Austin City Limits announces the broadcast lineup for its landmark Season 52, premiering this September on PBS. For the first time in the series’ more than 50-year history, every artist featured during the season will receive a full-hour broadcast episode, marking a major expansion for the longest-running music series in television history. Austin City Limits airs weekly on PBS stations nationwide (check local listings), with full episodes available to stream free on the PBS App and PBS.org.
Since its debut in 1974, Austin City Limits has showcased hundreds of legendary performances, with many episodes featuring two artists sharing a single hour. Beginning with Season 52, each artist will take center stage in a dedicated hour-long episode, allowing viewers to experience more complete performances than ever before.
“Season 52 represents an exciting new chapter for Austin City Limits,” said ACL Executive Producer Terry Lickona. “Austin City Limits has always been about giving artists a stage where the music comes first and giving audiences the opportunity to discover great artists and experience unforgettable performances. Expanding every episode to a full hour gives each artist the space to tell their complete story, and it gives our audience the chance to experience them the way they were meant to be seen and heard.”
The expanded season, featuring five additional installments for a total of eighteen, arrives at a pivotal moment in the series’ history. Following the elimination of federal funding in 2025 for Austin PBS—the home of Austin City Limits—Season 52 also marks the first season produced entirely through community support. As the landscape for televised live music continues to shrink, Austin City Limits remains one of the few national platforms dedicated to presenting artists through uninterrupted, full-length performances.
ACL returns September 4 at 7pm CT/8pm ET with a season premiere featuring celebrated Colombian superstar Carlos Vives. One of the most influential and enduring artists in Latin music, the 18-time Latin Grammy and multiple Grammy Award winner makes his ACL debut with career-spanning classics in a revelatory, high-energy hour alongside his 11-piece band, La Provincia.
The upcoming season continues to reflect the remarkable breadth and musical variety that have defined Austin City Limits for more than five decades, spanning rock, country, Americana, R&B, Latin, bluegrass and emerging artists. Season 52 presents an all-star slate of highly anticipated debuts and callbacks, including:
Olivia Rodrigo returns to Austin City Limits for the first time since her sensational ACL debut in Season 47 in 2021. The three-time Grammy Award winner brings her fearless songwriting and arena-sized show to the ACL stage backed by a 12-piece band for her first full-set live performance of her chart-topping, No. 1 album you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love, alongside fan favorites.
Billy Strings, the three-time Grammy Award-winning bluegrass superstar, makes his highly anticipated return following his Season 47 debut, delivering an electrifying performance featuring highlights from his Grammy-winning album Highway Prayers.
Miguel, the Grammy Award-winning R&B trailblazer, returns to ACL with a dynamic performance featuring songs from CAOS, his acclaimed first album in eight years.
In an unforgettable installment, 11-time Grammy Award winner Brandi Carlile returns to the ACL stage for her third appearance as she’s welcomed into the 12th Annual Austin City Limits Hall of Fame. Special musical guest Bonnie Raitt presents the induction honors and joins Carlile onstage for several songs during a full hour of performances featuring Carlile and her band, including fan favorites and highlights from her acclaimed album Returning to Myself.
Season 52 also welcomes a host of highly anticipated ACL debuts: British sensation Sienna Spiro, one of music’s most exciting emerging artists, showcases her powerhouse vocals and stylish songwriting with highlights from her debut album Visitor. Acclaimed Alabama country-rock group The Red Clay Strays bring their blistering live show to the ACL stage with standouts from their latest album Grateful. Ty Myers, the 19-year-old Austin native and breakout singer-songwriter, makes his ACL debut with his soulful sound and dynamic guitar work, performing songs from his acclaimed sophomore album Heavy On The Soul. Grammy-nominated R&B singer-songwriter Ari Lennox showcases her passionate vocals with highlights from her lauded album Vacancy alongside fan favorites. And Sebastián Yatra, the Colombian-American singer-songwriter and global ambassador of modern Latin pop, makes his ACL debut with an irresistible performance featuring highlights from his acclaimed album Milagro. The multiple Latin Grammy Award winner and Grammy Award nominee brings his distinctive sound and dynamic stage presence to the ACL stage.
In a special installment, Austin City Limits will present musical highlights from the milestone 25th Annual Americana Honors, to be recorded at Nashville’s famed Ryman Auditorium in September. The all-star line-up includes Robert Plant, Tyler Childers, Margo Price, I’m With Her, Mumford & Sons & more.
Season 52 Broadcast Line-up:
Second half of season to be announced separately
- September 4 —Carlos Vives y La Provincia
- September 12—Austin City Limits 12th Annual Hall of Fame Honors Brandi Carlile
- September 19—Billy Strings
- September 26—Miguel
- October 3—Sienna Spiro
- October 9—Olivia Rodrigo
- October 17—Ari Lennox
- October 24—The Red Clay Strays
- October 31—Ty Myers
- November 14—Sebastián Yatra
- November 21—Austin City Limits Presents: Americana 25th Annual Honors
For press images and episode information, visit the Austin City Limits press room at ACLTV.com/press-room.
Filmed before a live audience at ACL Live at The Moody Theater in downtown Austin, each episode captures the intimacy and authenticity that have made Austin City Limits a cultural institution for more than five decades. From legendary icons to today’s most exciting new voices, the series continues its mission of showcasing the very best in live music.
In 2026, Austin PBS established the ACL Trust, a dedicated reserve fund, to ensure the long-term stability of the iconic series and ensure its continuation for generations to come. Designed to strengthen financial stability, the ACL Trust provides planning confidence with a protected fund dedicated exclusively to sustaining ACL programming, and supporting the operational and production continuity of future ACL seasons. The Trust offers supporters an opportunity to invest directly in the preservation of one of America’s most important cultural institutions.
Watch Austin City Limits on PBS, stream online, or through the PBS App. Follow @acltv on Instagram, Facebook, X/Twitter and TikTok for updates on livestreams, future tapings and episode schedules. Fans can also explore the ACLTV 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.gramming, and supporting the operational and production continuity of future ACL seasons. The Trust offers supporters an opportunity to invest directly in the preservation of one of America’s most important cultural institutions.
Watch Austin City Limits on PBS, stream online, or through the PBS App. Follow @acltv on Instagram, Facebook, X/Twitter and TikTok for updates on livestreams, future tapings and episode schedules. Fans can also explore the ACLTV 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.