Written by Samantha Firmin | November 12, 2026
The good, the bad, and everything in between.
Lorde taken by Ismael Quintanilla III
1. Lorde’s Full Circle Moment
Lorde closed Saturday Night of Weekend Two which marked the end of her ‘Ultrasound World Tour’ that began one year prior at Austin’s very own Moody Center. The New Zealand singer-songwriter also experienced waves of emotion as she announced the end of her record-label contract and newfound freedom as an independent artist.
2. “Girl, so confusing” from Both Sides
Headliners Charli xcx and Lorde both chose to include their iconic collaboration, “Girl, so confusing,” in their sets, however they left fans mildly disappointed with the lack of a joint appearance. Still, the chance to hear the whole song live was an experience worth noting.
3. Tinashe’s Guest Appearance
Following the guest appearance from Troye Sivan during Weekend One, Charli xcx teased yet another surprise in the works on her Instagram story for Weekend Two. It ended up being none other than singer-songwriter, dancer, actor extraordinaire Tinashe. She debuted live performances of “Nobody Wanna Dance Anymore” and “Melatonin” from her recently released album, Popstar. The two tracks featured heavy techno and electronic sounds that complemented Charli’s set perfectly. Unfortunately, despite previous collaborations, there was no joint performance between the two artists.
4. Josh Dun Performs from New Heights
Twenty One Pilots’ drummer, Josh Dun, took their performance of “Drum Show” to a whole new level when he left his on-stage kit to climb a ladder built into the left wing. When he reached the platform that soared above the crowd, a spotlight revealed another drum set in which Dun closed out the spectacle of a performance.
5. “Sue me” Twice
To the crowd’s surprise, when Audrey Hobert sang her wildly popular hit “Sue me” she didn’t bring out the mini trampoline she often performs a routine on before the opening lines of the song. Despite the change, the crowd still brought the energy, screaming and jumping to the carefree lyrics. However, after performing “Silver Jubilee,” what everyone thought was her final song, the singer walked back out but this time dragging the trampoline with her. She proceeded to ask everyone to put their phones down before performing the track for a second time, even more wildly energetic than the first.
6. Rüfüs Du Sol Lights Up the Night Sky
In a triumphant end to their Saturday night set, Rüfüs Du Sol set off a massive fireworks display that lit up the Austin skyline. After Lorde’s set concluded, her crowd shifted to join the other side of the park to catch the mesmerizing finale.
Rufus Du Sol taken by Nathan Zucker
7. Steve Aoki and Natasha Bedingfield Cake the Crowd
Towards the middle of his set, Steve Aoki brought out Natasha Bedingfield for a remixed performance of her pop hit, “Unwritten.” If the moment wasn’t already iconic enough, he let her throw a cake into the crowd; one of the most recognizable traditions of his shows that dates back to 2011.
8. SOFI TUKKER Reveals Ab Routine
Sophie Hawley-Weld of the electronic music duo SOFI TUKKER showed off her core strength and stamina during the high-energy electronic club track, “Adrenaline.” She performed a variety of crunches perfectly to the beat while singing live, transforming the ACL stage into a giant pilates class.
9. Young Miko Draws a Huge Daytime Crowd
The Puerto Rican rapper made her ACL debut at both weekends of the festival. Despite having a set time that was in the middle of the day, she still managed to draw out a massive crowd. The temperatures were already scorching, but Young Miko turned up the heat with her reggaeton and Latin beats and flirtatious stage presence.
10. The Great Dust Cloud over Zilker
ACL is already notorious for its dusty conditions, with people afterwards often falling ill to the so-called respiratory illness dubbed the “ACL flu” (myself included). However, Weekend One’s muddy conditions meant the dust that followed was worse than in prior years. Attendees across the grounds donned bandanas, N95 masks, and all sorts of face coverings to withstand the haze. The festival even gave out complimentary bandanas as an extra precaution.
11. Natasha Bedingfield Packs Tito’s Tent
The singer-songwriter, famously known for her 2000s tracks “Unwritten” and “Pocketful of Sunshine” was chosen as one of the festival’s throwback acts for the 25th anniversary. However, the festival fell short in choosing the stage she played, as tons of people were packed into the tight and cornered space of Tito’s Tent. For songs that are made to be danced to, perhaps better planning would have allowed fans to do so.
12. Fans Support Tyler Joseph
In a very literal sense, fans showed support for Twenty One Pilots’ lead singer by holding up a circular platform for the singer to stand on during two separate moments. First during the performance of “The Contract,” and later when he moved deeper into the crowd during “Ride.”
