Documentary

The Best Seasons of Austin City Limits

Every season of Austin City Limits ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best seasons of Austin City Limits!

Binge this in Unknown•Peaking at 10.0/10

Now the longest-running music series in American television history, ACL showcases popular music legends and innovators from every genre.

Airs on

Season 1

1 Episodes

First Aired: Jan 1975

10.0/ 10

Average Rating

Best episodeE1 · Willie Nelson 10.0

Season 31

14 Episodes

First Aired: Oct 2005

9.7/ 10

Average Rating

Best episodeE8 · Coldplay / Michael Stipe 9.7

Season 39

13 Episodes

First Aired: Oct 2013

9.6/ 10

Average Rating

Best episodeE9 · Jason Isbell / Neko Case 10.0

Other Seasons

Season 26

14 Episodes

First Aired: Oct 2000

9.4/ 10

Average Rating

Best episodeE13 · Fats Domino 9.4

Season 20

1 Episodes

First Aired: Mar 1995

9.0/ 10

Average Rating

Best episodeE8 · Stevie Ray Vaughan: A Retrospective 9.0

Season 29

13 Episodes

First Aired: Oct 2003

9.0/ 10

Average Rating

Best episodeE6 · John Mayer / Buddy Guy and Double Trouble 9.6

Season 52

9 Episodes

First Aired: Sep 2026

9.0/ 10

Average Rating

Best episodeE2 · ACL Hall of Fame Honors Brandi Carlile 9.0

Season 34

13 Episodes

First Aired: May 2008

8.9/ 10

Average Rating

Best episodeE7 · Aimee Mann / Iron & Wine 9.0

Season 27

13 Episodes

First Aired: Oct 2001

8.7/ 10

Average Rating

Best episodeE3 · Patty Loveless / the Del McCoury Band 8.7

#10

Season 40

14 Episodes

First Aired: Oct 2014

8.6/ 10

Average Rating

Best episodeE3 · Tweedy 9.3

#11

Season 44

13 Episodes

First Aired: Oct 2018

8.3/ 10

Average Rating

Best episodeE2 · John Prine 9.2

#12

Season 33

14 Episodes

First Aired: Oct 2007

8.2/ 10

Average Rating

Best episodeE6 · The Arcade Fire 8.8

#13

Season 37

15 Episodes

First Aired: Oct 2011

8.2/ 10

Average Rating

Best episodeE14 · Florence + The Machine / Lykke Li 8.6

#14

Season 38

13 Episodes

First Aired: Oct 2012

8.2/ 10

Average Rating

Best episodeE2 · Bon Iver 8.6

#15

Season 30

13 Episodes

First Aired: Jan 2004

8.2/ 10

Average Rating

Best episodeE8 · Elvis Costello 8.6

#16

Season 35

14 Episodes

First Aired: Oct 2009

8.0/ 10

Average Rating

Best episodeE4 · Andrew Bird; St. Vincent 8.5

#17

Season 51

13 Episodes

First Aired: Oct 2025

8.0/ 10

Average Rating

Best episodeE6 · Austin City Limits Celebrates Antone's & The Blues 8.0

#18

Season 32

13 Episodes

First Aired: Oct 2006

7.8/ 10

Average Rating

Best episodeE5 · Sufjan Stevens followed by Calexico 8.5

#19

Season 43

13 Episodes

First Aired: Oct 2017

7.8/ 10

Average Rating

Best episodeE1 · Ed Sheeran 8.3

#20

Season 8

2 Episodes

First Aired: Aug 1983

7.8/ 10

Average Rating

Best episodeE5 · B.B. King 7.8

#21

Season 42

13 Episodes

First Aired: Jul 2016

7.8/ 10

Average Rating

Best episodeE1 · Paul Simon 8.3

#22

Season 47

13 Episodes

First Aired: Oct 2021

7.7/ 10

Average Rating

Best episodeE1 · Miranda Lambert with Jack Ingram and Jon Randall 8.5

#23

Season 41

15 Episodes

First Aired: Oct 2015

7.7/ 10

Average Rating

Best episodeE3 · Sturgill Simpson / Asleep at the Wheel 7.7

#24

Season 46

13 Episodes

First Aired: Oct 2020

7.5/ 10

Average Rating

Best episodeE1 · The Best of John Prine 8.8

#25

Season 48

13 Episodes

First Aired: Oct 2022

7.3/ 10

Average Rating

Best episodeE1 · Brandi Carlile 8.7

#26

Season 45

13 Episodes

First Aired: Oct 2019

7.3/ 10

Average Rating

Best episodeE9 · The Raconteurs / Black Pumas 7.9

#27

Season 49

13 Episodes

First Aired: Oct 2023

7.2/ 10

Average Rating

Best episodeE12 · Alanis Morissette 8.0

#28

Season 36

13 Episodes

First Aired: Oct 2010

7.2/ 10

Average Rating

Best episodeE9 · Cheap Trick 7.2

#29

Season 50

13 Episodes

First Aired: Sep 2024

7.0/ 10

Average Rating

Best episodeE1 · Kacey Musgraves 8.5

#30

Season 2

1 Episodes

First Aired: Dec 1977

N/A/ 10

Average Rating

#31

Season 4

1 Episodes

First Aired: Jan 1979

N/A/ 10

Average Rating

#32

Season 9

13 Episodes

First Aired: Jan 1984

N/A/ 10

Average Rating

#33

Season 10

3 Episodes

First Aired: Sep 1984

N/A/ 10

Average Rating

#34

Season 11

1 Episodes

First Aired: Feb 1986

N/A/ 10

Average Rating

#35

Season 14

1 Episodes

First Aired: Apr 1989

N/A/ 10

Average Rating

#36

Season 15

1 Episodes

First Aired: Feb 1990

N/A/ 10

Average Rating

#37

Season 17

1 Episodes

First Aired: Feb 1992

N/A/ 10

Average Rating

#38

Season 18

1 Episodes

First Aired: Jan 1993

N/A/ 10

Average Rating

#39

Season 21

12 Episodes

First Aired: Jan 1996

N/A/ 10

Average Rating

#40

Season 22

13 Episodes

First Aired: Jan 1997

N/A/ 10

Average Rating

#41

Season 23

12 Episodes

First Aired: Feb 1998

N/A/ 10

Average Rating

#42

Season 24

12 Episodes

First Aired: Jan 1999

N/A/ 10

Average Rating

#43

Season 25

15 Episodes

First Aired: Feb 2000

N/A/ 10

Average Rating

#44

Season 28

4 Episodes

First Aired: Oct 2002

N/A/ 10

Average Rating