Things to Do in Austin This Weekend — September 18 to 20, 2026

Fall has officially arrived in Austin and this weekend proves it. Fantastic Fest, the most beloved genre film festival in the country, opens its 2026 run at Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar this week. Artemas brings the Lovercore Tour to Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater on Saturday. MUNA performs at Moody Amphitheater Saturday. Grupo Duelo headlines ACL Live on Friday. The Austin Arte Agave Tequila and Mezcal Festival showcases over 100 varieties of agave spirits alongside live entertainment all weekend. Austin Museum Day delivers free admission across the city’s best museums on Sunday. Pumpkin Nights opens for the season. The 5th Street Vintage Market returns Saturday morning. The UT Longhorns host UTSA at DKR Stadium Saturday night. And Lake Travis is delivering the most beautiful fall afternoons of the entire year. Here is everything worth doing from Thursday through Sunday

Quick Answer — Best Things to Do in Austin This Weekend September 18 to 20

This weekend in Austin is headlined by Lake Travis Zipline Adventures for the best outdoor experience of the weekend, Fantastic Fest at Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar Thursday through Sunday, Artemas Lovercore Tour at Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater on Saturday, MUNA at Moody Amphitheater Saturday, Grupo Duelo at ACL Live Friday at 8 PM, Chief Keef at Riviere Austin Friday, Billy Currington at Round Rock Amphitheater Friday, the Austin Arte Agave Tequila and Mezcal Festival all weekend, Austin Museum Day Sunday with free museum admission citywide, Pumpkin Nights opening weekend, the 5th Street Vintage Market Saturday morning (free), Candlelight Tribute to Michael Jackson at St. David’s Episcopal Church, UT Longhorns vs UTSA at DKR Stadium Saturday at 7 PM, the Gourdgeous Glass Pumpkin Patch at Wimberley Glassworks Saturday, and the Aurora Sessions wellness and music experience Saturday. Here is the complete breakdown.

#1 Best Thing to Do in Austin This Weekend — Lake Travis Zipline Adventures

Before Fantastic Fest and Artemas and the Tequila Festival. Book this first.

Lake Travis Zipline Adventures is the single best thing to do in Austin this weekend. Mid-September on Lake Travis is genuinely the beginning of the most beautiful season of the entire year on the water. The summer heat has broken just enough to make an afternoon on Zip Island genuinely extraordinary. The lake is still warm and clear. And the Hill Country is beginning the transition to fall that makes October at Lake Travis one of the most beautiful outdoor experiences in Central Texas.

As someone who has guided zipline tours on Lake Travis, I can tell you that September afternoons on the lake have a quality the summer months simply cannot replicate. The light is longer and more golden. The air is cooler at speed on the Double Barrel Shotgun. And the view from 22 stories above the water looking out across the Hill Country horizon in early fall is one of the most genuinely beautiful things Austin produces all year.

Your group boards a boat that takes everyone across Lake Travis to Zip Island, a private island in the middle of the lake about 20 to 30 minutes from downtown Austin. Three hours on five world-class ziplines through the Texas Hill Country follow, including the Double Barrel Shotgun, which sends two people side by side over 2,800 feet of cable at speeds up to 65 mph from 22 stories above Lake Travis. After the tour your ticket includes full-day access to the private lakefront property on Zip Island. Jump off the dock into Lake Travis. Relax in hammocks. Enjoy the most beautiful early fall afternoon in Austin before heading back to the city for an evening of film, music, and tequila.

The Details

5-Line Zipline Tour: $138/person, includes full-day access to the private lakefront property on Zip Island
Double Barrel Single-Line Tour: $88/person
Duration: 3 hours for the full tour plus full-day lakefront access after
Location: About 20 to 30 minutes from downtown Austin on Lake Travis
Best For: Groups, couples, families, all experience levels
Reservations: Required at laketraviszipline.com

Pro Tip: Fall weekend afternoon slots fill up fast. Book your afternoon tour now at laketraviszipline.com before the weekend sells out.

Book Lake Travis Zipline Adventures before your spot sells out.

Thursday through Sunday — Fantastic Fest at Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar

Fantastic Fest is the largest genre film festival in the United States and one of the most beloved and most genuinely community-rooted film events Austin produces all year. The festival runs Thursday September 17 through Sunday September 25 at Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar, screening horror, science fiction, fantasy, action, and cult cinema from around the world alongside filmmaker Q&As, secret screenings, and events that make it genuinely unlike any other film festival experience in the country.

