This Austin sports guide starts with the big three. Texas Longhorns football fills Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, listed at 100,119 seats, on fall Saturdays. Austin FC, the city’s Major League Soccer team, plays at Q2 Stadium in North Austin. And Formula 1 brings the United States Grand Prix to Circuit of The Americas each October, this year on October 23-25. Beyond them, you can watch Longhorns basketball at the Moody Center, minor-league hockey and basketball at the H-E-B Center in Cedar Park and Triple-A baseball at the Dell Diamond in Round Rock, or play a round at one of the City’s six public golf courses.

This guide is for visitors planning a trip around a game and for anyone who wants to catch one while they’re in town. The caveat that matters: big game days change the whole city, from hotel prices to traffic to parking, and the best way to reach most venues isn’t by car. Schedules, venues, bag rules, transit and tee-time policies below were checked on September 23, 2026 against the teams, venues, CapMetro and the City of Austin. For everything else happening in town, see our Austin festivals and events calendar.

What’s happening right now?

• Formula 1, October 23-25, 2026. The United States Grand Prix returns to Circuit of The Americas, with first practice on Friday, October 23 and the race on Sunday, October 25.
• Longhorns football home games: October 17, 24 and 31 and November 21, 2026. Expect campus-area closures and pricier parking all day. The October 24 game falls in the middle of Formula 1 weekend, so that’s the most crowded weekend of the fall.
• Texas Stars hockey is back. The AHL team opened its 2026-27 home schedule on October 2 at the H-E-B Center in Cedar Park, with 36 home games this season.
• The Austin Spurs play their G League season at the same arena, roughly November through April.
• Baseball is on its break. The Round Rock Express, the Texas Rangers’ Triple-A team, plays its season in the spring and summer at the Dell Diamond.
• Next big run: the Austin Marathon, half marathon and 5K are set for Sunday, February 14, 2027.

Austin sports at a glance

Team or event	Sport and league	Venue	Season	Best way there
Texas Longhorns	College football (SEC)	Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, UT campus	September-November	Walk, bus or rideshare; parking is scarce
Austin FC	Major League Soccer	Q2 Stadium, North Austin	Late winter to fall	CapMetro Rail to McKalla Station
U.S. Grand Prix	Formula 1	Circuit of The Americas, southeast of the city	October 23-25, 2026	COTA’s shuttle from downtown
Texas Longhorns	College basketball	Moody Center, UT campus	Winter	Walk or bus
Texas Stars	Hockey (AHL)	H-E-B Center at Cedar Park	October-April	Car or rideshare
Austin Spurs	Basketball (NBA G League)	H-E-B Center at Cedar Park	November-April	Car or rideshare
Round Rock Express	Baseball (Triple-A)	Dell Diamond, Round Rock	Spring-summer	Car or rideshare
Austin Marathon	Running	Downtown streets, from the Capitol	February 14, 2027	Walk; streets close

The best sports experiences in Austin

Ranked for visitors: atmosphere first, then how uniquely Austin it is, then how easy it is to get a ticket and get there.

1. Texas Longhorns football

A home game at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium is the biggest show in town. The stadium sits on the UT campus just north of downtown, with a listed capacity of 100,119, and the Longhorns now play in the Southeastern Conference. The remaining 2026 home Saturdays are October 17, 24 and 31 and November 21. The whole campus turns into a tailgate: streets around the stadium clog for hours before and after kickoff, the Bullock Museum’s nearby garage charges $30 on game days, and UT’s Texas Science & Natural History Museum closes for the day.

How to do it: buy tickets through the university’s official ticketing, stay downtown or near campus so you can walk, and give yourself far more time than you think. CapMetro’s Rapid 801 and 803 run along Guadalupe Street on the campus’s west side, a walk from the stadium. Night games in September are hot; bring sunscreen for day games at any time of year.

