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Keeping up with the many music festivals in the Live Music Capital is dizzying, and 2025 will be no different. From country music to Carnaval and bikers to blues, Austin comes equipped with months of music to help you make it through the year.
Here’s your 2025 Austin festival calendar:
Jan. 3-4: Red River Cultural District’s Free Week
Red River Cultural District (RRCD) never fails to ring in the New Year with Free Week. Set on the first weekend of January, Free Week is your no-cost immersion in Austin’s local music scene in venues on 7th street. If you’re unfamiliar with Austin underground acts, Free Week is your crash course. Familiar favorites like Being Dead, Pelvis Wrestley, the Irons, and Marry Cherry are performing. A lineup stacked with local talent will not steer you wrong, on par with RRCD’s other venture, Hot Summer Nights, slated for July.
Info: redriverculturaldistrict.org
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
Feb. 19-23: OUTsider Fest
OUTsider Fest has spotlighted queer and trans artists since its inception in December 2013. A recipient of the City of Austin’s Thrive Grant, the queer trans media arts festival is featuring Moor Mother, Cowboi Dukes, and Anima Cruz.
Info: outsiderfest.org
Feb. 22: Carnaval Brasileiro
Carnaval Brasileiro has developed from “a small party for homesick Brazilian students in Austin to the largest indoor Carnaval party on the planet” for the last 47 years. In 1991, the Statesman’s Michael Point described Carnaval Brasileiro’s “uninhibited atmosphere allows partygoers to witness and take part in what one regular calls ‘a festival of flesh’ as the Mardi Gras-type event brings out the wildly dressed and the barely dressed for hours of energetic dancing to the seething samba beat.”
Info: sambaparty.com
Mar. 10-15: South by Southwest Festival (SXSW)
2025’s SXSW music lineup has been trickling out its international fanfare. From Iceland to Indonesia, there is something for everyone amongst the wide array of showcase presenters. The Criticals and Catcher caught my eye on the second round of artist announcements, but the beauty of SXSW is discovering bands like DarkoVibes from Ghana or badfocus from Czechia. Rest assured, we’ll break the language barrier with bar-b-que and light beer.
Info: sxsw.com
Mar. 13: Luck Reunion Festival
“Some call us an anti-festival, some call us family” is Luck Reunion’s slogan and Willie Nelson is their landlord. 2024’s lineup saw Tyler Childers, John Oats, and the Red Clay Strays come down to Luck, Texas. While we’re still waiting for 2025’s lineup to drop, we can foresee Willie Nelson and family holding down the fort on their historic ranch. Luck Reunion has already announced they will be hosting a special performance by Waxahatchee, Lucinda Williams, and more a day after the festival on Mar. 14.
Info: luckpresents.com
Mar. 27-30: Honk!TX Fest
Honk!TX is a free fest that invites street and brass bands to perform in Austin’s public spaces. The community celebration embraces spontaneous music experiences, inviting you to join the revelry of sounds ranging from Balkan, Brazilian, West African and more.
Info:honktx.org
Apr. 5: Bésame Mucho at COTA
The Bésame Mucho Festival is back at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin on April 5. Call your tia, grab your sombrero, and get ready to dance. Tickets are on sale now, and 2024’s fest sold out swiftly. 2025’s one-day festival is a Latin music lover’s dream come true. Fans of regional Mexican music can look forward to artists like Peso Pluma, Carin León, Los Tigres del Norte, and Banda MS.
Info: besamemuchoaustin.com
Apr. 5-6: Two Step Inn Fest
Alan Jackson and Sturgill Simpson are headlining the third-annual Two Step Inn Festival taking place at Georgetown’s San Gabriel Park. Saturday plays host to Miranda Lambert, while Sunday showcases Lynyrd Skynyrd and Nelly. 2025 will be your final chance to see country music icon Alan Jackson perform live in the Austin area, polishing off a storied career with his “Last Call: One More for the Road” tour. Sturgill Simpson, who we reviewed at Austin City Limits Music Festival, will be performing his album “Passage du Desir,” which was released in July 2024 under his alter-ego Johnny Blue Skies. San Gabriel Park will be fit with dance floors, a Central Texas fair and vendors selling homestyle goods. Tickets are now on sale on their website.
