Austin City Music Festival at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas on October 12, 2025. (Photo: Ralph Arvesen)
By Sunday night, the grass at Zilker Park was gone, the dust hung in the air, and more than 225,000 people had passed through the gates over three long, beautiful, chaotic days. Austin once again lived up to its claim as the Live Music Capital of the World, proving that few cities can match the blend of sound, spirit, and scene that defines the Austin City Limits Music Festival.
ACL Festival 2025 enjoyed mild but still demanding Texas weather. Daytime highs hovered near 93 degrees, manageable compared to 2024’s record-breaking 101, but still punishing after hours in the sun. Dust coated everything by Sunday afternoon, and many festivalgoers wore face masks as protection against allergies and haze. Hydration and safety remained priorities, with boxed water tossed into crowds and hydration stations never far away. Medical tents, staffed by Ascension Seton volunteers, stayed busy throughout the weekend, treating up to sixty patients per hour.
The nonprofit This Must Be The Place distributed free Narcan and educated festivalgoers about overdose prevention. The organization’s quiet work added an important layer of safety in a weekend filled with celebration.
Food was a highlight as always. Forty-six local and regional vendors filled the ACL Eats lineup, with most offering vegan or vegetarian options. Barton Springs Beer Hall was renamed to The Big Tent, and became a shaded haven where guests cooled off with pizza from Bambino while watching the Red River Showdown, with Texas defeated Oklahoma 23 - 6, adding another reason for the park to erupt in cheers that day.
This year's ACL Festival felt both familiar and significantly refreshed, particularly in the layout and sponsor presence. The grounds saw major signage changes, with the long running Honda Stage officially rebranded as the T-Mobile Stage, and the former T-Mobile platform renamed the Lady Bird Stage. The Beatbox Stage, once the small southernmost stage, gained new attention with its increasingly eclectic lineup.
Though the loss of the traditional Honda Retreat disappointed some regulars, sponsors quickly filled the void. T-Mobile took a sprawling footprint, offering massive Club Magenta lounges and essential portable charger rentals. Tito’s Vodka impressed festivalgoers with the Chillmaster5000, a massive walk-in fridge that doubled as a brand activation zone, complete with prizes and branded bandanas. Meanwhile, Miller Lite offered shaded games and cooling stations, and American Express continued to pamper cardholders with its privileged, shaded viewing decks.
While ACL 2025 scaled back some attractions, including the Wrangler Ranch and Coke Studio, new experiences filled the gap. Hacienda Patrón debuted its multi-level tequila lounge, and a mirror exhibit near Rock Island became one of the most photographed spots of the weekend. The festival’s family-friendly spirit endured. Austin Kiddie Limits offered crafts, dance lessons, and a drum zone for young attendees, while the Bonus Tracks Stage hosted drag shows, taco fests, and lively discussions that expanded the meaning of a music festival.
By the end of Sunday night, the skyline behind the stages glowed with city lights. The dust still hung in the air, shoes were ruined, and voices were gone, but no one wanted to leave. ACL Music Festival 2025 delivered what Austin does best, community, rhythm, and the sense that music still has the power to connect strangers under the same hot Texas sky.
Fan reviews:Sunday provided a spectacular finale, balancing massive electronic energy and show-stopping theatricality with powerful soul and intimate acoustic music. The day began with a mix of indie and nostalgia. Passion Pit packed the Tito’s Tent so tightly that the audience spilled beyond its edges. The band’s bright synth pop transported fans back to the early 2010s while still sounding alive and new. Their performance may have been too big for the tent, a sign they deserve a larger stage next time.
Amazing festival! great organization, multiple water stations and food options. It's a nice vibe, everyone is cool, polite and respectful. I felt very safe. I went solo both times and trust me, such a pleasant experience! got to know lots of new artists that I still till these days.
I look forward to attending ACL every year! Time and time again, ACL can bring amazing artists from many genres of music. From country, rock, pop, and rap to EDM, this festival appeals to the masses. Something I have appreciated is that they recruit up-and-coming artists who perform on smaller stages and allow them the audiences to one day be a potential superstar.
ACL is so special to me. It is in the heart of Austin, with the downtown skyline in the background and full of people who appreciate music. I highly recommend going at least once!
This year was my first time going to ACL and it was tremendous! From start to finish everything ran smoothly. What seemed to be extensive lines to enter moved quickly. There were several areas of refuge, water, medical, etc. for safety and well-being during the event. The crowds were enormous but still space to move around comfortably. The performers were amazing!
This was my first time going to ACL and I was pleased I got to secure my 3 day ticket as soon as they dropped. I went with friends and had a great time. Yes, it was a bit chaotic at times (food lines) and certain stage areas were extremely crowded. Beverages and food prices were questionable but folks need to eat and hydrate. I personally loved the credit card linked to wristband feature, made it super easy to purchase items and no worries about losing your physical credit card. Overall solid experience, would love to go again next year.
