What does it take to make the most of Austin City Limits Music Festival—and which artists should be on your schedule before you even step into Zilker Park?

In this special episode of Austin Eras, Adam Flagg sits down with Austin American-Statesman music reporter Mars Salazar for a full preview of ACL Fest 2026, from surviving the Texas heat to finding the artists you’ll be talking about long after the festival ends.

With more than 100 performances spread across nine stages and two weekends, ACL can be overwhelming. Mars shares her advice for first-timers, including what to bring, when to arrive, how to prepare for the heat, why comfortable shoes are non-negotiable, and how to navigate the crowds, food, transportation, and inevitable schedule conflicts.

Then, Adam and Mars dig into the 2026 lineup. They break down the festival’s growing electronic influence, the nostalgia factor behind artists like Kings of Leon and Twenty One Pilots, the strength of its female-led acts, and the notable absence of major country and rap headliners. From Charli XCX, Skrillex, Lorde, RÜFÜS DU SOL, Turnstile, Leon Thomas, Steve Aoki, and The xx to emerging artists that may be unfamiliar today, they share the performances they’re most curious to see.

They also spotlight the Austin artists getting their moment at Zilker—including Grocery Bag, Almost Heaven, Yuvi, The 4411, and Night Traveler—and make the case for arriving early. Some of the most exciting artists at ACL aren’t playing the headline slots. They’re on smaller stages in the afternoon, potentially just a few years away from becoming the names everyone knows.

Mars also reflects on what makes ACL different from other major festivals: its compact setting in the heart of Austin, its connection to the city’s parks, its local food and music, and the way thousands of people come together around artists and sounds they may not have discovered otherwise.

Along the way, Mars shares some of her most memorable ACL experiences—from Paul McCartney and Chappell Roan to mosh pits, mud, unforgettable sets, and a few performances she’d rather forget.

Whether you’re heading to Zilker for the first time, returning for another year, or looking at the lineup wondering who half these artists are, consider this your guide to ACL Fest 2026—and a reminder that sometimes the best festival discovery is the artist you didn’t know you needed to see.

Get in touch with Austin Eras

Email: info@austineras.com

Website: https://www.austineras.com/

Call: 512-387-2333

Watch the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-bTMj5WY-4LduZI50w8bvQ/?sub_confirmation=1

How do you lead a city that is constantly changing without losing the qualities that made people fall in love with it in the first place?

In this episode of Austin Eras, Adam Flagg sits down with Steve Adler, Austin’s 58th mayor, for a wide-ranging conversation about nearly five decades in Austin, eight years in the mayor’s office, and what he sees differently now that he’s outside the political hot seat.

Adler arrived in Austin in 1978 for law school and never left. He built a career as an attorney, became deeply involved in Austin’s civic and nonprofit community, and eventually made an unexpected leap into politics, serving as mayor from 2015 through 2023 during one of the most consequential periods in the city’s modern history.

Adam and Steve explore what Austin felt like in the late 1970s, why the city has always rewarded risk and creativity, and how explosive growth changed both its opportunities and its pressures. They also dig into the realities of being mayor in a city where the person held accountable does not necessarily control every lever of government.

The conversation gets more personal as Adler reflects on the 2018 serial bombings, COVID, homelessness, policing, affordability, public trust, and the decisions he now views differently with the benefit of hindsight. He discusses where he believes the city got things right, where it underestimated consequences, and why listening may be one of the most important lessons he took away from office.

The episode also looks forward. Adler explains why he worries about Austin becoming a “museum of itself,” why affordability and diversity are essential to preserving the city’s creative energy, and why something as simple as music and breakfast tacos gets surprisingly close to explaining Austin’s economic and cultural advantage.

Key takeaways:

• Austin has always changed, but its culture of creativity and risk-taking has endured.
• Being mayor means carrying enormous accountability without controlling every lever.
• Adler reflects candidly on homelessness, trust, and decisions he would approach differently today.
• Austin’s future depends on affordability, diversity, and protecting the people who create its culture.
• Preserving Austin’s magic means continuing to build what comes next, not freezing the city in the past.

At its core, this episode is about the responsibility that comes with loving a city. Austin has changed dramatically since Adler arrived in 1978, and it will keep changing. His argument is that the goal should not be to freeze Austin in time, but to preserve the conditions that allow its next generation of people to make the city their own.

Get in touch with Austin Eras

Email: info@austineras.com

Website: https://www.austineras.com/

Call: 512-387-2333

Watch the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-bTMj5WY-4LduZI50w8bvQ/?sub_confirmation=1

What does it actually take to build community in a city as big and fast-changing as Austin?

In this episode of Austin Eras, Adam Flagg sits down with Chloe Chiang at Château Chloé, the East Austin home she designed not just as a place to live, but as a place to bring people together.

Chloe came to Austin for UT, built a successful real estate career through relentless relationship-building, and eventually expanded that work into something much bigger. Through Château Chloé and No Bad Company, she has created a world centered on hospitality, intentional gatherings, community, and the belief that life is better in good company.

Adam and Chloe talk about building a circle of champions, creating spaces where people feel comfortable enough to be themselves, and why she describes her role as “curating serendipity.” They also explore her journey from Division I gymnastics to real estate, why she still believes deeply in Austin, and how repeated interactions can turn strangers into real friends.

Key takeaways:

• Build a circle of people who genuinely champion you.
• Real community grows through consistency, not one-time interactions.
• Great hospitality starts with making people feel seen and comfortable.
• Strong communities are intentional, not accidental.
• Austin still stands out for its culture of generosity and connection.
• Human connection becomes more valuable as more of life gets automated.
• Austin’s magic depends on people continuing to create places to belong.

At its core, this episode is about how we intentionally build the life and community we want around us, and why Austin’s magic may depend on people continuing to create those spaces for one another.

Get in touch with Austin Eras

Email: info@austineras.com

Website: https://www.austineras.com/

Call: 512-387-2333

Watch the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-bTMj5WY-4LduZI50w8bvQ/?sub_confirmation=1