This weekend is the opening stretch of Fantastic Fest 2026 and delivers the most anticipated world premieres and the highest energy of the entire festival run. For film lovers, genre enthusiasts, and anyone who has never experienced Fantastic Fest and wants to understand why Austin is one of the most important film cities in the country, this weekend is the right time to go.

The Details

When: Through Sunday September 25, 2026, multiple screenings daily
Where: Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar, 1120 S Lamar Blvd, Austin TX 78704
Website: fantasticfest.com
Best For: Film lovers, horror and genre enthusiasts, anyone who wants the most culturally rich film experience Austin produces all year

Friday, September 18 — Grupo Duelo: Gravedad Tour at ACL Live

Grupo Duelo brings the Gravedad Tour 2026 to ACL Live at The Moody Theater on Friday September 18 at 8 PM. Grupo Duelo is one of the most beloved norteño groups in Latin music and a Friday night show at ACL Live with tickets starting at $115 is one of the most genuinely exciting Latin music events Austin produces this fall. The 2,750-seat theater delivers an intimate and sonically excellent setting for a group of this caliber.

The Details

When: Friday September 18, 8 PM
Where: ACL Live at The Moody Theater, 310 W Willie Nelson Blvd, Austin TX 78701
Tickets: From $115 at all major ticketing platforms
Best For: Latin music fans, norteño enthusiasts, anyone who wants a genuinely excellent Friday night concert

Friday, September 18 — Chief Keef at Riviere Austin

Chief Keef performs at Riviere Austin on Friday September 18 at 9 PM. Chief Keef is one of the most influential and most culturally significant hip-hop artists of the last decade and a Friday night show at Riviere on East Seventh Street is one of the strongest hip-hop concert options in Austin this fall. Tickets start at $86.

The Details

When: Friday September 18, 9 PM
Where: Riviere Austin, East 7th St, Austin TX
Tickets: From $86
Best For: Hip-hop fans, anyone who wants a high-energy Friday night show

Friday, September 18 — Billy Currington at Round Rock Amphitheater

Billy Currington performs at the Round Rock Amphitheater on Friday September 18. Billy Currington is one of country music’s most beloved voices and the Round Rock Amphitheater is one of the best outdoor concert settings in the north Austin area. A Friday night country show at Round Rock is the most classically Texas Friday evening option of the entire weekend.

The Details

When: Friday September 18
Where: Round Rock Amphitheater, Round Rock TX, about 20 minutes north of downtown Austin
Best For: Country music fans, north Austin and Round Rock residents

Friday, September 18 — Cold Waves XIV Austin Edition at Mohawk

Cold Waves XIV Austin Edition brings industrial and post-punk music to Mohawk on Friday September 18 with doors at 7 PM. Cold Waves is one of the most respected industrial music festival brands in the country and the Austin edition at Mohawk delivers a genuinely excellent all-ages event for fans of the genre.

The Details

When: Friday September 18, doors 7 PM, show 8 PM
Where: Mohawk, 912 Red River St, Austin TX 78701
Best For: Industrial and post-punk music fans, a genuinely strong Friday night alternative on Red River

Friday, September 18 — TroyBoi at Concourse Project

TroyBoi performs at Concourse Project on Friday September 18 at 9 PM. TroyBoi is one of the most inventive and most genre-defying electronic music producers working today and Concourse Project is the best warehouse electronic venue in Austin. Tickets start at $51 with limited availability.

The Details

When: Friday September 18, 9 PM
Where: Concourse Project, 8509 Burleson Rd, Austin TX 78719
Tickets: From $51, limited availability
Best For: Electronic music fans, a strong Friday night EDM option

All Weekend — Austin Arte Agave Tequila and Mezcal Festival

The Austin Arte Agave Tequila and Mezcal Festival runs all weekend and offers one of the most genuinely enjoyable and most culturally rich spirits festival experiences Austin produces all fall. Sample more than 100 varieties of tequila and mezcal while enjoying traditional mariachi, folkloric dancers, live entertainment, authentic Mexican cuisine, and artisan shopping. As a 30-year Austin resident I can tell you that the agave spirits culture in Austin has matured significantly in the last decade and this festival showcases the best of what Austin’s tequila and mezcal scene has become.

