Austin’s events calendar is packed for February and March 2026, with food festivals, major runs, art nights, cultural celebrations, and community events filling the city. This guide gives you the essentials for every major happening—plus the insider strategies locals actually use to beat crowds, save time, and score the best parking, food, and viewpoints. For even more planning help, you can cross‑check dates and updates on the City of Austin official events calendar.

FEBRUARY 2026 HIGHLIGHTS
• Jo’s Chili Cook-Off (Feb 1) at Jo’s South Congress. A beloved annual showdown with classic, spicy, and experimental chili entries, perfectly paired with an afternoon exploring South Congress restaurants from the scene covered in Inside Austin’s 2026 Dining Surge: The Insider Guide to South Congress and East Cesar Chavez’s Restaurant Renaissance.

• Carnaval Brasileiro (Feb 7) at The Far Out Lounge. Austin’s wildest samba-drenched costume blowout; check official Carnaval Brasileiro details for tickets, costume guidelines, and shuttle updates.

• Austin Marathon (Feb 15). One of the city’s largest athletic events with major downtown road closures—course maps and spectator logistics are all on the Austin Marathon official site.

• OUTsider Festival (Feb 18–22) in East Austin. A queer transmedia festival blending film, art, drag, and performance; the OUTsider Festival site lists the latest venues, schedule, and passes.

• Austin Boogie Down Picnic (Feb 14). A dance‑centered Valentine’s picnic event that pairs nicely with other music‑forward February happenings like the Mardi Gras‑themed bash in Inside Pardi Gras Blowout at Banger’s: The Insider Guide to Austin’s Wildest Mardi Gras Mashup.

• Austin Ballet Winter Performances (Feb 13–15). Look for exact showtimes and venues on the Austin tourism events page as the ballet announces its 2026 winter program.

• ACL Live Community Day (Feb 22) at ACL Live, with free venue tours—if you love the space, you can dive deeper into the venue experience with Inside Kenny Wayne Shepherd at ACL Live: The Insider Guide to Austin’s Blues‑Rock Homecoming for the Ledbetter Heights 30th Anniversary.

• Lunar New Year Festival (date varies in Feb) at multiple Asian cultural centers. The Asian American Resource Center is a good starting point for official CelebrAsia and related Lunar New Year programming.

MARCH 2026 HIGHLIGHTS
• Art Walk on the Trail (March 26). A one‑day pop