If live music is the heartbeat of Austin, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) made sure travelers heard it loud and clear. In 2025, AUS fully embraced its role as the Live Music Capital of the World, delivering 1,087 live performances and spotlighting more than 2,200 bands and musicians throughout the terminal. 

In case you didn’t know, the music program at AUS exclusively features Austin-based artists. More than 170 bands and performers played at AUS for the first time in 2025, expanding the musical landscape travelers experienced along the way.

Throughout the year, passengers encountered genres ranging from Romani-Gypsy and Flamenco to Sufi, Chicha (psych cumbia), Desert Blues, Harmolodic Dub, and Orchestral Jazz, reflecting the depth and diversity of Austin’s music community.

Beyond the numbers, the music program is designed to help travelers help ease the stress of travel, turning ordinary layovers into memorable moments shaped by live music. Surprise performances across the terminal brought that mission to the forefront, including Mariachi Relámpago pop-ups celebrating Mother’s Day and Día de las Madres.

Music in the terminal continued throughout the year. On Sept. 23, HAAM Day’s 20th anniversary filled the terminal with music, featuring five artists performing throughout the day in celebration of the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians and its impact on the local music community. Later in the year, AUS amplified the HOME Austin kickoff throughout November, highlighting the airport’s commitment to supporting aging musicians and extending a local mission to a global audience.

That same spirit was on display during Kid Band Week, which gave students from local music schools the opportunity to perform in the terminal and offered passengers a front-row look at the next generation of Austin musicians.

And the year ended on a festive note, as holiday performances brought music to every corner of the terminal. The Austin Gay Men’s Chorus and student performers from Del Valle Middle and High School entertained passengers, while Carpe Sono and Chor.US led terminal-wide caroling, even accompanying the Guest Services holiday gift-wrapping station. As music played on, the visual side of art at AUS flourished. Permanent and rotating artworks took root throughout the terminal, turning a walk in the terminal into a stroll of discovery.

One standout installation completed in 2025 was Convergence / Austin, an overhead artwork at Gate 15. The enchanting piece reflects AUS’s growth and its role as a shared

gateway for travelers from all walks of life. Stretching 16 by 12 feet into the terminal’s high-bay triangular space, the installation features approximately 400 vertical strands holding 3,200 elements, creating a dynamic sense of movement overhead. Commissioned through the City of Austin’s Art in Public Places Program, Convergence / Austin now stands as a permanent landmark in the terminal.

Beyond permanent installations, a rotating exhibition was placed throughout the terminal, inviting travelers to reflect on sustainability and the natural destinations they journey to and from. Keeping AUS Safe & Wild, presented by the art program at AUS, highlighted Austin Aviation’s commitment to environmental stewardship, climate resilience, and wildlife protection. Travelers learned how AUS conserves water, manages waste, reduces emissions, and coexists with the wildlife that calls airport property home.

A highlight of the year was AUS’s inaugural Public Art Makers Expo, which drew 125 attendees from Austin’s arts community. The event connected fabricators, designers, and industry professionals, showcasing mosaics, custom sculptures, and kinetic and interactive installations. These connections set the stage for continued creativity and collaboration for 2026. Building on that momentum, additional installations are taking shape through the Journey With AUS expansion program. Twenty-three artist-led teams have been commissioned to create new public artworks across the airport, continuing AUS’s approach of treating art as part of the journey rather than a backdrop to travel. Throughout 2025 and into early 2026, these teams have engaged directly with travelers, airport staff, and community members through in-terminal activities, open houses, and community activations.

As we hit the ground running in 2026, we want to slow down and thank every artist who brought life, color, and sound to AUS in 2025! Your work made each visit to our airport uniquely Austin. Here’s to another year of unforgettable performances and wondrous installations for travelers and Austinites alike.

Travelers and residents can stay connected by following AUS on social media or signing up for the Stay in Tune and Community Connections newsletters for updates on upcoming activations and public art projects.