Sunday was a momentous day for the 2026 edition of Austin City Limits Festival. With two hotly anticipated headliners and an undercard of difficult decisions, fans once more made the journey to Zilker Park for the last day of the event. Gratitude was in the air for the weekend’s warm, dry weather- perfect for the twenty one pilots’ fans barricade run for the band’s headlining set. The XX, Geese, Saint Motel and more rounded out the choices for Sunday- check out our favorite moments!
ACL Ladies Elevate Sunday’s Lineup
Rising pop starlet Claire Rosinkranz whirled onto the Miller Lite Stage under the unforgiving early afternoon sun, bringing a dose of her own sunshine out with her. She’s no stranger to viral moments and her song “Backyard Boy” had all the young fans singing with passion to the TikTok-favorite hit. Like artists from previous days, Rosinkranz expressed nothing but love and gratitude for the chance to play an ACL stage and that sentiment echoed across the faces of an equally thrilled audience.
Audrey Hobert- another rapidly rising star on the Sunday bill- hopped up on her signature stage ladder clad in an impossibly long trench coat, a pair of joke glasses and wielding a banjo to start her set with “I Like To Touch People”. Her fans were practically hanging over the barricade at the T-Mobile Stage to get even an inch closer to the relatable indie pop singer as she stepped off the ladder to continue the set with “Drive” before diehard fans recited the monologue journal entry in “Wet Hair” verbatim alongside Hobert. She was quirky while being entirely serious about her stage craft and that earnestness clearly resonated deeply with an audience eager for something new.
Saint Motel and More Are Just ACL’s Type
Fans had countless artists to choose from over the course of the weekend but no one started the party like Saint Motel. Singer AJ Jackson showed up in a deep red suit and pristine white cowboy hat- keeping with the Texas theme- to get their crowd to “Move” and it worked a treat. Between the band’s sparkling sound, the trumpet and saxophone taking the songs to the next level and their infectiously bright spirits, there wasn’t a band on the bill that held a candle to Saint Motel’s energy. By the time “My Type” kicked in (and Jackson left the stage to dance with the fans), people across the field could be spotted busting a move to the timelessly catchy tune.
Geese has been making the rounds on the festival circuit this summer and they remain an Atlas favorite- along with much of the onlookers at ACL. The jam band managed to get a mosh pit started from the jump, while others watched longingly from the barricade with their signs aimed at the stage. “Getting Killed” and “2122” whipped the kids into a frenzy before the set ended all too soon with “Trinidad”, continuing the enigmatic persona of the band with this latest incredible performance.
Sunday Sparkles with The XX
The XX made their return after nearly a decade away and for many fans, the choice for their last set of the weekend was a no-brainer. The stage was set in dramatic lights and shadows for Romy Madley Croft, Oliver Sim and Jamie XX and when “Crystallized” began, it was like no time had passed. Many in the audience were visibly emotional at the band’s appearance at ACL, swaying and dancing to “Angels”, “Fiction” and “Shelter”. Midway through the performance, a massive neon X lowered over the band, illuminating the area and offsetting Jamie XX’s airtight production behind Croft and Sim’s vocals. The final notes of “I Dare You” and “Intro” closed out the 25th year of ACL, ringing throughout the park for a night no one in attendance will soon forget.
