Trailblazing live music series Austin City Limits (ACL) unveils the second half of its Season 51, announcing five new episodes beginning in January 2026 to round out the acclaimed program’s thirteen-episode run. As a special treat for fans, ACL also presents a bonus mid-season installment featuring freshly minted triple 2026 Grammy nominee Jon Batiste in a sensational new hour premiering December 13, 2025 at 7pm CT/8pm ET.
ACL ushers in the new year with a standout slate of broadcast episodes showcasing best-in-class performances from returning favorites and highly-anticipated debuts by some of today’s most talked-about acts: Jon Batiste, Leon Thomas, Marcus King Band, Queens of the Stone Age, Reneé Rapp, Thee Sacred Souls and Wyatt Flores. Season 51’s second half premieres Saturday, January 17 at 7pm CT/8pm ET. ACL airs weekly on PBS stations nationwide (check local listings) with full episodes available to stream at pbs.org/austincitylimits and on the free PBS App.
Following its milestone 50th Anniversary in 2024, Austin City Limits continues its extraordinary run as the longest-running music series in television history, offering viewers a front-row seat to iconic performances for more than five decades. Produced by Austin PBS, the series is recorded live at ACL’s studio home, ACL Live, in Austin, Texas, and remains a pillar of public media, presenting stellar live music across all genres of popular music.
Seven-time Grammy and Academy Award-winning singer, songwriter, and composer Jon Batiste returns to the ACL stage for the first time since his electrifying 2021 Season 47 debut. Riding high with a trio of 2026 Grammy nominations for his latest album Big Money, the New Orleans native—an exuberant ambassador of jazz, blues, roots and soul—delivers a joyful, high-energy performance featuring selections from the Grammy-nominated release, which earned nods for Best Americana Album, Best Americana Song and Best American Roots Performance. Batiste, backed by a 14-piece band including legendary players, guitarist Nick Waterhouse, drummer Steve Jordan and percussionist Pedrito Martinez, is joined by special guest, soul/R&B favorite Andra Day for a song, making for an unforgettable Season 51 hour.
Rock titans Queens of the Stone Age take the ACL stage anew for the first time in a decade with a performance unlike anything in the show’s 50-plus-year history. In a rare television appearance, Josh Homme & Co. showcase their innovative opus Alive in the Catacombs—conceived and recorded in the ancient tombs beneath Paris—delivering an epic, three-act, full-hour master class in music and mood, accompanied by a nine-piece orchestra.
ACL is also thrilled to spotlight six-time 2026 Grammy nominee and R&B innovator Leon Thomas in a full-hour Season 51 finale. Dubbed “R&B’s hottest rock star,” Thomas leads the pack as one of 2026’s top Grammy contenders, including the prestigious Album of the Year and Best New Artist. This chart-topping dynamo—already a Grammy-winning songwriter—brings highlights from his acclaimed Album of the Year-nominated MUTT and new EP PHOLKS in a magnetic ACL debut, which features a special appearance by Ty Dolla $ign.
Season 51 introduces multiple fan-favorite acts in revelatory ACL debuts. Pop phenom Reneé Rapp delivers chart-toppers and kiss-off anthems from her LP BITE ME in a double-bill with acclaimed modern soul trio Thee Sacred Souls, who shine with sweet-soul highlights from their critically lauded sophomore album Got A Story To Tell. One of music’s most electrifying live acts, South Carolina’s Marcus King Band, make their long-awaited ACL premiere with a scorching performance of blistering guitar, rockin’ fan faves, and new tracks from their latest LP Darling Blue. Sharing the hour is breakout Red Dirt country singer-songwriter Wyatt Flores, in an impressive first visit to the ACL stage, bringing gems from his standout release Welcome to the Plains.
“As we roll out five new episodes, representing at least that many different genres, ACL proves itself once again to be the home for music discovery and a showcase for a new generation of deserving talent,” said longtime ACL executive producer Terry Lickona. “For 50 years, our stage has hosted past, present and future legends, and these new episodes lean into the future more than ever.”
Season 51 Broadcast Schedule (Second Half):
- December 13, 2025 Jon Batiste
- January 17, 2026 Reneé Rapp | Thee Sacred Souls
- January 24, 2026 Marcus King Band | Wyatt Flores
- January 31, 2026 Queens of the Stone Age
- February 7, 2026 Leon Thomas
Season 51 premiered in October 2025 with standout sets from numerous 2026 Grammy nominees, including 10x Grammy-winning artist and producer FINNEAS, LA breakout band the Marías, country superstar Kelsea Ballerini, country & western maverick Charley Crockett, country singer-songwriter Cam, and 5x Grammy-winning jazz vocalist Samara Joy; along with acclaimed debut performances from chart-topper Role Model, and rising singer-songwriters Waxahatchee and MJ Lenderman.
ACL also welcomed rock legends My Morning Jacket into the 11th Annual ACL Hall of Fame, celebrated by Oscar-winning filmmaker Cameron Crowe, with the band returning to the ACL stage for the first time in over a decade to deliver a powerhouse performance in the commemorative hour. ACL additionally honored the 50-year legacy of iconic Austin blues club Antone’s with Austin City Limits Celebrates Antone’s & the Blues, a supercharged, all-star salute, and a genre integral to the series’ own history. Fan-favorite encore episodes will continue to air through the end of 2025.
Watch live, stream online, or download the PBS App. Visit acltv.com for updates on live streams, future tapings and episode schedules, or follow @acltv on Facebook, X/Twitter, IG and TikTok. Fans can also explore the ACL YouTube channel for exclusive songs, behind-the-scenes content, and full-length artist interviews. Learn more about Austin City Limits, its programming and its history at acltv.com.