Austin hosts the annual Austin City Limits Music Festival in Texas.
The festival takes place in Zilker Park, a large public park near downtown Austin. Its name comes from Austin City Limits, the long-running television music program produced by PBS and first broadcast in 1976. The festival began in 2002 as a live event inspired by that program’s reputation.
Austin City Limits Music Festival presents multiple genres, including rock, alternative, country, hip-hop, folk, electronic music, and pop. Its stages are spread across Zilker Park, creating a large urban festival setting rather than a remote campsite.
The festival should not be confused with the Austin City Limits television series itself. The television program records performances in a studio, while the festival is a multi-day outdoor event. Both are closely connected to Austin’s identity as a major center for live music.