch.
Austin City Limits Music Festival
Where: Zilker Park | When: October 2–4 & 9–11, 2026 | Web: aclfestival.com
Six days of music. Over 140 acts. Nine stages. ACL is one of the biggest music festivals on the planet and a true Austin institution — celebrating its 25th year in 2026. People travel from every corner of the globe to attend this festival at Zilker Park. If you can’t go, at least get the t-shirt. The lineup spans every genre from indie-rock and country to EDM and hip-hop. Every hotel near downtown will be booked solid for both weekends.
Austin Film Festival
Where: Paramount Theatre + other venues | Web: austinfilmfestival.com
Austin Film Festival encompasses 8 days of screenings and a 4-day writers’ conference. It’s grown rapidly in prestige and is now recognized as one of the major film festivals in America — especially for screenwriters and storytellers. If you love great cinema and want to be in the room where the next generation of filmmakers are breaking through, this is the place.
Formula 1 United States Grand Prix
Where: Circuit of The Americas (COTA) | When: October 23–25, 2026
Yeehaw — once a year Formula 1 racing comes to Austin. The United States Grand Prix is one of the biggest sporting events in Austin and your chance to see the pinnacle of world motorsport live. The best drivers in the world. The most advanced cars on the planet. COTA goes all out with live music, immersive fan villages, and top-tier culinary experiences alongside the racing action.
The Formula 1 race brings a lot of wealthy people to Austin and 5 Star Hotels tend to book out well in advance, for at least a week either side of the race. Book early.
Old Settler’s Music Festival
Where: Tilmon, about an hour from Austin | Web: oldsettlersmusicfest.org
Four days of camping and American Roots music. Over 16,000 fans. Old Settler’s is Austin’s biggest roots music festival and one of the best in the country. It’s managed to grow without losing its soul — a genuine grassroots festival led by a team more passionate about the music than the money, and it shows. A true family-safe festival that’s worth traveling from anywhere in the world for if you’re a fan of roots music.
Texas Book Festival
Where: Texas State Capitol Grounds
If you love books and talking about books then you’re gonna love Book Fest. It’s all about connecting authors and readers and encouraging a love of reading. A great place to get your book signed by the author and discover your next favorite read. The Capitol grounds make for a beautiful backdrop.
Texas Craft Brewers Festival
Where: Fiesta Gardens | Web: texascraftbrewersfestival.org
Craft beer, food trucks, and live music. You know you’re gonna have a good time. It’s organized and run by the Texas Craft Brewers Guild for the Texas craft brewing community. But everyone’s welcome to drink.
Viva La Vida Festival & Parade
Where: Congress Avenue (Parade) & 4th Street (Festival) | Web: mexic-artemuseum.org
Who doesn’t love Day of the Dead? Celebrate with Austin’s Mexican community at the Viva La Vida Festival. After the parade there’s lowriders, traditional food, and music. It’s a vibrant, colourful celebration of Mexican heritage and culture right in the heart of downtown.
iHeartCountry Festival
Where: Moody Center
Some of the biggest names in country music perform at the iHeartCountry Festival. Bring your boots, your hat, and a smile. This is one of the biggest country music events in Austin and draws major headliners every year.
November
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Austin Celtic Festival
Where: Pioneer Farms, North Austin | Web: austincelticfestival.com
Celtic music, Celtic dancing, Celtic animals, Highland games, Scotch tastings, Celtic history. It’s basically a celebration of everything Celtic. You do not have to be Celtic to attend the festival, but your dog does. There are no pets allowed, sorry — just a parade of Celtic animal breeds. If you’ve got a Celtic dog, enter it in the parade.
Austin Food & Wine Festival
Where: Auditorium Shores | Web: austinfoodandwinefestival.com
Sample food from top Austin chefs and taste wine and spirits from Austin and around the world. Watch cooking demonstrations and get delightfully drunk one taster at a time. This event is a must for anyone who loves great food and wine — it’s one of the biggest food festivals in Texas.
Texas Monthly BBQ Festival
Where: Long Center lawn
The confusingly named Texas Monthly BBQ Fest is in fact only held once a year. Which is unfortunate as it’s so good I’d go every month. Texas Monthly magazine invites the “Top 50 BBQ Joints in Texas” to cook up a feast on the lawn of the Long Center for the Performing Arts. It’s one of the biggest BBQ events in Texas and possibly the most delicious afternoon you can have in Austin.
If you love BBQ this is a must-visit event. But don’t worry — Austin has plenty of great barbecue all year round, so you won’t go hungry if you miss the festival.
Austin Area Jazz Festival
Where: Various venues | Web: austinareajazzfestival.com
Two days of jazz from local and touring musicians. If you love jazz, this is your weekend in Austin.
December
December brings the holiday spirit — Austin style. That means art markets with bars, light shows with food trucks, and New Year’s fireworks over the lake.
Armadillo Christmas Bazaar
Where: Palmer Events Center | Web: armadillobazaar.com
Shop and stroll, rock and roll. Armadillo Christmas Bazaar is one of the biggest art markets in Texas and a beloved Austin tradition now in its 51st year. This is fine art — exhibitors have to apply to have a stall, so it’s not full of junk like so many “art” sales tend to be. Nearly 200 artists display original pieces alongside 9 days of live music and 2 bars (it’s easier to sell art if the buyers are a little drunk). This runs for 10 days leading up to Christmas and should be on the must-do list for locals and anyone visiting Austin at that time.
Trail of Lights
Where: Zilker Park | Web: austintrailoflights.org
Every December the Trail of Lights Foundation transforms Zilker Park with more than 2 million lights, glowing Christmas trees, and holiday scenes. It’s one of the biggest holiday light shows in Texas and a tradition going back to 1965. Trail of Lights is an awesome event and worth traveling to Austin for — it’s great for families and not a bad date night on a romantic couples weekend in Austin.
Austin’s New Year Celebration
Where: Auditorium Shores
The city celebrates New Year’s Eve in style with a free, family-friendly event at Auditorium Shores featuring 4 stages, 20+ bands, visual art, performers, and more. This alcohol-free event ends with fireworks at midnight — the perfect way to ring in the New Year in Austin. The fireworks are also incredible from a lakeside hotel room.
Last updated: March 2026