The Details

When: All weekend September 18 to 20, 2026
Where: Check austinarteasave.com for venue and times
Best For: Tequila and mezcal enthusiasts, couples, groups, anyone who wants a genuinely excellent spirits and culture festival

Saturday, September 19 — Artemas: Lovercore Tour at Stubb’s

Artemas headlines Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater on Saturday September 19. Artemas is one of the most exciting and most talked-about rising artists in indie and alternative pop right now and Stubb’s outdoor amphitheater is one of the most beloved concert settings in Austin. A Saturday night Artemas show at Stubb’s is the most exciting emerging artist concert of the entire weekend and one of the most anticipated Austin shows of the fall season.

The Details

When: Saturday September 19
Where: Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater, 801 Red River St, Austin TX 78701
Tickets: Available at all major ticketing platforms and stubsaustin.com
Best For: Indie and alternative pop fans, anyone who wants to see one of music’s most exciting rising artists in one of Austin’s best outdoor venues

Saturday, September 19 — MUNA at Moody Amphitheater

MUNA performs at Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park on Saturday September 19. MUNA is one of the most critically acclaimed and most genuinely beloved indie pop bands working today and their live show is consistently described as one of the most emotionally powerful concert experiences available. Moody Amphitheater is one of the best outdoor concert venues in Austin and a MUNA Saturday night show there is the most moving and most artistically compelling concert option of the entire weekend.

The Details

When: Saturday September 19
Where: Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park, 1401 Trinity St, Austin TX 78701
Tickets: Available at all major ticketing platforms
Best For: Indie pop fans, LGBTQIA+ community and allies, anyone who wants a genuinely beautiful and emotionally resonant Saturday night concert

Saturday, September 19 — 5th Street Vintage Market at Austin Visitor Center (FREE)

Browse through curated vintage fashion finds, statement jewelry, and unique local goods right in the heart of downtown Austin during this monthly open-air market. Stop by the in-house cafe 5th and Brew for fresh matcha or coffee while enjoying tunes spun by a live DJ. The 5th Street Vintage Market is the best free Saturday morning activity in downtown Austin and a natural pre-afternoon activity before Lake Travis Zipline Adventures or the evening concerts.

The Details

When: Saturday September 19, 10 AM to 3 PM
Where: Austin Visitor Center, 103 E 5th St, Austin TX 78701
Cost: Free
Best For: Vintage shoppers, a relaxed and genuinely enjoyable free Saturday morning downtown

Saturday, September 19 — UT Longhorns vs UTSA at DKR Stadium

The Longhorns host UTSA at DKR Stadium on Saturday September 19 at 7 PM on SEC Network. Texas opened their home schedule with a dominant 59-7 win over Texas State and a Saturday night home game against UTSA is the most authentically Austin fall Saturday evening available this weekend. Tickets start at $130.

The Details

When: Saturday September 19, 7 PM CT on SEC Network
Where: Darrell K. Royal Texas Memorial Stadium, UT Austin campus
Tickets: From $130 at texassports.com
Best For: Football fans, UT alumni, anyone who wants an authentic DKR Saturday night game atmosphere

Saturday, September 19 — Candlelight Tribute to Michael Jackson at St. David’s Episcopal Church

Hear Michael Jackson’s greatest hits performed live under the glow of candlelight at St. David’s Episcopal Church, featuring favorites like Billie Jean, Thriller, Man in the Mirror, Smooth Criminal, and more. The Candlelight concert series at St. David’s is one of Austin’s most beautiful and most consistently excellent live music experiences and a Michael Jackson tribute edition is the most crowd-pleasing and most genuinely fun Candlelight show of the fall season.

The Details

When: Saturday September 19
Where: St. David’s Episcopal Church, 301 E 8th St, Austin TX 78701
Best For: Music lovers, couples, families, anyone who wants a genuinely beautiful and different Saturday night experience

Saturday, September 19 — Aurora Sessions at AWKN Ranch

The Aurora Sessions takes place Saturday September 19 at AWKN Ranch featuring yoga, meditation, breathwork, sound healing, art, live music, and local vendors during the day before transitioning into an evening concert and community jam session around the fire pit. Aurora Sessions is the most wellness-centered and most genuinely restorative event of the entire weekend. A full day of holistic wellness practices followed by live music around a fire pit in a ranch setting outside Austin is a genuinely extraordinary Saturday experience.

