Community Supported Festival
Austin's NPR station to host first-ever KUT Festival in 2026
KUT is advancing its in-person programming during a new era of being 100 percent community supported.
Austin's NPR station is about to bring the fun out of public radio and onto the street. The inaugural KUT Festival will be held May 1 and 2, 2026, at multiple locations across the University of Texas at Austin campus.
A press release says it's "a new annual tradition celebrating the people, ideas, music and culture that make Austin 'Austin.'"
Attendees can expect talks and panels try mysteriously vague "hands-on activities," patronize food trucks, engage with art, and meet community organizations. Just about everything will be in-scope: arts and culture, civic engagement, energy, the environment, transportation, health and wellness, and music — much like listening to community radio, but with more dimensions in person.
KUT is no stranger to hosting events, but in a festival capacity locals are likely more familiar with KUT's sister station for music, KUTX. It does programming for The Drop-In at the Long Center, C3's Holiday Hootenanny at Radio/East, the Un Día showcase, the station's own Rock The Park series at Mueller Lake Park, and more. KUTX will also get to run with live music programming at the KUT Festival.
Tickets will go on sale in January.
Some Austinites have taken a new or deeper interest in supporting local radio after a large loss of federal funding this year. For KUT, that loss was estimated at $1.2 million. However, the station seems to be rising to the challenge, and in October even announced a new network called Austin Signal that combines reporting by news outlets all over the state.
The festival will be held at UT because, as the station's call letters imply, KUT is owned and operated by the university. The station now says it's 100 percent community supported as of September 15, 2025; before the cuts, it was already at 90 percent. Relationships with the community have always been important for KUT, but now a festival could be a defining factor in how the station thrives in a new era.
“KUT and KUTX are already bringing the news, music and culture that Austin loves to the community on a regular basis over the air and through our digital products,” said KUT Public Media general manager Debbie Hiott in the public announcement. “This festival will bring it all to life, and we can celebrate what it is to be Austin residents together and in person.”
DIIV's set was moody, but propulsive thanks to strong bass lines.Photo by Brianna Caleri
Zachary Cole Smith can always be counted on for a nostalgic 'fit.Photo by Brianna Caleri
Starcleaner Reunion singer Jo Roman keeps the beat.Photo by Brianna Caleri
From the looks of it, no one had a better time onstage than Wayne Coyne, frontman of the Flaming Lips.Photo by Brianna Caleri
The tinsel whip was one of many props.Photo by Brianna Caleri
The Flaming Lips are known for touring with huge inflatables.Photo by Brianna Caleri
A joyful crowd reacts to being blasted with confetti during the Flaming Lips' set.Photo by Brianna Caleri
Ty Segall was king of the guitar jams.Photo by Brianna Caleri
Segall's painted jeans were probably the most unique fashion statement all weekend.Photo by Brianna Caleri
The Psych Fest uniform: Earthy shorts and calf tattoos.Photo by Brianna Caleri
Thomas Attar Bellier of Al-Qasar plays a beautifully adorned electric saz.Photo by Brianna Caleri
The more mics, the better for Al-Qasar.Photo by Brianna Caleri
A closer look at the saz.Photo by Brianna Caleri
Lyrics in Arabic brought extra gravitas to the set.Photo by Brianna Caleri
How's that for a desert hallucination?Photo by Brianna Caleri
New Candys guitarist Emanuele Zanardo puts a physical flourish in his playing.Photo by Brianna Caleri
The Black Angels interrupted the technicolor parade for a largely black-and-white set.Photo by Brianna Caleri
Black Angels bassist Misti Hamrick-French basks in the cold glow of a strobe light.Photo by Brianna Caleri
Dumbo Gets Mad reminds us that Italians just get fashion.Photo by Brianna Caleri
Guitarist Luca Bergomi gets in on bassist Ivan Torelli's shot.Photo by Brianna Caleri
LA LOM bassist Jake Faulkner captures the sun.Photo by Brianna Caleri
Guitarist Zac Sokolow danced for the whole set, which happened to be on his birthday.Photo by Brianna Caleri
Faulkner's grandstanding added flavor to the show, which ultimately didn't need psychedelic visuals.Photo by Brianna Caleri
Faulkner's howls cut through the air, hardly amplified.Photo by Brianna Caleri
Trish Toledo paid homage to mothers and couples in her romantic set.Photo by Brianna Caleri
Not a practical shoe for a rainy weekend. We salute her sacrifice for fashion.Photo by Brianna Caleri
Thee Sacred Souls closed out the festival with a brass section.Photo by Brianna Caleri
This backup singer was exquisitely styled in blue.Photo by Brianna Caleri
Singer Josh Lane snapped a photo of an adoring audience. See you next time, Josh.Photo by Brianna Caleri