Leon Thomas, CMAT and more weekend one highlights from ACL Fest 2026

The best sets we saw during a very muddy weekend 1 of Austin City Limits

Rain (nor its muddy aftermath) couldn't stop Turnstile, Charli xcx and Dallas' own Cure for Paranoia from some of the weekend's biggest highlights.

Leon Thomas, CMAT and more weekend one highlights from ACL Fest 2026

Here are our top 10 non-headliner highlights from Weekend One of ACL Fest 2026, ordered by set time. Use these picks to plan your Weekend Two schedule, or to throw an impromptu concert from the comfort of your own (dry) home.

Best & Worst: ACL Fest 2026

From mud mosh pits and creative fashion to surprise guests and mesmerizing fireworks, we look back at the highs and lows of weekend 1.

BMI Stage Weekend 1 at 2026 ACL Fest - Radio Facts Media

AUSTIN, TX – Oct. 05, 2026 – The BMI Stage returned to the 2026 Austin City Limits Music Festival for its twenty-third year this past weekend (Oct. 02-04), as it remained a standout fixture to discover the next wave of breakthrough talent. On Friday (10/2), Grocery Bag brought “a ferocity that emphasized why they are […]