Editor’s note: The above video is from previous coverage that aired on KXAN on Sept. 11, 2025.
AUSTIN (KXAN) — October is arguably one of the busiest months in Austin when it comes to tourism, thanks to huge events like the Austin City Limits Music Festival and the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix.
Thousands of people come to the Texas Capital City for the attractions, many of whom stay at short-term rental (STR) properties like Airbnb.
Airbnb said during the two events last year, the company’s hosts collectively earned over $26 million by hosting racing fans and music fest attendees from around the world. The average daily rate for Airbnb stays during both weekends of ACL last year was under $200, according to the rental company.
In 2024, Airbnb hosts and guests in Austin generated $239 million in economic activity, according to Airbnb data.
STR regulation changes
Since October of last year, the Austin City Council has approved several short-term rental regulation changes. One of those rules required STR platforms to collect Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT), beginning April 1, 2025.
According to city data Airbnb shared with KXAN, Austin collected more than $5 million in HOT from STRs from April to July, the first few months of that change.
Another change will go into effect Oct. 1, just as the busy tourism month kicks off. That new rule means STRs will be largely regulated through the city’s business code instead of its land development code.
Last week, city council advanced additional changes, including:
- For anyone owning more than one property with short-term rental(s) on it, the properties will need to be at least 1,000 feet apart
- For a site with more than four units, like an apartment complex, “the greater of one unit or 10 percent of the housing units the person owns can be operated as short-term rentals”
- On a site with four or more housing units that also has a commercial use, that percentage bumps to 25%
- Host sites must put the city STR license number in their advertisement
- Those host platforms will be told to “de-list” advertisements at request of the city and they cannot collect fees from STRs that do not have the appropriate city license
Airbnb guests’ demographics for ACL, F1
According to Airbnb data, Formula 1 draws visitors from across the country and across the world, including cities like New York, Boston, Chicago, Seattle, Denver, and Melbourne, Australia. As for ACL, most Airbnb guests are from Texas, especially Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and El Paso.
Airbnb also noted the age difference between guests planning trips for the two events. The largest share of guests for Formula 1 was between ages 30-39, while ACL draws a younger crowd, between ages 25-29.
More about ACL, F1
Austin City Limits Music Fest will return to Zilker Park Oct. 3-5 and Oct. 10-12.
Headliners include Sabrina Carpenter, Hozier, Luke Combs, The Strokes, John Summit, and Doechii will perform in Austin. The Killers were also recently added as one of the fest’s headliners, replacing Doja Cat after she dropped from the lineup.
Some other notable acts aside from headliners include Cage The Elephant, Empire of the Sun, T-Pain, Pierce the Veil (Weekend Two), Maren Morris (Weekend One), King Princess, and Japanese Breakfast, among others.
The Formula 1 United States Grand Prix will be held at the Circuit of the Americas Oct. 17-19. The weekend will include nonstop racing action, performances by Kygo, Garth Brooks, and the Turnpike Troubadours, as well as other events along the way.
Details about ACL can be found at ACLFestival.com, and more information about the F1 weekend can be found on COTA’s website.
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