Everyone should go to ACL at least once! I go every year, but I'm bias, I just love live music and the vibe.
I've been attending this festival for years. I will even purchase tickets before I even know what artists will be playing. That's how confident I am that regardless of who'll be performing it'll be a good time. Each year there will be some popular headliners performing each day. Throughout the day there will be artists playing from open to close. It gives you a chance to discover new upcoming artists. There are some cool photo opportunities available throughout the park along with games to win some cool prizes.
As fun as it is dusty! In the past five years I have been to about 10 music festivals and this one has become my personal favorite as far as the lineup, the vibe, the location, the art, the food, the set up and layout.
Best event of this kind we have been to. So organized, plenty of restrooms, plenty of friendly upbeat staff, constantly removing garbage and recycle . Plenty of water everywhere, they were handing it out and it seemed impossible anyone would get dehydrated. Security good without being invasive, medical tents and hydration stations everywhere, and good swag.
Look forward to coming back! First time attending the festival and can’t wait to return. Friendly staff, clean grounds, easy to get there and depart, incredible line ups, and all in the heart of an awesome city!
At the American Express Stage, T-Pain turned the afternoon into a full-blown party. He mixed more than twenty songs, including “Buy U a Drank” and “Booty Wurk,” while spinning through club anthems that had fans shouting every lyric. He closed his set with “I’m On a Boat,” transforming Zilker Park into a sea of waving arms.
On the other main stage, The Killers delivered an explosive, confetti-filled headlining set. Brandon Flowers led the band through a career-spanning list of anthems, cementing their role as one of the most reliable and beloved live bands in rock. Adding to the day's highlights, John Summit kept the electronic energy soaring with his massive house tracks, while Colombian superstar FEID drew one of the most passionate crowds of the weekend, solidifying his massive global influence in Latin urban music.
Across the field, Gregory Alan Isakov created a completely different atmosphere. His gentle voice and poetic songs brought stillness to the evening. The Colorado-based singer turned a crowd of thousands into quiet listeners, each one caught in the soft rhythm of his melodies. It was a fitting, reflective close to a weekend otherwise defined by volume and movement.
Alex Amen
Alex Amen performing at the Austin City Music Festival at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas on October 12, 2025. (Photo: Ralph Arvesen)Alex Amen opened ACL’s Sunday with a set that felt both personal and expansive. Already known for his emotive songwriting and lush arrangements, Amen’s voice carried clearly across Zilker Park’s afternoon haze. He balanced piano-based ballads with fuller arrangements, letting the melodies breathe and letting the crowd lean in. By mid set, the stage lighting softened, the instruments thickened, and Amen’s emotional reach expanded. Listeners sang quietly along in the transitions. His appearance felt like a promise fulfilled: a songwriter stepping confidently into festival scale without losing intimacy.
Hans Williams
Hans Williams performing at the Austin City Music Festival at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas on October 12, 2025. (Photo: Ralph Arvesen)Hans Williams took the stage with quiet confidence and transparent songwriting. His songs carried with them Nashville polish, but his performance revealed something more grounded. He told stories between songs that felt spontaneous, creating rapport with listeners under the big sky. Musically his set moved between tender ballads and stronger hooks, building connection piece by piece. The crowd seemed pleasantly surprised by how much weight his voice and presence held at ACL. For many, his Sunday slot became a discovery moment.
Chezile
Chezile performing at the Austin City Music Festival at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas on October 12, 2025. (Photo: Ralph Arvesen)Chezile’s ACL set came with soulful ambition. They moved through song after song with a vocal blend that felt deliberate and earned. Their presence was grounded: they didn’t crash the stage, they claimed it. Their performance showed growth and confidence. Moments of subtle backup harmony, tight rhythm, and emotional reach made the set one of depth rather than spectacle. In the context of multiple genres converging, Chezile’s set stood out for its tone and clarity.
Ally Salort
Ally Salort performing at the Austin City Music Festival at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas on October 12, 2025. (Photo: Ralph Arvesen)Ally Salort’s ACL slot felt like the introduction many had been waiting for. Her voice rang clear and her melodies had an earworm quality that drew folks closer. In performance, she alternated tenderness with raised moments, never forced, always purposeful. She navigated the festival dynamics well. The transitions from lyric intimacy to full band passages were smooth. By the time her set closed, the sense among the audience was that they had not just heard a new voice, they had felt it.
Flowerovlove
Flowerovlove performing at the Austin City Music Festival at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas on October 12, 2025. (Photo: Ralph Arvesen)Flowerovlove’s festival moment on Sunday brought texture and emotional color. Their approach to performance is more about mood than flash, and that translated well under the afternoon light. Through layered instrumentation, subtle vocal turns, and careful pacing, their set invited listeners to sink into the sound. They gave space for the calm parts to land, then allowed the crescendos to carry weight. The crowd responded in kind, listening closely, catching small shifts, and cheering in recognition. Flowerovlove’s ACL performance felt like planting a stake: here is depth worthy of larger stages.
