Your Ultimate Guide to Levitation Fest 2026

Desarey Elizondo Lopez 

Music Journalist

Every year since 2008, the live music capitol of the world hosts one of the most vibrant and anticipated festivals of the year: Levitation. From September 10th-13th, Austin shows off all that it has to offer, from iconic artists such as The Garden, Bikini Kill, and Molchat Doma, to vibrant art installations and delicious on-site food and drinks. Levitation will be spread across some of the most popular music venues, with the main central hub taking place at The Far Out Lounge. With the festival fast approaching, here are a few standout bands and events that you won’t want to miss this year. 

Friday 11th: 

 Grocery Bag: 

Opening up The Far Out Lounge on Friday will be up-and-coming rock band Grocery Bag. They bring the best energy to every stage they play and have become one of my favorite bands to see live. I’m hyped to see them finally perform on the big stage, especially in their home city. Combining elements of punk with garage rock and psychedelia, Grocery Bag’s raw, DIY energy is perfect if you are looking for a new band with a unique sound and the best way to kick off Levitation. 

 Die Spitz: 

Ausin will be welcoming hometown heroes Die Spitz back onstage at The Far Out Lounge. Pulling inspiration from punk, metal, and garage rock, the four-piece band has come a long way since first forming in 2022, with their latest feat being on tour with Olivia Rodrigo. They also released one of my favorite albums Something To Consume last year, which shows off their heaviest and grittiest riffs yet. If you are looking for a band to get loud and rowdy to, then Die Spitz is the band for you.[Text Wrapping Break] 

Bikini Kill: 

One of the most influential feminist punk bands is set to headline Friday Night at The Far Out Lounge. Bikini Kill’s origins trace back to 1990 in Olympia, Washington, where they began touring, releasing albums, and further pioneering the Riot Grrrl movement. They disbanded in 1997, but still play reunion tours, and Levitation is one of these exceptions. If any band is a must see, then Bikini Kill is at the top of that list. [Text Wrapping Break] 

Her New Knife: 

One of the most popular newgen shoegaze bands will be opening up Stubb’s Friday night. Her New Knife is one of the most unique bands I’ve come across because of their atmospheric and moody sound combined with heavy basslines and guitar riffs that will for sure grab your attention. I have seen them play in Austin a few times before and can’t wait to catch them again at Levitation.[Text Wrapping Break] 

The Garden: 

Arguably the most exciting act and the one I’m looking most forward to is punk duo The Garden. They are currently on tour for their latest album Bootleg and are making a stop at Stubb’s on Friday. They are a bass and drum duo made up of twin brothers Wyatt and Fletcher Shears, and have really zeroed in on their unique sound, which combines electronic and synth elements as well. Their live shows are also known to be rowdy, and I can’t wait to experience the chaos. If there’s any band that makes Levitation worth attending, then The Garden certainly does. 

 Psychedelic Cumbia Party: 

If you’re still feeling energetic and looking for something else to attend, Hotel Vegas will be hosting a Psychedelic Cumbia Party Friday and Saturday night. There will be various DJ sets and a dance class to start off both nights. It’s a quirky and fun event that definitely adds a unique spin to the festival. 

 Saturday 12th: 

 Novulent: 

Shoegaze and alternative rock band Novulent is set to play at The Far Out Lounge on Saturday. Expect to be entranced by their hazy, atmospheric and grungy sound, which is influenced by bands such as Deftones and Whirr. Since first forming in 2022, the band quickly reached popularity through social media due to some of their songs going viral. Novulent has continued to release music nearly every year and tour with various musicians, which ultimately led to them playing at Levitation this year and I can’t wait to listen to their songs live.

Molchat Doma: 

One of the major headliners for Levitation is post-punk band Molchat Doma, who are scheduled to play Saturday at The Far Out Lounge. Their origins begin in 2017 in Belarus, and their popularity has exploded since their song “Судно (Борис Рыжий)” was released in 2018. Their sound is a mix of post-punk with new-wave and synth-pop, and the fact that all of their lyrics are in Russian adds another layer of distinction to this already fascinating band. Seeing them at Levitation is for sure an experience that you simply can’t miss out on. 

 Monolord: 

If you’re looking for something heavier, then Doom Metal band Monolord is just for you. Their sludgy riffs and dragging basslines make them stand out from a lot of the band on this year’s lineup. This band first formed in 2013 in Sweden, and have since taken the world by storm with some of their songs such as “Empress Rising”, which was released in 2014. If you are interested in bands such as Black Sabbath, Electric Wizard, and Sleep (who are also playing this year!), then Monolord is right up your alley and one you should see if you plan on attending Levitation. 

 Sunday 13th: 

 Flyingfish: 

Sunday may be the last day of Levitation, but that doesn’t mean the energy will be slowing down anytime soon. Flyingfish is the solo shoegaze project of Sam Fishman, whose fame began to rise in 2023 after the release of his song “wonder if u care”. Since then he has toured with various artists such as Dead Calm and Panchiko, and having a full band now, they are scheduled to play at one of my favorite venues, Mohawk. They are currently on tour as well and planning on playing new songs live that I can’t wait to hear live. 

 Rehash:Last but certainly not least is Rehash, a four-piece rock band that has been on my list of artists to see live for a while now. Their sound has been compared to Radiohead, The Strokes, and Panchiko, and as a fan of all of those bands myself, I’m eager to hear what this band sounds like on the big stage. They will be playing at Mohawk as the closer, so I hope the crowd brings all the energy to make this show the best one to end Levitation. 

 The lineup for this year’s Levitation is stacked and one that you can’t miss. These bands are just a few of my standouts, but I can guarantee that any band playing at the festival will be worthy of your time. From shoegaze and psychedelia to doom metal and everything in-between, Levitation has something to offer for every music lover.