ACL festival announces Covid-19 testing requirement for all attendees

Austin, Texas – If you plan on attending the Austin City Limits (ACL) Music Festival in October, be prepared to show negative Covid-19 test results.

Festival goers gathered around flags at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in Austin, Texas in October 2015.
Festival goers gathered around flags at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in Austin, Texas in October 2015.  © imago/Future Image

Those attending the ACL Festival this year will be required to show a negative Covid-19 test in order to get inside the gates, regardless of vaccination status.

The new requirement comes one month after the Austin Center for Events announced it would require those applying for a special events permit from the city to fill out an enhanced version of its Health and Safety Form.

According to the City of Austin's website, this form allows applicants and event organizers to provide information on how they intend to implement Covid-19 safety mitigation efforts.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce hold hands on romantic lunch date
Taylor Swift Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce hold hands on romantic lunch date

Since ACL happens outdoors and draws a crowd of well over the 2,500 person threshold that the permit requires, this Health and Safety Form must be approved by the Austin Public Health department in order for festival organizers to be granted permission.

On August 27, the City of Austin updated its safety requirements for events that need a city permit. Rather than simply requiring either proof of vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test, every person must now show negative results to attend – regardless if they're vaccinated or not.

Sara Henry, the Austin Center for Events' public information manager, told CBS Austin, "Austin Public Health will accept a plan that requires attendees to show a negative test 72 hours before the 1st [sic] day of the [ACL] festival weekend."

Austin Public Health offers free Covid-19 testing, but the wait time for results may vary.

Those who don't want to risk the wait time can sign up for a test through MyTruthTest that guarantees test results with 24 hours, though it will cost you from $90 to $130.

Cover photo: imago/Future Image

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