by Virginia Hernandez
Another October in Austin, another ACL Festival in the books! For two weekends, Zilker Park turned into a playground of sound, sweat, and sunshine, crowds chasing their favorite bands through a haze of dust, glitter, and skyline views. We caught Weekend Two, where the energy was already charged from a buzzworthy first round. From unexpected collaborations to breakout newcomers and reliable heavy hitters, here are the acts that made this year’s ACL one to remember.
Biggest Surprises
On Friday, Finneas & Ashe Present: The Favors stunned the crowd at the Miller Lite stage with a polished, cinematic set that highlighted their chemistry and songwriting synergy through equal parts intimacy and spectacle. The lush production and stunning harmonies made their set one of the standouts of the weekend. On Saturday, Miami pop duo Magdalena Bay took over the Lady Bird stage and turned the park into a neon dream with their futuristic pop production and playful, psychedelic visuals. Their experimental and synth-influenced songs were punctuated by the powerful vocals of singer Mica Tenenbaum, who captivated with her emotive performance. Meanwhile, singer-songwriter Gigi Perez returned to the festival on a big stage, bringing fresh energy to the Sunday lineup with soulful vocals and effortless stage persona, marking her as one to watch.
Powerful voices
A successful 4:00 pm showtime is always an indicator of an artist’s potential, and that Friday timeslot saw King Princess return with a mighty presence to the T-Mobile stage. Her signature swagger and emotional honesty, combined with complex songwriting and raw lyrics, prove she’s one of queer pop’s most magnetic live performers. On the Tito’s Stage, Australian electro-pop band Confidence Man transformed their set into a dance party, taking their tradition of blurring the line between performance art and club chaos to the next level with singer Janet Planet brandishing crutches like party props. Philadelphia indie band Japanese Breakfast returned to Austin, spellbinding the crowd with lush arrangements and dreamlike visuals that glowed under the sound of Michelle Zauner’s versatile vocals. Mexican band Latin Mafia made a strong showing at the park, mixing soul, EDM, pop, and reggaeton, while highlighting their proud Mexican roots throughout the performance. English rock band Wet Leg was one of the breakout stars from Sunday of weekend 1, and with a much-anticipated weekend 2 performance, unleashed their trademark wit and chaotic energy to some of the festival’s biggest sing-alongs and cementing their future as one of the most exciting bands on the indie scene.
Established Artists Who Delivered
Fresh off an astounding Weekend 1 set, Irish singer-songwriter Hozier returned to an adoring audience on Friday night of Weekend 2. He soared through a soulful, thunderous set that felt both intimate and monumental, highlighting his lyrical dexterity and social activism with simple but impactful stage visuals. Saturday brought another highly anticipated repeat set from rock band Cage the Elephant, proving why they remain one of the best live rock bands of their era and giving one of the most theatrical and energetic performances of the Fest. Country singer Luke Combs, whose star rose quickly after his soulful cover of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” in 2023, delivered a crowd-pleasing performance full of warmth, humor, storytelling, and undeniable anthems. And finally, rock mega-stars The Killers closed the second weekend of the Fest with arena-sized catharsis, uniting the crowd in a sea of shout-a-longs and choruses.
Best Shows of the Weekend
At ACL Fest, there are always performances that define the future for a band or artist. In 2025, no band generated more buzz at Weekend 1 than Australian duo Empire of the Sun, and it was reflected in the size of their Weekend 2 crowd. Beyond thrilling the masses with their hits, they delivered a visual and sonic spectacle – part art installation, part dance-floor transcendence – that vied for the weekend’s most euphoric moment. Breakout rap star Doechii commanded the AmEX stage on Saturday with a fierce, commanding performance that left no mistake about her reign as the Swamp Princess. Her dynamic mix of powerhouse vocals and mindboggling rap prowess energized the crowd at the crucial pre-sunset showtime. Later, one of the music industry’s hottest performers, Sabrina Carpenter, closed the night, sealing her pop-culture dominance with a playful, confident set that blended choreography, humor, sexy fun, and pure charisma. After the Weekend 1 surprise appearance by Shania Twain, Carpenter continued her collaboration with country royalty by duetting with The Chicks, covering “Wide Open Spaces” and Carpenter’s “Please Please Please.” On Sunday, T-Pain closed out ACL Fest 2025 with a joyful, hit-packed celebration of nostalgia and vocal chops. Initially best known for his use of autotune and his roster of club hits, T-Pain has expanded his repertoire with heartfelt, unfiltered vocals and a storytelling bend in his songs. At Zilker, his legacy was undeniable.
ACL Fest Overall:
The dust was a dominating story this year at the Fest (along with the annual stay of summer we usually get in early October), and unfortunately, it was impossible to ignore. Being in crowds with dozens of people sneezing and coughing is a little unsettling after COVID, and handkerchiefs and face masks only do so much. But for the hardcore festival goers, dust won’t stop the music, and therefore won’t stop the party.
Music is the real draw of ACL Fest, and this year in particular, it was easier than ever to find artists in every genre. But ACL isn’t just vying to be the festival for everyone – it’s a true celebration and appreciation of artistry across genres. No amount of dust can match that “ACL feeling” – when the skyline, the trees, and even the heat meet the music and transform an ordinary moment into magic.
Check out all our fest photos at Austin 101.