Anderson East
Anderson East performing at the Austin City Music Festival at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas on October 12, 2025. (Photo: Ralph Arvesen)Anderson East returned to ACL’s Sunday lineup with a set full of grit and soul. His voice carried both rasp and melody, bridging roots music with festival scale. From the first notes, he claimed the stage with presence and intention. His songs felt weathered yet hopeful, inviting listeners into feeling rather than spectacle. Between songs he leaned into storytelling, making each piece land with context and connection. For many, his set became a highlight of Sunday, not for flash, but for substance.
Julie
Julie performing at the Austin City Music Festival at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas on October 12, 2025. (Photo: Ralph Arvesen)Julie’s ACL performance felt precariously intimate in a sprawling festival environment. Her voice and arrangements leaned into minimalism at times, revealing strength in vulnerability. She didn’t rely on gimmicks; she relied on connection. Her delivery was direct. In quieter passages the audience leaned forward. In fuller moments they sang along. While she may not yet command mass attention, her set proved she has the tools to grow into festival spaces.
Hey, Nothing
Hey, Nothing performing at the Austin City Music Festival at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas on October 12, 2025. (Photo: Ralph Arvesen)Hey, Nothing’s appearance in ACL’s Sunday lineup brought moody indie energy. Their sonic palette leaned into atmospheric guitar, tension, and emotional weight. Onstage, they delivered with restraint and power. They paced their set smartly, letting ambient moments wash over the crowd before bringing in more force. The audience responded with slow builds and cheers when hooks collapsed into release. Their Sunday slot showed that indie rock sensibility still resonates strongly in big festival frames.
The Dare
The Dare performing at the Austin City Music Festival at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas on October 12, 2025. (Photo: Ralph Arvesen)The Dare stormed into Sunday with a set full of electric energy and indie sleaze confidence. Their performance felt like catharsis, urgent, messy, and fun. From riffs soaked in distortion to lyrics caught between earnest and ironic, they carved space at ACL. They pushed tempo and mood, alternating between rowdy peaks and slight breathing room. The crowd matched, bouncing forward when songs demanded it, holding when they begged for quiet. Their set was raw and packed punch.
Royal & The Serpent
Royal & The Serpent performing at the Austin City Music Festival at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas on October 12, 2025. (Photo: Ralph Arvesen)Royal & The Serpent delivered a high production, high personality set on ACL’s Sunday. Her blend of dark-pop, attitude, and theatrical flair made her performance one of visual and vocal command. She moved confidently across the stage, engaging with gesture, light, and audience. The music held its own: hooks landed, digital textures layered, and choruses reverberated through the crowd. In moments of vulnerability she let the voice carry alone; in others she unleashed full band power. Royal & The Serpent’s slot confirmed she belongs in festival conversation.
Supertaste
Supertaste performing at the Austin City Music Festival at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas on October 12, 2025. (Photo: Ralph Arvesen)Supertaste brought their lush, moody pop to Zilker Park on Sunday. Their sound offers texture, tension, and emotional nuance. Onstage they blended synth atmosphere with vocal clarity, giving listeners room to feel rather than overwhelm. Their set grew in momentum. Subtle opening pieces gave way to fuller arrangements. The crowd followed along, leaning into quieter lines, then rising at choruses. Supertaste’s ACL presence felt like a promise of more to come.
Rainbow Kitten Surprise
Rainbow Kitten Surprise performing at the Austin City Music Festival at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas on October 12, 2025. (Photo: Ralph Arvesen)Rainbow Kitten Surprise turned Zilker Park into a communal singalong, delivering the kind of raw, emotional indie rock that has made them a festival favorite. Their set moved seamlessly between cathartic anthems and intimate moments, with the crowd answering back on every chorus. The band’s chemistry was unmistakable: harmonies landed thick, guitar lines cut through the afternoon heat, and lead vocals carried both vulnerability and roar. The performance felt like a conversation between band and city, one that left many fans smiling and hushed in turns. Onstage, Rainbow Kitten Surprise paced their hour with care, giving room for the big singalong moments and the quieter songs that revealed lyrical depth. Visuals and staging stayed focused on the music rather than spectacle, which only amplified the emotional payoff when the crowd joined in. For many at ACL, the set confirmed the band’s gift for turning large fields into intimate rooms.
