Five decades ago, on October 17, 1974, Willie Nelson recorded the pilot for the show, which is dubbed “the longest-running music program in television history.” The groundbreaking live music series Austin city limits (ACL) is proud to announce its milestone 50th anniversary broadcast season with an all-star list of returning favorites for the half-century milestone, including Chris Stapleton, Juanes, Gary Clark Jr., Brittany Howard, Nickel Creek, Black Pumas, Maggie Rogers And The war and the treatyalongside highly anticipated debuts from Gracie Abrams, Swiss roll And Jacob CollierACL has been offering audiences a front row seat to the best music performances for 50 years and returns on Saturday, September 28 at 7:00 p.m. CT/8:00 p.m. ET with a shining hour from an American original, seven-time Grammy winner and singer-songwriter Kacey Musgraves.
ACL airs weekly on PBS stations nationwide (check local broadcast times), and full episodes are available for online streaming immediately after their initial broadcast at pbs.org/austincitylimits.
Produced by Austin PBS and taped live at ACL’s ACL Live studio in Austin, Texas, the program has earned its place in history. In May 2024, the show’s longtime executive producer Terry Lickona received public television’s highest honor, the Beacon Award, presented by Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters. The prestigious award recognizes individuals whose work inspires Americans and enriches our nation, in keeping with PBS’s mission.
Golden, native Texan Kacey Musgraves returns for the golden anniversary season of Austin City Limits in her third series appearance. Musgraves shines in a radiant season premiere with a collection of songs from her latest Deeper wellalongside career highlights and songwriting stories. Two great acts from Austin, Gary Clark Jr. And Black Pumasget the ACL treatment in an exciting hour of next-generation rock and soul. Grammy winner Gary Clark Jr. makes his fourth appearance on the show, presenting highlights from his powerful latest offering JPEG RAW and the eight-time Grammy nominees Black Pumas shine with excerpts from their second album Chronicles of a Diamond. Singer-songwriter with breakthrough Maggie Rogers And Gracie Abrams share a cheerful hour: the Grammy-nominated Rogers illuminates with plenty of jewels from Don’t forget me in her second appearance, while 2024 Grammy nominee for Best New Artist Abrams makes her ACL debut with standout tracks from her chart-topping hit. The secret of us.
Two virtuosos delight in an innovative hour: In his ACL debut, the six-time Grammy winner, British multi-instrumentalist and singer Jacob Collier presents highlights from his Djessé Suite of albums and formative bluegrass trio Nickel Creek returns for the first time in a decade to perform songs from her acclaimed Celebrants.
Powerful singer-songwriter Brittany Howard gives her second solo performance and shines with highlights from her recent What now? along with career gems in one epic hour. Grammy-nominated Nashville sensations Swiss roll And The war and the treaty Thrills in an electrifying episode. Jelly Roll makes a must-see ACL debut with highlights from his breakthrough Whitsitt Chapel and celebrated husband and wife duo The War And Treaty bring the roof down with their powerful vocals in their second appearance on the ACL stage.
Country superstar Chris Stapleton returns with a blistering hour-long set of country-rock classics and new gems in a performance for the ages. The Colombian icon Juanes returns for an arena-worthy, hour-long performance for the first time in over a decade, delivering an irresistible, career-spanning set featuring excerpts from his acclaimed smash Life Cotidianahis 10th studio album and a highlight of his career.
Join ACL in celebrating its 50th anniversary with three events in Austin: 10th Anniversary of the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame honoring Garth Brooks Glue on 5 September 2024; Austin City Limits 50th Birthday Party on October 17, 2024, an open-air concert in Texas with a music legend; and on 21 Novemberthe programme will record a special prime-time broadcast, ACL celebrates 50th anniversaryan all-star celebration featuring some of the brightest stars in the show’s 50-year history returning to the ACL stage for the occasion. Scheduled to air on PBS in 2025, the anniversary events are open to the public and celebrate the city and community that stars in the series. The Austin skyline is the famous backdrop for the weekly show and Austin music fans make up the audience seen in each episode’s signature crowd photos.
Broadcast schedule for season 50 (second half of season will be announced separately):
September 28: Kacey Musgraves
October 5: Gary Clark Jr. | Black Cougars
October 12: Maggie Rogers | Gracie Abrams
October 19: Jacob Collier | Nickel Creek
October 26: Brittany Howard
November 2: Jelly Roll | The War and the Treaty
9 November: Chris Stapleton
16 November: Juanes
Watch new episodes live, stream online, or download the PBS app. The full schedule for the entire 14-week season, including seven new episodes airing beginning in January 2024, will be announced at a later date. Viewers can visit acltv.com for updates on live streams, future tapings and episode schedules, or by following ACL on Facebook. ÞjórsárdalurInstagram and TikTok. Fans can also browse ACL YouTube channel for exclusive songs, behind-the-scenes videos and in-depth artist interviews.
A monument to music, Austin City Limits has presented iconic performances by legends and innovators in every genre of popular song for five remarkable decades. The series is the flagship program of the popular Austin City Limits Music Festival and has received countless accolades for its quality presentation of live music performances, including a Peabody Award, a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame honor, and remains the only television series to be awarded the National Medal of Arts.