Info: twostepinn.com
Apr. 10-12: Cattle Country Festival
The second-annual Cattle Country Festival is back for a special installment for the bicentennial of its host city, Gonzales. The fest features Tanya Tucker, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Nickelback, Parker McCollum and Wade Bowen. If country ain’t your cup of tea, the fest is also hosting Black Pistol Fire and a late-night set by Ghostland Observatory. Cattle Country is for those wanting to camp under shaded pecan tree groves along the bank of the Guadalupe River. Fishing and floating are encouraged, and you can find single-day tickets for $99 and 3-day passes for $199 and up on sale on their website.
Info: cattlecountryfesttx.com
Apr. 18-20: Austin Reggae Fest
Since 1994, Austin Reggae Fest has been bringing reggae to Auditorium Shores in celebration of Bob Marley’s legacy. Austin Reggae Fest has donated more food to the Central Texas Food Bank than any other event in the past 30 years and has no ambition of slowing down. Self-described as “the happiest, chillest, dopest weekend of your life,” 2024’s lineup included Soulfiya, Jah Karma, Soul Rebel, and Off World Soundsystem.
Info: austinreggaefest.com
Apr. 24-27: Old Settlers Music Festival
Held on a ranch in the city of Dale, the non-profit Old Settlers Music Festival is back with its live music camping experience. While they are still finalizing their lineup for next year, they have previously hosted some of the best Central Texas Americana and roots acts. In 2024, the fest saw the likes of Texas String Assembly, Good Looks, and South Austin Jug Band. The year before that, there was Shinyribs and Scott Strickland. Get your tickets for late-night fireside jams, crafts for kids, and even some music workshops.
Info: oldsettlersmusicfest.org
Apr. 25-27: Austin Psych Fest
“Austin Psych Fest” was the original name of what we now know as Levitation, but luckily for us, both are back as their own independent hangs. Coming back to the Far Out Lounge, Austin Psych Fest is gearing up to once again pay homage to Austin’s 60s rock heritage. In 2024, we got Courtney Barnett, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, No Vacation, Frankie and the Witch Fingers, Alvvays, Dehd, and Kurt Vile. With a rebirthed reputation like that, there’s no doubt 2025’s lineup will be any less powerhouse.
Info: levitation.fm
May 3: iHeartCountry Festival
Hosted by the one and only Bobby Bones, the iHeartCountry Festival is once again being held at Moody Center. While the upcoming lineup is yet to be released, 2024 saw performances from Lady A, Keith Urban, and Jelly Roll.
Info: iheart.com
May 3: Fiesta Austin
Fiesta Austin is busy preparing for 2025’s Cinco de Mayo, taking place at Fiesta Gardens only a couple of days before the namesake date.
Info: fiestaaustin.org
May 3-4 and Sep. 13-14: Spring and Fall Pecan Street Festival
The Pecan Street fest happens bi-yearly equipped with live music tents, local artisans and food vendors set up along East 6th Street, formerly named Old Pecan Street. The music lineup has consistently been a mixed bag of artists who you wouldn’t typically see on a club lineup, but there’s beauty in sharing a music experience in a hometown community setting. Also featuring a petting zoo and kid’s rides, the free admission festival will certainly remind you what hanging with fellow Austinites is really all about.
Info: pecanstreetfestival.org
May 5-7: Republic of Texas (ROT) Biker Rally
Coming back for its 28th year, the ROT Rally is back at its Austin Speed Shop epicenter with vendors, music, food, contests, rides, and good old-fashioned motorcycle camaraderie.
Info: republicoftexasmotorcyclerally.com
March 14-29: Rodeo Austin
Apart from the bucking and bull riding, Rodeo Austin has three music areas: the Main Stage, Outdoor Stage and 100X Dance Hall. The Main Stage will host an award-winning recording artist each night after the ProRodeo performance, while the Outdoor Stage will have acts on the fairground throughout the day. The Dance Hall will be a place to dance and drink in a more comfortable setting apart from the crowds. Lineup announcements and ticket sales will begin in January.
Info: rodeoaustin.com
May 22-25: Hot Luck Festival
Food and music: two primal human indulgences. Give yourself over to both at the Hot Luck Festival benefiting the Southern Smoke Foundation, a nonprofit supporting food and beverage workers. While this fest is dining-focused, there is live music every evening.