Game-day traditions: the pregame party is part of the ticket. Bevo Blvd., on San Jacinto Boulevard between 20th Street and the Etter-Harbin Alumni Center, opens five hours before kickoff with music and food, and it closes, along with Smokey’s Midway and Longhorn City Limits, 30 minutes before kickoff so fans can get inside for the Longhorn Band’s pregame show. Tailgating is allowed in designated spaces, with tents going up from 7 a.m. Bring a clear bag: UT Athletics requires any bag larger than 4.5 by 6.5 inches to be clear plastic and no bigger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches.

Verdict: Even if you’re not a football fan, the scale of a sold-out Saturday is worth seeing once. Book your hotel as soon as the schedule comes out.

2. Austin FC at Q2 Stadium

Austin FC, which started play in Major League Soccer in 2021, is Austin’s only major-league pro team, and its supporters bring plenty of noise to Q2 Stadium. The stadium is in North Austin near the Domain, off Burnet Road, and the best way there is CapMetro Rail: McKalla Station on the Red Line serves the stadium, and CapMetro runs special-event rail service with extra trains on standby. Bus routes 383, 392 and Rapid 803 also stop nearby. A regular train ride costs $3.50.

Know the bag rule before you go: Q2 Stadium bans all bags, backpacks and other carriers, clear bags included, apart from small clutches about the size of your hand, and screening is strict. Bag-check lockers cost $10 at the Northwest and Southwest gates, first come, first served. The MLS regular season runs from late winter into the fall, with playoffs after; check the club’s schedule for remaining home matches.

Verdict: The best-value big-game atmosphere in Austin. Take the train, leave the bag at the hotel.

Match-day tips: arrive early, because screening takes time and the first trains after the final whistle fill fast. If you’d rather wait out the crowd, the Domain’s Rock Rose district of bars and restaurants is a short ride away. Evening kickoffs in summer are still warm, so drink water before you go in.

3. Formula 1 at Circuit of The Americas

Circuit of The Americas, in the countryside southeast of the city beyond the airport, hosts the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix, this year from Friday, October 23 to Sunday, October 25, with the race on Sunday. Race week is one of the busiest weeks of the year for Austin hotels and restaurants, so book early.

Getting there is the challenge. COTA sells round-trip shuttle passes from Austin, including a pickup at Waterloo Park downtown, using a dedicated bus lane to a front-gate drop-off. Shuttles start 60 minutes before gates open, the last inbound shuttle leaves at 6:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday, and children 3 and under ride free. Several CapMetro routes, including 2, 5, 7, 10 and 837, stop a short walk from Waterloo Park near Red River and 12th Street. Driving means prepaid parking and a long exit. The circuit also hosts other racing and concerts during the year; MotoGP’s 2027 date there hadn’t been confirmed when we checked.

Verdict: A bucket-list weekend for racing fans. Buy the shuttle pass with your ticket, and plan the day around its schedule.

Where to stay for F1: downtown puts you near the Waterloo Park shuttle pickup and the evening parties; hotels near the airport sit closer to the circuit but far from the nightlife. Whichever you choose, book months ahead, and remember that the October 24 Longhorns home game lands in the middle of race weekend this year, adding a second huge crowd to the same days.

4. Longhorns basketball at the Moody Center

The Moody Center, opened in April 2022 right next to the football stadium, is home to Longhorns men’s and women’s basketball, with about 10,800 seats for games, and it doubles as Austin’s big concert arena, with room for about 16,200. Basketball runs through the winter, a good fit for a trip when football is over. It’s walkable from downtown hotels in cool weather, and the same Guadalupe Street Rapid buses get you close.

Outside basketball season, the Moody Center is Austin’s main arena for big touring concerts, so it’s worth checking its calendar for your dates. It shares the same campus traffic and parking as the football stadium, so on a football Saturday, don’t plan a concert across the street without a lot of extra time.