The Details

When: Saturday September 19, all day
Where: AWKN Ranch, Austin area
Best For: Wellness enthusiasts, couples, anyone who wants a deeply restorative and genuinely beautiful Saturday away from the city

Saturday, September 19 — Gourdgeous Glass Pumpkin Patch at Wimberley Glassworks

The Gourdgeous Glass Pumpkin Patch at Wimberley Glassworks in San Marcos runs Saturday September 19 from 10 AM to 2 PM. Hundreds of handblown glass pumpkins fill the grounds of one of the most beautiful and most well-known glassblowing studios in Texas for a free and genuinely extraordinary fall weekend event. Wimberley Glassworks is about 45 minutes southwest of Austin and the drive through the Hill Country on a clear September morning is genuinely beautiful.

The Details

When: Saturday September 19, 10 AM to 2 PM
Where: Wimberley Glassworks, 6469 Ranch Rd 12, San Marcos TX 78666
Cost: Free
Best For: Art lovers, families, couples, a genuinely beautiful and unique fall day trip from Austin

Sunday, September 20 — Austin Museum Day (FREE)

Austin Museum Day brings free admission and special programming to museums and cultural sites throughout Austin and the surrounding area on Sunday September 20. Organized by the Austin Museum Partnership, this annual citywide celebration of arts, history, and culture gives visitors and residents alike the most complete and most affordable single-day museum experience Austin produces all year.

The Details

When: Sunday September 20, 2026
Where: Multiple museums throughout Austin
Cost: Free with Austin Museum Day pass
Best For: Families, art and history lovers, anyone who wants a genuinely enriching free Sunday in Austin
Participating Venues: The Blanton Museum of Art, Bullock Texas State History Museum, Mexic-Arte Museum, Austin History Center, and more

Sunday, September 20 — Pumpkin Nights Opening Weekend

Pumpkin Nights opens for the 2026 fall season this weekend, marking the official beginning of Austin’s fall festival season. The immersive pumpkin-themed outdoor experience features thousands of hand-carved and decorated pumpkins illuminating a themed walking path through multiple scenes. It is one of the most family-friendly and most visually extraordinary fall experiences Austin produces and the opening weekend delivers the freshest and most complete version of the full installation.

The Details

When: Opening weekend September 20, 2026
Where: Check pumpkinnights.com for Austin location and hours
Website: pumpkinnights.com
Best For: Families with kids, couples, anyone who wants a genuinely beautiful and immersive fall evening experience

Saturday, September 19 — Austin-Taichung 40th Anniversary Celebration (FREE)

The Austin-Taichung 40th Anniversary Celebration at the Asian American Resource Center marks 40 years of Austin’s sister city relationship with Taichung, Taiwan. The free event runs Saturday September 19 from 11:30 AM to 3 PM and features cultural performances, food, and community celebration.

The Details

When: Saturday September 19, 11:30 AM to 3 PM
Where: Asian American Resource Center, 8401 Cameron Rd, Austin TX 78754
Cost: Free
Best For: Families, cultural enthusiasts, the Austin Asian American community

All Weekend — The Austin Essentials

After 30 years in Austin, these are the September experiences I still recommend without hesitation.

Barton Springs Pool stays at 68 degrees year round. September is genuinely one of the best months to swim at Barton Springs because the crowds are smaller than summer but the water is just as perfect. Entry is under $10 and free before 8 AM.

The Congress Avenue Bridge bat colony is still producing extraordinary emergences in mid-September before the migration south accelerates. Check batrefuge.org for nightly emergence times. Every evening this weekend delivers a genuinely beautiful bat colony emergence.

Movies on the Lake at Mozart’s Coffee continues Thursday evenings on Lake Austin. Book your paddleboard at lakeaustincalm.com now before the evening fills up.

The Perfect Austin Weekend — September 18 to 20

Here is how to put the full weekend together.

Thursday Evening: Fantastic Fest opening night screenings at Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar. The most genuinely cinematic Thursday evening in Austin this fall.

Friday: Lake Travis Zipline Adventures in the afternoon. Book your afternoon tour now at laketraviszipline.com. Then your choice of the Friday evening: Grupo Duelo at ACL Live at 8 PM for the most powerful Latin music show, Chief Keef at Riviere at 9 PM for the most high-energy hip-hop show, TroyBoi at Concourse Project at 9 PM for the best electronic music option, or Cold Waves XIV at Mohawk for the best industrial and post-punk show on Red River.

