Free Week lets you see hundreds of musicians at no cost. | Photo courtesy Free Week
Don’t be sad that 2025 is almost over — smile because there are plenty of events to look forward to in 2026.
These are the top events we recommend heading to in January.
Free Week 2026 | Friday, Jan. 9-Saturday, Jan. 10 | 7 p.m.-2 a.m. | Red River Cultural District | Free | Catch performances from 100+ local musicians at 10+ venues in Red River Cultural District at this twice-annual fundraiser.
KC & The Sunshine Band | Saturday, Jan. 31 | 8 p.m. | ACL Live at The Moody Theater | $72+ | Put on your dancing shoes for the “Get Lifted World Tour” with the band famous for the smash-hit song “That’s the Way (I Like It).”
The Best of Steve Martin & Martin Short | Friday, Jan. 30-Saturday, Jan. 31 | 8 p.m. | Bass Concert Hall | $89+ | Don’t miss your chance to see these two comedians of legend, who met for the first time on the set of “Three Amigos” in 1986.
If you plan to stay out late on New Year’s Eve, the City of Austin wants you to Get Home Safely. Folks who take a responsible ride home can apply to have their parking tickets waived by providing proof they took a ride share, the bus, or a taxi.
Concert
Calling all emo music lovers — The Far Out Lounge & Stage will host 2000s cover band Jimmy Eat Brisket to ring in the New Year. Get tickets for Brisket Eve 2025. (KXAN)
The Word
Betwixtmas. That’s the new word for the week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve — aka a time period that many describe as feeling “meaningless.” If you’re struggling to fill your Betwixtmas, we recommend exploring our events calendar. (KVUE)
Opening
Stop and smell the flowers — a florals and self-care shop called Éscolática Floral Atelier & Boutique will begin its soft opening period in the Barton Creek area in mid-January. Check the store’s Instagram for special early shopping periods.
Terry Black’s is taking its smoky delights to Music City. Austin-based Black Family Hospitality secured $12 million in permits to bring Terry Black’s Barbecue and Opal’s Oysters locations to Nashville, marking the group’s first foray outside of Texas. (Austin Business Journal)
Sports
Longhorn players Tre Wisner, DeAndre Moore, and Liona Lefau are all entering the transfer portal. Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the Texas Longhorns with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Number
240,000+. That’s how many active job listings you can find on our Job Board. Explore openings in healthcare, education, manufacturing, and beyond. Roles for all experience levels are hiring now. Find a new gig for 2026.
Psst — choose between a free Nighttime Nourisher or High Dose Hero with any purchase of Canary’s science-backed supplements until tomorrow, December 31. Think: waking up rested with energy, easing joint pain the natural way, or optimizing urinary tract health.*
Number
$0. That’s how much 94% of patients pay to see a licensed dietitian with Nourish. Find a dietitian covered by insurance and build a personalized nutrition plan — a structured, supportive way to map out your 2026 wellness goals now.*
Category
City
🎄 Tree you later
See you next year, Driskill Christmas tree. | Photo by ATXtoday
If you celebrate Christmas, you know that sooner or later you have to deal with that “Night of the Living Dead” tree in the corner. That doesn’t mean it’s dumpster-bound. Instead, we have some tips on how to put an old tree to good use.
Curbside pickup
The City of Austin will recycle your tree for you: all you have to do is bring it out to the curb for your neighborhood’s usual composting pick-up day. To make sure it gets properly recycled, remove the tinsel, garland, tree stand + ornaments before bringing it out — trees over six feet tall should be cut in half.
Drop-off recycling
Drop the tree off yourself at Zilker Park, or a number of other free drop-off locations, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 3. Bonus: You can come back on Thursday, Jan. 8 to pick up free mulch from these recycled trees.
Ten minute daily language lessons, on sale for 65% off with Babbel’s New Year’s Sale. Unlock expert-built lessons, podcasts, and speaking practice to make learning a new language feel easy and actually stick — it’s a smart way to kick off the year with a habit you’ll be proud you started.*
One of the best gifts I got for Christmas is something you can make for yourself at home: a TBR jar.
All you need is a jar, small strips of paper, jump rings, and a pen. I’m aiming to read 30 books in 2026 (I read 24 in 2025), and now, they’re all written down for me to choose at random. You can go above and beyond by including local authors — I recommend “The Which Way Tree” by Elizabeth Crook.
}})
