Spring Festival Season 2026 Kicks Off This Week

Spring Festival Season has arrived in Austin for 2026. Events kick off with the SXSW Conference and Festival beginning Thursday, March 12. It's the first of many festivals the City of Austin hosts this time of year, bringing tens of thousands of attendees from across the state, country and globe. Before festival goers make their way to Austin, City leaders gathered Wednesday to discuss preparations for Spring Festival Season and how community members and attendees can safely enjoy themselves.

"To the thousands of folks that will be coming to town for these unique Austin experiences, we are happy to welcome you, as a City, and we ask Austinites for patience and partnership as we navigate the challenges that festivals and events bring to our home," Mayor Kirk Watson said. "When you see the traffic congestion, road closures, and additional public safety presence, please know this is to ensure everyone coming to Austin can have a great time in the safest way possible."

Spring Festival Season continues to be successful because of the positive relationship between event organizers and the Austin community. To help attendees successfully navigate the next few weeks, important information on transportation adjustments, safety tips and services available are listed below.

A replay of Wednesday's press conference will be available in the coming days on ATXN. 

Austin Transportation and Public Works

Larger, more dispersed crowds are expected throughout downtown Austin. Use the interactive Spring Festival Season Mobility Guide to see street closures, rideshare staging areas and loading zones, public transit stations and routes, bicycle routes, and more. Festival attendees are encouraged to take advantage of the City's downtown mobility options, including the CapMetro Bikeshare system, walking and public transit.

The City has installed more than 640 Leading Pedestrian Interval (LPI) signals since June which show a walk signal for a few seconds before a green light for cars appears. They are a noticeable change for those that have not been in Austin since last Spring, but have contributed to an 18% drop in crashes involving left turning vehicles in intersections where they are installed.

Drivers are asked to slow down, stay alert and eliminate distractions when traveling near event locations. Pedestrians and cyclists are reminded to follow signals, stay aware of their surroundings and make eye contact with drivers when possible.

Austin Police Department

Austin Police Department will be highly visible throughout the downtown area. The number one priority is ensuring everyone has a safe and enjoyable time during Spring Festival Season. Please drink responsibly and have a plan to get home safely. A no-refusal initiative will begin on March 12 and run evenings and nights through March 18.  

Please make sure to follow traffic signals, signage and officer instructions. Street closures will be clearly marked so do not ignore or attempt to drive around them. There will be limited parking in certain areas of downtown and many residential areas near downtown require permits. All "No parking / Tow-away" zones will be enforced.

APD wants everyone to feel safe while enjoying Spring Festival Season. Officers are paying attention and fully prepared in the event something happens. If you see something, please say something.

Austin-Travis County EMS

Austin-Travis County EMS (ATCEMS) will have multiple dedicated response units and personnel assigned to the downtown entertainment district, including areas around 6th Street, the Warehouse District, Rainey Street and East Austin. An ATCEMS commander and tactical dispatchers will coordinate medical response from the City's Event Operations Center.

The ATCEMS Patient Collection Point will be in operation during the busiest festival hours to allow teams to quickly evaluate and treat patients with the event area. With warmer weather expected, remember to stay hydrated and please use extra caution when riding scooters - especially for the first time.

Austin Fire Department

The Austin Fire Special Events team from the Fire Marshal's Office will permit and inspect all events submitted through the Austin Center for Events to ensure a safe, enjoyable experience for all attendees.

Inspectors will also be part of the multi-agency Public Assembly Code Enforcement (PACE) team to assist with permitting and safety issues, such as over-occupancy or lack of proper exiting at venues.

Despite recent rainfall, Central Texas remains in an overall drought status. Visitors enjoying Austin's outdoor spaces should use caution with activities like outdoor cooking and refrain from throwing cigarette butts out of vehicle windows to avoid starting grass or brush fires.  

Austin Parks and Recreation 

Please follow the City's Leave No Trace principals so parks, trails and green spaces can be enjoyed for Spring Festival Seasons to come.

• Be considerate of other visitors.
• Take trash and leftover food with you when you leave Austin's green spaces. 
• Plan ahead and dress appropriately for the weather. 
• Stay on established trails when walking to events. 
• Bring bags for pet waste and dispose of them in designated areas.  

For more information, visit AustinTexas.gov/LeaveNoTrace.   

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)

Airport officials recommend travelers arrive 2.5 hours prior to domestic flights and 3 hours prior to international flights. Text "Travel" to AskTSA (275-872) for questions on what items may be prohibited to bring through security checkpoints.

New for this year's Spring Festival Season is the opening of Checkpoint 4 for general screening which provides easier access to Gates 22 and above. Additionally, please be aware of ongoing construction as part of the Journey With AUS expansion program, which will modernize facilities and prepare for continued growth in Central Texas.

Austin Public Health

Spring Festival Season attendees are encouraged to be vaccinated, use hand sanitizer, wash hands often and stay home if they feel sick. Vaccines are widely available at doctor's offices, pharmacies and clinics including Austin Public Health's Shots for Tots and Big Shots clinics.

Austin Public Health's Environmental Health Services Division will be out in full force this festival season, completing well over 1,000 food safety audits and regulatory inspections across Temporary Food Establishments, mobile food units, and major public events. These staff help ensure every venue has safe drinking water, adequate restrooms, proper handwashing stations, and other essential protections, keeping everyone safe while they enjoy the live music capital of the world.

Communication During Spring Festival Season  

The City of Austin (@austintexasgov) and Austin Emergency Management (@AustinHSEM) will utilize X to share relevant information throughout the festivities.    

Austin Police Department (@Austin_Police), Austin-Travis County EMS (@ATCEMS) and Austin Fire (@austinfiredept) will also employ their X feeds for time-sensitive public safety notifications.   

Community members and visitors should call 9-1-1 in the event of an emergency - if there is an immediate threat to life or property - and Austin 3-1-1 (512-974-2000) to report a non-emergency situation.   

Details and updates for Spring Festival Season will be posted on AustinTexas.gov/SpringFestivalATX.