Saturday: 5th Street Vintage Market from 10 AM to 3 PM (free). Then Barton Springs Pool midday. Then Lake Travis Zipline Adventures in the afternoon if you did not go Friday. Then Austin Arte Agave Tequila and Mezcal Festival in the early evening. Then Artemas at Stubb’s or MUNA at Moody Amphitheater or Candlelight Michael Jackson tribute at St. David’s for the Saturday evening concert.

Sunday: Austin Museum Day for free admission across the city’s best museums. Blanton Museum of Art for the Ellsworth Kelly Austin building and the permanent collection. Pumpkin Nights opening weekend in the evening for the most family-friendly fall experience of the weekend. Congress Avenue Bridge bats at sunset to close out the weekend.

Frequently Asked Questions — Things to Do in Austin This Weekend

What is happening in Austin this weekend September 18 to 20 2026?

This weekend in Austin features Fantastic Fest at Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar through Sunday, Artemas Lovercore Tour at Stubb’s Saturday, MUNA at Moody Amphitheater Saturday, Grupo Duelo at ACL Live Friday, Chief Keef at Riviere Friday, Billy Currington at Round Rock Amphitheater Friday, the Austin Arte Agave Tequila and Mezcal Festival all weekend, Austin Museum Day with free citywide museum admission on Sunday, Pumpkin Nights opening weekend, the 5th Street Vintage Market Saturday (free), Candlelight Tribute to Michael Jackson Saturday, UT Longhorns vs UTSA at DKR Saturday at 7 PM, and the Gourdgeous Glass Pumpkin Patch at Wimberley Glassworks Saturday. Lake Travis Zipline Adventures is the best outdoor activity of the weekend.

What is the best thing to do in Austin this weekend?

The best thing to do in Austin this weekend is Lake Travis Zipline Adventures. You board a boat to a private island on Lake Travis about 20 to 30 minutes from downtown Austin and spend three hours on five world-class ziplines including the Double Barrel Shotgun at speeds up to 65 mph from 22 stories above the lake. After the tour your group gets full-day access to the private lakefront property. Tickets start at $88 per person. Afternoon slots are available now at laketraviszipline.com.

What is Fantastic Fest 2026 in Austin?

Fantastic Fest is the largest genre film festival in the United States, running September 17 to 25, 2026 at Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar. The festival screens horror, science fiction, fantasy, action, and cult cinema from around the world alongside filmmaker Q&As, secret screenings, and events that make it one of the most beloved and most genuinely community-rooted film events Austin produces all year. Check fantasticfest.com for the 2026 schedule and badge and ticket options.

What is Austin Museum Day?

Austin Museum Day is an annual citywide celebration of arts, history, and culture organized by the Austin Museum Partnership, taking place Sunday September 20, 2026. The event brings free admission and special programming to museums and cultural sites throughout Austin including the Blanton Museum of Art, Bullock Texas State History Museum, Mexic-Arte Museum, Austin History Center, and more.

What is the Austin Arte Agave Tequila and Mezcal Festival?

The Austin Arte Agave Tequila and Mezcal Festival runs all weekend September 18 to 20, 2026 and offers more than 100 varieties of tequila and mezcal alongside traditional mariachi, folkloric dancers, live entertainment, authentic Mexican cuisine, and artisan shopping. It is the most genuinely comprehensive and most culturally rich agave spirits festival Austin produces all fall.

Make the Most of Your Austin Weekend

This is one of the most genuinely diverse and most genuinely extraordinary Austin weekends of the entire fall season. Fantastic Fest at Alamo Drafthouse. Three major concert headliners at Austin’s best outdoor venues. A 100-variety tequila and mezcal festival. Free museum admission across the entire city. Pumpkin Nights opening weekend. A glass pumpkin patch in Wimberley. And the most beautiful fall afternoon of the year waiting for you on Lake Travis.

Start by locking in your outdoor adventure. Book Lake Travis Zipline Adventures now at laketraviszipline.com and secure your afternoon slot before the weekend sells out.

For more Austin inspiration check out our guides to the Best Things to Do in Austin TX, the Best Things to Do in Austin in the Fall, and Best Things to Do on Lake Travis.

About the Author

Rebecca is a 30-year Austin resident, UT Austin alumna, and outdoor recreation and tourism professional who has spent her career in the Austin adventure tourism industry. She has guided zipline tours on Lake Travis and worked in outdoor recreation tourism through the University of Texas, where she studied marketing and business. When she is not writing about Austin, she is out on the lake.