Visit www.batfest.com for complete details and music lineup! 1.5 million Mexican Free Tail Bats, music, arts and crafts, food, kids activities!
BATFEST 2026
Featuring
Wild Child
Austin, Texas is fortunate to be the home of the largest urban bat colony in the world as 1.5 million Mexican Free-Tail Bats live underneath the Ann W. Richards Congress Ave Bridge in the heart of Downtown! Every night during spring and summer, these magnificent creatures fly out from their roosting places in search of tasty Texas insects. Thousands of people from all over the world visit the Ann W. Richards Congress Ave Bridge every night to witness this amazing sight.
Roadway Productions is proud to present the 20th Anniversary BAT FEST – An Austin Festival Tradition that celebrates LIVE Music, Food, Family Fun, Children’s Activities, and of course, THE FAMOUS CONGRESS BRIDGE BATS! This is the only festival in Austin that takes place on a bridge!
Other attractions:
- kid’s zone
- fabulous food and drink vendors
- approximately 25 arts & crafts vendors
- the famous Congress Avenue Bridge Bats!
Bat Viewing will take place on the bridge / below the bridge from the Statesman Lot (exact timing is not available as Mother Nature dictates here).
*event format, stage locations, all logistics subject to change.
North Stage
- 3:00pm
- 4:20pm
- 5:50pm
- 6:45pm
- 6:55pm
- 8:40pm
- 10:00pm Wilf Child
- DJ Grip between bands
Cost: Advance Tickets $15 GA! VIP $150! Price at gate $25 including all fees. Children 10 and under free with an adult.
VIP Tickets:
Want to be in the front row? Get a VIP ticket. It includes access to VIP only designated areas featuring front row standing area at the stage, a voucher to be used at the official event merchandise booth for any event t-shirt available, reserved VIP parking, 2 complimentary drink tickets* for any adult beverage served at the bar (adult beverages can be purchased after drink tickets are used), 1 food voucher to be used at any event food booth, water and soda. *Must be 21 or older to consume beer, wine, or liquor in Texas. Rain or Shine event. Refunds and rescheduling are not possible.
About the Bats:
A good source for information specific to the Congress Ave. Bats is Austinbats.org . Because bats are wild animals, it is hard to predict exactly when the emergence will begin but the flight usually begins between 7:00 – 8:45 p.m. The emergence can last up to ½ hour as 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats head out for their nightly flight.
Rain or Shine event. Rescheduling and refunds are not possible.