The 2025 Austin City Limits Music Festival contributed nearly $560 million to the local economy and generated $8.5 million for Austin's public parks system, festival organizers announced May 4, one day ahead of ACL's 2026 lineup reveal.

The details: The six-day festival drew 78 local vendors, and 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. Since ACL's economic impact was first tracked in 2006, it's generated $4.7 billion for Austin's economy and either created or sustained nearly 43,000 jobs.

Proceeds from the 2025 festival will also result in various park improvements citywide, adding to the more than $79 million directed to 260-plus Austin park improvements since the late 2000s.

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.

Only The Wild Ones is growing from its Los Angeles and New York roots to feature a new kind of sound in Austin. The outdoor vinyl and natural wine bar will be spinning tracks and serving drinks starting May 1 at its South Congress spot, said Maria Romero, consulting digital media manager. 

On the menu: The bar’s menu will feature wines, cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks. Food options include light bites and shared plates, according to Romero. 

“The space is made for lingering over shared plates, aperitivo and bottles that bring people together,” the business shared on its Instagram. 

What’s special about it?: Only The Wild Ones will offer all-vinyl programming with a range of local and guest music selectors. 

One more thing: The new business will welcome walk-ins and a limited number of reservations available online. 

• Opened May 1

• 1600 S. Congress Ave., Austin

Check out the latest Austin metro transportation project updates.

Upcoming projects
Lakeline Boulevard shared-use path
Project: A 10-foot paved shared-use path is planned along Lakeline Boulevard in Cedar Park between New Hope Drive and Little Elm Trail to improve pedestrian and bicycle connectivity.
Update: According to city officials, design is 90% complete. Plans have been revised to modify an existing roadway bridge rather than construct a new pedestrian bridge, with final design and permitting ongoing.

• Timeline: 2024-26
• Cost: $10.5 million
• Funding source: Texas Department of Transportation

• Timeline: 2026-29
• Cost: $68.4 million
• Funding source: Austin 2016 mobility bond, TxDOT

Austin has adopted a new process with increased public scrutiny for the city's procurement of surveillance-related technology, following pushback against previous public camera programs.

The details: The focus on Austin's potential procurement of technology that collects personal information comes after the recent consideration of millions of dollars in contracts for surveillance technology across the city, including the police department's use of automated license plate readers and a proposed parks department camera program.

Also of note: An ordinance adopted in April now requires city departments considering the use of surveillance-related technology to get formal City Council approval before doing so. It also includes other public reporting requirements, including the creation of privacy impact statements for any proposed contracts for such technology.