5. Texas Stars hockey

Hockey in Central Texas means the Texas Stars, the American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL’s Dallas Stars, which means you’re watching players one step from the NHL. They play at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park, a suburb northwest of Austin, about 20 miles from downtown. The 2026-27 season opened at home on October 2 against the Iowa Wild, and the Stars play 36 home games. Games are family-friendly and tickets are easier to get than for the big teams. Plan on a car or rideshare; transit to Cedar Park isn’t practical for a night game.

6. Round Rock Express baseball

The Round Rock Express have been the Texas Rangers’ Triple-A affiliate since 2021, playing at the Dell Diamond in Round Rock, about 20 miles north of downtown Austin. Triple-A is the last stop before the major leagues, so you’ll often see players who’ll be in the big leagues soon. The season runs from spring through summer, which makes a warm evening at the ballpark a good summer plan. You’ll need a car or a rideshare.

7. Austin Spurs basketball

The Austin Spurs, the NBA G League affiliate of the San Antonio Spurs, share the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park with the Texas Stars and play roughly from November to April. It’s affordable, close-up pro basketball, and on a winter trip you can sometimes pair a Stars game and a Spurs game in one weekend.

8. Run the Austin Marathon, or the lake trail

The Austin Marathon, with a half marathon and 5K, is set for Sunday, February 14, 2027, starting near the Capitol and finishing on Congress Avenue, with a course that passes Hyde Park, South Congress and East Austin. Organizers expect about 30,000 runners, and downtown streets close for the morning. Any other day, the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail loops 10.17 miles around Lady Bird Lake and is Austin’s favorite place to run; go at sunrise from May to September. For more, see our guide to outdoor activities in Austin.

9. Play a round at a City golf course

The City’s GolfATX program runs six public courses (Roy Kizer, Hancock, Morris Williams, Lions Municipal, Grey Rock and Jimmy Clay) plus a short practice course, most of them close to central Austin. Weekday tee times, Monday through Thursday, open online at 9 a.m. seven days ahead; weekend tee times are online only and open the Monday before at 8 p.m., with one tee time of up to four players per account. Lions Municipal, known locally as Muny, is the historic favorite, a short drive west of downtown. Play early: summer afternoons are brutally hot.

10. Roller derby, volleyball, disc golf and mini golf

Austin’s sports scene has a quirky streak. Texas Roller Derby keeps banked-track roller derby alive, and LOVB Austin plays pro volleyball from January to April. Zilker Park has a disc golf course that stayed open even through ACL setup this fall, and Peter Pan Mini Golf on Barton Springs Road has been an Austin fixture since 1948, with two 18-hole courses. Check each schedule before you go.

Longhorns sports beyond football

The University of Texas fields dozens of teams, and several are easy for visitors to catch. Men’s and women’s basketball play at the Moody Center through the winter. In spring, Longhorns baseball plays at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on campus, and softball and track also host events. Women’s volleyball, one of the program’s strongest sports, plays in the fall at Gregory Gymnasium. Tickets for these are far easier to find than for football, and prices are lower; check the official Texas Athletics site for schedules, since dates shift with conference play and postseason runs.

Where can you play sports yourself?

Austin is as much a city for doing sports as for watching them, and most of it is cheap or free.

• Running: the Butler Trail loops 10.17 miles around Lady Bird Lake, with a boardwalk section open from 5 a.m. to midnight. From May to September, run at sunrise; normal highs stay at or above 90°F until late September.
• Cycling: the City’s Veloway at Circle C Ranch Metropolitan Park is a 3.11-mile paved loop for bikes and inline skates only, and Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park in north Austin has more than 15 miles of shared dirt trails. A CapMetro Bikeshare day pass costs $10.
• Swimming laps: Deep Eddy Pool, which the City calls the oldest swimming pool in Texas, has lap swimming from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (closed Tuesdays), and Barton Springs Pool holds around 68 to 70 degrees all year. Non-resident adults pay $9 at either.
• Paddling and rowing: walk-up kayak rentals on Lady Bird Lake start at $15 an hour at Texas Rowing Center, and the lake bans gas-powered boats, which keeps the water calm for rowers and paddleboarders.
• Hiking and climbing: the Barton Creek Greenbelt has 12.68 miles of trail and limestone walls popular with climbers; go early and carry water.
• Golf and disc golf: the City’s six GolfATX courses take online tee times, and Zilker Park has a disc golf course.

