Reggae Rise Up Acquires Austin Reggae Festival; 2026 Lineup Revealed

Reggae Rise Up has stepped into Austin’s reggae scene as a new co-owner of the Austin Reggae Festival and unveiled the full 18-act bill for April 17-19, 2026 at Auditorium Shores. The announcement pairs a strategic expansion into Texas with a stacked weekend of artists led by Stephen Marley, Original Koffee, and Iration.

The three-day festival will run on a single main stage, a programming choice promoters describe as delivering a seamless, no-overlap performance experience that keeps listeners from choosing between sets. Friday’s bill includes Stephen Marley, Steel Pulse, Collie Buddz, Mike Love, Eli-Mac, and Zion Marley. Saturday features Original Koffee, Tribal Seeds, HIRIE, Groundation, Irie Souljah, and Cas Haley. Sunday closes with Iration, Protoje, Jesse Royal, Through the Roots, Rik Jam, and Audic Empire.

Reggae Rise Up frames the move as an expansion of its national footprint to five markets and positions the partnership as a way to boost production and artist access while keeping Austin’s community ties intact. The organization’s materials promise “turning up the energy with next-level production, a wider artist network and a renewed commitment to unity and local impact.” For longtime local promoter Pat Costigan of Leprechaun Productions, the handoff is personal: “It’s been an honor for us here at Leprechaun Productions to be able to present this great event and working with everyone involved over the years, especially for our great friends at Central Texas Food Bank.”

That charitable link remains part of the festival’s identity: organizers report that some proceeds will continue to benefit the Central Texas Food Bank. Fans who attended prior editions also got an early offer: Reggae Rise Up said it would “offer all past Austin Reggae Festival ticket buyers the opportunity to purchase loyalty tickets at previous festival year’s prices for a limited time ahead of the 2026 lineup announcement,” a move meant to reward return attendees while rolling out the new promoter’s ticketing tiers and vacation-package options.

For locals and visiting reggae fans, the single-stage format means less stage-to-stage sprinting and more chance to soak in full sets, a welcome change for families and older fans who value continuity. Vendors, artisan markets, bars, family areas, and downtown lodging packages are planned around the Auditorium Shores footprint to support a festival village feel.

Questions remain around the exact ownership structure and the division of responsibilities between Reggae Rise Up and Leprechaun Productions, and organizers note the move marks RRU’s first Texas market expansion. For now, the practical takeaways are clear: mark Apr 17-19 on the calendar, expect a roots-forward roster that spans reggae’s history and current scene, and watch for ticket windows tied to loyalty pricing. As the festival moves into this new chapter, confirm schedule or ticket changes with the festival’s official channels and look for local activations that tie Austin’s reggae community to the bigger Reggae Rise Up circuit.