ACL (Austin City Limits) Festival is one of the most popular music festivals in the United States, attracting around 75,000 fans per day. With big name acts across multiple stages, it’s no wonder ACL tickets are in high demand and sell out quickly.
How Popular is ACL Festival?
ACL Festival started in 2002 and has grown to be one of the top 10 music festivals in the USA. It’s a massive event spanning over two weekends in October at Zilker Park in Austin, TX. Around 150,000 fans attend ACL over the two weekends combined.
The festival features around 130 artists across 8 stages. Genres span rock, pop, country, folk, electronic and hip hop. Big name acts in recent years have included Paul McCartney, The Killers, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Childish Gambino and Billie Eilish.
Beyond the music there’s also an extensive food court, art market, kids area, craft beer hall and wine lounge. The beautiful outdoor setting in Zilker Park, along with the pleasant fall weather in Austin make for an incredible festival atmosphere.
When Do ACL Tickets Go on Sale?
ACL Festival tickets go on sale around 5 months before each festival. The specific on-sale dates are announced in May each year on the festival’s social media and email newsletter.
There are several ways to buy ACL tickets when the sales begin:
- Through the ACL Festival website – aclsfestival.com
- By phone – there is an ACL Fest phone number to call for ticket sales
- In person at local Austin retailers
The festival offers both 3-day passes covering a full weekend, as well as single day tickets. Prices for 3-day tickets in recent years have been around $250 plus fees.
Do ACL Tickets Sell Out?
Yes, ACL Festival does sell out very quickly every year. Looking at the last few years of on-sales provides an idea of just how fast the tickets go:
- 2022: Sold out in under 1 hour
- 2021: Sold out in under 3 hours
- 2019: Sold out in under 4 hours
Given the massive popularity of the festival and limited capacity, it’s crucial to jump online right as the tickets go on sale. They always sell out in under 6 hours.
Tips for Getting ACL Tickets
Here are some tips to help get ACL tickets before they sell out:
- Sign up for the ACL email newsletter – you’ll get a head start on exact on-sale date and time.
- Mark your calendar and set a reminder for the on-sale date.
- Recruit friends to try too – more people going for tickets means a better chance.
- Get online 10-15 min early and keep refreshing.
- Have accounts set up ahead of time for quicker checkout.
- Act fast once tickets are available – have credit card ready.
Scoring those elusive ACL tickets takes effort, but it’s worth it to experience one of the country’s top music festivals.
When Do ACL Tickets Sell Out Each Year?
Here’s a look at when ACL has sold out in recent years:
ACL Festival Year | Date Tickets Sold Out | Time to Sell Out |
---|---|---|
2022 | May 5 | 52 minutes |
2021 | May 20 | 2 hours 37 minutes |
2019 | May 2 | 3 hours 17 minutes |
2018 | May 3 | 4 hours 15 minutes |
As you can see, tickets sell incredibly quickly – always within 4-6 hours. So being ready right as the sale starts is key to getting passes before they’re gone.
Does ACL Sell Single Day Tickets?
Yes, in addition to 3-day weekend passes, ACL Festival offers single day tickets. These allow you to attend ACL on just one day, rather than the full weekend.
Single day ACL tickets grant access to all stages and activities on either that Saturday or Sunday. Prices are around $125 per day.
Some key things to know about ACL single day tickets:
- They go on sale at the same time as 3-day passes, so sell out fast too.
- You can mix and match – get a 3-day ticket and a single day.
- Single days often sell out before 3-day passes.
- No one day is known to sell out faster than others.
- If a single day does sell out, you can still buy 3-day passes.
ACL单日门票提供了一种仅参加音乐节一天的灵活选择。但由于数量有限,它们往往会迅速售罄。
How to Get ACL Tickets If They Sell Out
If you miss getting ACL tickets during the initial on-sale, don’t panic! There are still options to score passes:
- Official ACL Ticket Exchange – Fans resell extra tickets here, just pay close attention to avoid scams.
- StubHub – Reputable ticket reseller with buyer guarantees, but higher fees.
- Craigslist – Use caution as scams are common, but can find good deals.
- Facebook Groups – Join ACL fan groups and watch for ticket sale posts.
- Outside the Venue – Risky but some people score last minute tickets from scalpers.
Weekend one of ACL tends to be busier and pricier than weekend two. But if you’re vigilant and flexible on dates, scoring tickets post-sellout is very doable.
Other ACL Ticket Tips
Beyond getting tickets quickly when they go on sale, here are some other good-to-know tips about ACL tickets:
- Prices go up leading to festival, so buy early.
- GA/General Admission get access to all stages.
- Consider VIP for shaded lounges, exclusive viewing areas and more.
- You can sell extra tickets on the ACL Exchange.
- Don’t buy from sketchy scalpers or resellers without buyer guarantees.
- Enable notifications from the ACL app once tickets purchased.
Conclusion
With its incredible popularity and limited capacity, ACL Festival tickets sell out extremely quickly every year. Being prepared and acting fast when sales start gives you the best shot at getting passes.
Keep the on-sale date marked, have friends ready to help buy tickets, and jump online the moment they become available. While not guaranteed, this gives you a solid chance at scoring tickets before they’re gone.
And if you do miss out initially, don’t lose hope. There are still ways to get tickets post-sellout without paying astronomical scalper prices. With dedication, landing ACL Festival tickets is very achievable.