Info: hotluckfest.com
May 22 through June 8: Kerrville Folk Fest
Coming into its 53rd year, the Kerrville Folk Festival hosts a plethora of singer-songwriters throughout their 18-day marathon. Come for just an evening show, or stay longer on the campgrounds for a chance to catch an impromptu fireside jam session. Since 1972, the Kerrville Folk Fest has been upholding the spirit of grassroots Texas music comradeship. Take a break from the city center this Spring at Quiet Valley Ranch.
Info: kerrvillefolkfestival.org
Jul. 12-13: Austin Blues Fest
The heart of Austin sits within a blues ribcage, and Austin Blues Fest epitomizes that internal connection. In 1999, Clifford Antone hosted the first Antone’s Blues Festival at Waterloo Park, which, over its three years, hosted the likes of Buddy Guy and Ray Charles. Now, Antone’s and Waterloo Greenway have brought national blues talent back to Moody Amphitheater for a third year since the fest’s reincarnation. In 2023, Buddy Guy was back alongside Brittany Howard, Thee Sinseers, and Jimmie Vaughan.
Info: austinbluesfestival.com
Aug. 7-10: Austin PRIDE
If 2024’s PRIDE headliner was Saucy Santana, I can’t wait to see what organizers have in store for 2025. Spearheaded by the Austin Pride Foundation nonprofit, the yearly event unites LGBTQ communities for a parade and special performances. 2024’s theme was “Queer Cabaret: Unleashed Glamour + Glitz,” so we can expect 2025’s theme to be just as fabulous.
Info: austinpride.org
Sep. 25-28: Levitation Fest
Levitation. Probably my favorite Austin music fest, even usurping ACL and SXSW. Organized by Resound Presents and founded by members of Austin legacy band the Black Angels, we will be seeing some changes happening to the fest’s format in 2025. Usually shows are spread around different clubs in the RRCD, but rumor is that organizers may be pivoting to a single centralized location to host all the music. From psych to heavy shoegaze, Levitation is a can’t miss yearly pit stop in the Austin music experience.
Info: levitation.fm
Oct. TBD: Freaky Deaky Texas
Freaky Deaky is a Halloween dance party heaven. Hosted at the Travis County Expo Center, this EDM fest hosted the likes of Andy C, Deathpact, and Subtronics in 2024. Central Texas is pretty dry on the techno dance scene, so here is one of a few opportunities to engage with the subculture in a large-scale setting. News about next year has not been released, but stay tuned for email updates.
Info: freakydeaky.com
Oct. TBD: Viva la Vida
Presented by the Mexic-Arte Museum on Congress, Viva la Vida is rolling into its 42nd year as Austin’s longest running Día de los Muertos celebration. Held on Oct. 26 in 2024, Viva la Vida begins with a grand procession ahead of an afternoon filled with activities, food, vendors, live music, and a low rider exhibition. Experience the spectacular costumes, Aztec dancers, and Ballet Folklorico in the heart of downtown.
Info: mexic-artemuseum.org
Oct. 3-5 and Oct. 10-12: Austin City Limits (ACL) Music Festival
While official dates for 2025’s Austin City Limits Music Festival are yet to be confirmed, we have a good feeling that the fest is once again happening the first two weekends of October. Check out the Statesman’s coverage of ACL 2024, from crash course tips to live updates.
Info:aclfestival.com
Oct. 18-19: Eastside Kings Festival
The mission of Eastside Kings Festival is to preserve the cultural heritage of African American blues, jazz, and gospel music in the Live Music Capital of the World. Eastside Kings Fest was started by Eddie Stout in 1999 after he released an album of the same name that featured many of Austin’s unknown African American blues musicians. The tribute to Austin’s East Side post-war blues circuit took place at Austin Jazz and Soul Food on the Green in 2024, hosting the Michael Hale Trio, Ryan D. Howard Organ Ensemble, Ephraim Owens, and the Huston-Tillotson Jazz Band.
Info: eastsidekingsfest.com
Nov. 14-16: Seismic Dance Event
Remember up above where it said Central Texas is pretty dry on the techno dance scene? Well here’s another, and one you should definitely be paying attention to. Seismic Dance Event is the weekend fest brought to life by the Concourse Project.
Check out our preview of 2024’s here.
Info: seismicdanceevent.com
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