2025's ACL Fest generated $558M for local economy, $8.5M for city parks

The six-day festival was responsible for more than 3,300 full-time job equivalents—both full- and part-time employees' hours worked—and more than $195 million in pay to Austin employees, and drew 78 local vendors.

Since C3 and AE began measuring ACL's impact in 2006, the festival has generated $4.7 billion for Austin's economy and either created or sustained nearly 43,000 jobs. The festival has averaged a 14.1% year-over-year increase in economic impact since tracking began, according to AE.

Zooming in

ACL operations also result in annual benefits for the city's public spaces beyond the Zilker Park festival grounds through a partnership with the Austin Parks Foundation.

“Every year, about a half a million vote with their feet and with their pocketbook to support this event in Zilker Park—and to support our parks, because a portion of their ticket purchase goes directly back into these parks," APF CEO Colin Wallis said.

Proceeds from the 2025 festival will now result in $8.5 million going to various park improvements citywide, organizers announced this spring. That adds to the more than $79 million directed to 260-plus Austin park improvements over the course of the 21-year partnership, a total Beliveau said will rise "well north" of $80 million after 2026's ACL in October.

Planned upgrades provided through the 2025 iteration of ACL include:

• Replacing a playground at Chestnut Pocket Park on East 16th Street
• Developing Phase 1 of Grand Meadow Neighborhood Park on Thaxton Road
• Building an all-abilities playground at Onion Creek Metropolitan Park on Nuckols Crossing Road
• Improving various park sports courts and greenbelt trails, and supporting community-suggested park projects citywide

“When I first moved to Austin, folks told me this is a city that is called a city within a park. You don’t get to just say that; the way you get to say that is because of generational, intentional investment in the infrastructure, in the amenities, through strong partnership and strong community involvement," said Jesús Aguirre, director of Austin Parks and Recreation. "This partnership with ACL Fest and with the parks foundation is one of the most impactful ones that we have, that allows us to continue to invest in the system so we can continue to say that for generations to come.”

What's next

This year, ACL is being held Oct. 2-4 and 9-11 at Zilker Park. The 2026 lineup will be announced at 9 a.m. May 5, followed by three-day festival tickets being made available at noon. More information is available on the festival's website.