Free Week
- Dates
- Expected January 2027
- Status
- Expected
- Venue
- Red River Cultural District (multiple venues)
- Price
- Free
- Camping
- None on site
- Last checked
- Oct 20, 2026
The last Free Week was January 9 to 10, 2026, in Austin, TX. Its 2027 dates haven't been announced yet. Froligo tracks free-entry details, attendee feedback and travel details.
The experience
What's special
Free Week is an admission-free winter music festival in the Red River Cultural District of downtown Austin, Texas, founded in 2003 at Emo's near 6th and Red River Street to keep clubs' lights on and staff working during the slower winter months. What began as a one-venue, one-day event has grown over two decades into a citywide celebration, and the Red River Cultural District is its principal organizer. It generally takes place over the first weekend of the first week of the year.
How it works
Free Week is admission-free, with performances across the district's live music venues focused on local and regional talent. The 2026 participating venues included Chess Club, Elysium, Flamingo Cantina, Feels So Good, Kingdom, Marlow, Pelon's Tex Mex, The 13th Floor, The Side Bar, Stubb's, Swan Dive and Valhalla. Free Week 2026 featured over 100 performances by local and regional artists who were paid for their gigs, and the 2027 dates and schedule are listed as coming soon.
Who it suits
Free Week is aimed at people who want to hear local and regional Austin bands for free in the Red River venues, and it is described as bringing together thousands of residents and hundreds of local bands each January.
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Listen
No official playlist linked yet. Find Free Week on Spotify.
Lineup
Getting there
Nearest airport AUS.
How do I get to Free Week?
By car
Most people drive to Free Week. The nearest major airport is AUS, and from there it is a straightforward drive to the venue. Check current road and traffic conditions before you set off, and see parking below.
By train
No direct passenger rail to the venue was found. Drive, fly in, or use a shuttle instead.
By bus & public transit
Route 20 serves the airport and runs to downtown Austin every 15-30 min, 7 days/week (~35 min to downtown); downtown stops sit a short walk from the Red River corridor where Free Week's venues cluster (6th-9th & Red River St).
Book / infoTaxi & rideshare
Pickup is at the Consolidated Rental Car Facility (behind the Red Garage), not curbside at arrivals
Book / infoTaxis and rideshare such as Uber and Lyft can be limited near the venue, especially late at night or in rural areas. Agree a pickup point and time in advance and keep a backup plan.
Affiliate Flying in? You can book an airport transfer from AUS in advance rather than joining the taxi queue on arrival. Transfer links may earn Froligo a commission; they never change the price you pay.
🅿 Parking
No on site parking. Use nearby lots or transit. Cost Neither the official Free Week page (redriverculturaldistrict.org/free-week/) nor Visit Austin's Red River Cultural District page mention dedicated event parking, a lot, or a prepay platform. Free Week is a multi-venue bar/club crawl with no single venue or festival-controlled lot, so attendees use ordinary downtown Austin street parking (metered, often scarce) and nearby paid garages on a per-venue basis.
🚙 Car hire
Compare car hire at AUS
There is no on site parking at the venue, so if you are hiring a car it is worth sorting nearby parking or a park and ride before you go.
Search car hireCar hire links may earn Froligo a commission; they never change the price you pay.
Where
Map shows the center of Austin. The venue's exact point is not confirmed yet.
Venue
Red River Cultural District (multiple venues)
Camping & Accommodation
Where can I stay near Free Week?
No on site camping. Here is where to stay nearby.
Budget stays 1
805 Neches St, Austin, TX 78701
Typically $70-130 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check ratesTreat yourself 2
810 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701
Typically $170-300 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check rates101 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701
Typically $350-700 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check ratesAirbnb & private camping
Free Week runs on a quiet first weekend of January, outside Austin's busy seasons, so short-term rentals near Red River and East Austin are usually at normal winter rates.
Search AirbnbNot a realistic fit. Free Week is a downtown club crawl with no camping component and no reason for a reader to look at private-land camping; nearest Hipcamp listings are 30+ minutes outside Austin in the Hill Country, aimed at car-camping trips rather than a walkable bar crawl.
Search HipcampSearch all hotels near Red River Cultural District
Hotel links may earn Froligo a commission; they never change the price you pay.
Accessibility & comfort
The organizer does not publish accessibility details. Ask them directly before you travel about step-free access, accessible toilets, seating and anything else you need.
Pricing
While you're in Austin
AffiliateTiqets sells timed entry to Austin's museums, towers and tours, booked on your phone, worth a look if you have a spare day either side of the festival.
Browse Austin attractionsWe may earn a commission if you book a ticket. It costs you nothing extra and never changes what we tell you about a festival.
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Quick answers
When is Free Week 2027?
Not announced yet. The last festival was January 9 to 10, 2026. The next one is expected in January.
How much are Free Week tickets?
Entry is free.
Where is Free Week held?
Red River Cultural District (multiple venues), Austin, TX.