Twenty One Pilots taken by Ismael Quintanilla III
13. ASL Interpreters Perform Their Hearts Out
A good amount of the performances throughout the weekend were supported by ASL interpreters who did far more than just translate lyrics. These specialists are performers in their own right, fully embodying the spirit of each performance. Their dedication to interpreting every bass hit, instrument, and lyric is what makes a festival a more enjoyable and accessible experience for all.
14. UT on the Big Screens
Weekend Two always lines up with the annual Red River Rivalry football game between the UT Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners. On big screens throughout the festival’s lounges, the game was broadcast and numerous attendees wore jerseys and merchandise to represent their school pride. Unfortunately, the results were not what most had wished for, but at least they had some wonderful live music to soften the blow.
15. Creativity Soars with Festival Totems
Attendees all across the grounds carried decorative signs and flags known as festival totems. The large sticks are more commonly seen at electronic festivals and raves and serve a practical navigational purpose and can be a form of artistic expression. Some notable ones we spotted were Ilya and Shane from Heated Rivalry, the smiling hamster meme, a swiffer, and an interactive lucky block from Mario.
16. Jack Antonoff Wears a “Talarico for Texas” Shirt
Bleachers frontman Jack Antonoff made his political position clear with a wardrobe change during the Saturday evening performance. After playing a message from Talarico himself on the big screen, he changed into the “Talarico for Texas” shirt as the crowd roared in support.
17. This Must Be The Place Hands Out Free Narcan
Since 2023, non-profit organization This Must Be The Place has had a booth at ACL where they educate attendees on the dangers of fentanyl and handed out emergency kits with the medication Naloxone, which temporarily reverses an opioid overdose. With substance use common at music festivals, Even one stranger who can recognize the signs of an overdose and carry Narcan can save a life.
18. A Perfect Place to Chill
This year’s festival featured a brand new 40-foot walk-in freezer that gave attendees a designated area to cool down quickly in the 90-degree temperatures.
19. Endless Mike and Ike
ACL is home to plenty of brand activations with freebies galore each year, but something about the midday recharge from the tiny, chewy morsels of sugar that the Mike and Ike RV was handing out hit just right.
20. Press Lounge Amenities
For Nopality’s first time at ACL, we have to give a shout-out to the organizers of the press lounge. The space was nicely appointed with water stations, places to sit and work, free Wi-Fi, snacks, daily lunch, and clean restrooms with AC.
21. James Talarico Resurfaces
Texas’ now Senator-Elect made an appearance on Friday during the festivities after being out of his campaign trail with illness. He was spotted greeting fans, taking pictures, and urging everyone to vote in the recent election.
22. Shuttle Bus Line Herds
On Friday night, we made potentially the gravest mistake of the weekend and chose to take the shuttle bus back to our car. While it’s highly convenient, especially for commuting to the festival, the journey back was a long one. Thousands of people were herded into twisting barricades as they waited for their turn to load onto the school buses. After nearly an hour and a half of waiting, we boarded the bus back to our car, but decided the next two days we would rather walk.
Photo by Dusana Karam
23. Local Food Galore
The food lineup featured at ACL is nearly as varied as its musician lineup. The booths featured 50+ local vendors serving up every cuisine imaginable. Everything from big chain staples like Cabo Bob’s, Amy’s, and P. Terry’s, to beloved food trucks like KG BBQ, Susushi, and Dulce Amor Mio.
24. ACL’s Original Logo Makes a Return
Y’all Mart was a special pop-up merch booth featuring memorabilia to celebrate 25 years. The original logo was plastered on shirts sold for only $25. Other souvenirs included mugs, postcards, keychains, car air fresheners, and even disposable cameras to capture the weekend fun in retro style.
25. The Great Snapchat Stage Blockade
At the same time that The Chainsmokers were playing signature hits like “Paris,” “Closer,” and “Something Just Like This,” there were hundreds of people trying to navigate through an impenetrable crowd. The electronic duo performed at the Snapchat stage, which was positioned in a way that when full, created a giant blockade in the middle of the park. Unfortunately, those of us who were trying to pass by to line up for Charli xcx faced difficulties even navigating which direction to go. The connecting walkways were nearly impossible to see as lines from the nearby drink vendors also merged together.
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Despite the dust, long lines, and occasional mishaps, ACL Weekend Two delivered three days full of unforgettable moments. For 25 years, the festival has cemented its place as one of the country's most notable, bringing together artists and fans from all walks of life. If this weekend was any indication, ACL's legacy is only continuing to grow, and we can't wait to see what the next 25 years have in store.