Wet Leg
Wet Leg performing at the Austin City Music Festival at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas on October 12, 2025. (Photo: Ralph Arvesen)Wet Leg made Weekend Two feel electric with a set that balanced cheeky humor and sharp songwriting. Lead vocals cut through the air with deadpan charm, and the band rode tight, punchy arrangements that translated perfectly to an outdoor festival setting. Their biggest moments landed as instant communal anthems, with bodies and voices moving as one across the park. The group took command of their time and left an impression on a big ACL crowd. Even in daytime glare, Wet Leg’s energy read as immediate and theatrical. The band mixed new material with crowd favorites, and transitions felt natural rather than forced. The result was a set that both satisfied longtime fans and welcomed newcomers into the fold.
Disco Lines
Disco Lines performing at the Austin City Music Festival at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas on October 12, 2025. (Photo: Ralph Arvesen)Disco Lines brought a DJ driven set that moved fluidly between house, nu disco, and pop remixes, turning one of ACL’s stages into a dance floor. His selections leaned into peak time energy while keeping a sense of play, and the crowd responded with constant motion rather than seated listening. The performance was a reminder that festival programming benefits from artists who can translate club momentum into open air joy. Onstage, Disco Lines read the room well, adjusting tempo and layering drops to build and release tension. Visual cues and well timed transitions amplified the music, creating moments that felt cinematic even without a traditional band setup. For fans who seek the late night club feeling inside a daytime festival, Disco Lines delivered.
CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso
CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso performing at the Austin City Music Festival at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas on October 12, 2025. (Photo: Ralph Arvesen)CA7RIEL and Paco Amoroso delivered one of ACL’s most theatrical and unpredictable sets, blending reggaeton, trap, and experimental pop into a high energy performance. The duo used humor and staging to engage the crowd, even projecting translated lyrics and subtitles to invite everyone into the moment. Their presence at ACL showed how playful performance and strong rhythmic drive can create immediate connection on a big festival stage. Musically, the set moved quickly between explosive anthems and more textured passages, with crowd chants and call and response punctuating the high points. The pair’s ability to merge theatrical elements with straightforward dance grooves made for one of the weekend’s most talked about moments. For attendees, it was a welcome jolt of international flavor and theatrical bravado.
The Bends
The Bends performing at the Austin City Music Festival at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas on October 12, 2025. (Photo: Ralph Arvesen)The Bends arrived with a tight, direct rock sound. Their performance emphasized guitar interplay, strong rhythms, and vocal grit. On a Sunday slot their clarity stood out. The stage felt full but never crowded; the energy remained focused. They moved through their set with purpose. Transitions were sharp, hooks struck hard. The crowd responded with engagement, singing along, reacting to dynamics. The Bends’ set at ACL confirmed that their rock lean translates well to festival scale.
FEID
FEID performing at the Austin City Music Festival at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas on October 12, 2025. (Photo: Ralph Arvesen)FEID ignited Sunday’s ACL with reggaeton heat and Latin pop energy. From the moment he stepped on the T-Mobile stage the park felt transformed: lights, crowd flags, chants, and dance moved together. He spun hits back to back, layering in stage visuals and rhythmic momentum. His set became a celebration. The audience sang every lyric, many waving Colombian flags. Between songs FEID engaged the crowd with shoutouts and movement. For Sunday evening, he brought both star power and cultural heartbeat to Zilker.
T-Pain
T-Pain performing at the Austin City Music Festival at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas on October 12, 2025. (Photo: Ralph Arvesen)T-Pain’s return to ACL Sunday delivered party energy and nostalgia in equal measure. He leaned into his catalog of hits, reinterpreting familiar songs with surprise and flair. The crowd bounced with every hook. He interacted playfully with fans, cracking jokes and switching up lines. The production behind him supported but never overshadowed. Seeing T-Pain at ACL felt like a homecoming moment: a reminder that anthems, when executed with command, never lose impact.
Polo & Pan
Polo & Pan performing at the Austin City Music Festival at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas on October 12, 2025. (Photo: Ralph Arvesen)Polo & Pan brought their tropical electronic pop to Sunday’s lineup. Their music feels like a daydream, and live they delivered that ethereal joy. Synth layers shimmered; percussion moved the crowd gently yet insistently. They built momentum slowly. What started delicate progressed into immersive grooves. The crowd didn’t rush, many swayed, listened, lost track of time. For a festival closing act, they offered a soundscape that lingered beyond the final beat.
Gregory Alan Isakov
Gregory Alan Isakov performing at the Austin City Music Festival at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas on October 12, 2025. (Photo: Ralph Arvesen)Gregory Alan Isakov performed on the festival’s final evening with quiet mastery. His voice, soft yet resonant, delivered introspective songs that turned Zilker Park’s massive space into a shared room of reflection. He built emotional arcs carefully, giving each lyric space to land. In his performance the audience leaned in rather than up. The quiet moments stayed with listeners, the crescendos felt earned. As festivalgoers drifted away under Texas night skies, Isakov’s set lingered, a reminder of the power of gentle craft at the heart of big moments.
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