Our guides to outdoor activities in Austin and swimming holes and lakes have the details.

Sports weekend plans

Weekend	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Longhorns football	Arrive; live music in the Red River district	Bevo Blvd. five hours before kickoff, then the game	Recovery tacos and a swim at Barton Springs
Formula 1 at COTA	First practice; shuttle from Waterloo Park	Qualifying day at the circuit	Race day (last inbound shuttle 2 p.m.); fly home Monday
Austin FC	South Congress and a show at the Continental Club	Train to McKalla Station for the match	The Capitol tour and the Bullock Museum
Winter hockey and hoops	Texas Stars in Cedar Park	Longhorns basketball at the Moody Center	Austin Spurs in Cedar Park, schedules permitting

What does a game day cost?

Tickets vary enormously by opponent and seat, so check official prices for your date. The extras are more predictable:

• Getting there: a local bus ride is $1.25, capped at $2.50 a day, and CapMetro Rail is $3.50 a ride. COTA’s F1 shuttle passes are sold separately, and children 3 and under ride free.
• Bags: Q2 Stadium’s bag-check lockers cost $10; leaving the bag at the hotel costs nothing.
• Parking: near the UT campus on football Saturdays, expect event rates, such as $30 at the Bullock Museum’s garage.
• Hotels: rooms rise sharply on home football weekends and F1 week. Every hotel room also carries 17 percent in combined state and local hotel taxes.
• Rides home: rideshare prices surge at the final whistle. Walk a few blocks, take the train, or wait out the rush.

Weather for outdoor games

Heat is the main factor. At Camp Mabry, Austin’s official weather station, normal highs reach 90°F by late May and stay there until late September, with August averaging almost 98°F, and on some humid days the heat index tops 110. Early-season football, summer baseball in Round Rock and Austin FC’s summer matches all mean sweating in the stands, so drink water, wear sunscreen and use the shaded concourses. By late October, when Formula 1 and the later home football games arrive, days are usually much milder, and winter hockey and basketball are indoors.

Where to watch a game in Austin

When the Longhorns or Austin FC play away, bars across downtown, Rainey Street and the Domain put the game on, and big games fill them early. For a night out after the final whistle, our Austin nightlife guide covers the districts.

Game-day logistics: getting there and parking

Venue	Best transport	Parking	Watch out for
DKR Stadium and the Moody Center	Walk from downtown or campus; Rapid 801 and 803 on Guadalupe	Scarce and expensive on game days ($30 at the Bullock garage)	Road closures for hours around kickoff
Q2 Stadium	CapMetro Rail to McKalla Station; routes 383, 392, 803	Buy stadium parking in advance	No bags; $10 lockers
Circuit of The Americas	COTA’s shuttle from Waterloo Park	Prepaid lots; long exits	Last inbound shuttle 2 p.m. on race Sunday
H-E-B Center, Cedar Park	Car or rideshare	On-site lots	Rush-hour traffic on US 183
Dell Diamond, Round Rock	Car or rideshare	On-site lots	I-35 traffic north of Austin

Local bus rides cost $1.25 with a $2.50 daily cap, and a train ride is $3.50. Rideshare prices surge right after big games, so walking a few blocks away before you request, or waiting out the first rush over a drink, saves money. Our guide to getting around Austin covers fares, the rail line and parking rules.

How do you get tickets?

• Buy from the official source first: the university’s ticket office for the Longhorns, the club’s site for Austin FC, COTA for Formula 1, and the teams’ own sites for the Stars, Spurs and Express.
• Use official resale when games sell out: big Longhorns games and F1 sell out; stick to resale platforms the team endorses, and be wary of transfers from strangers.
• Book hotels at the same time: rooms go fast for home football weekends and F1 week, and rates rise with demand. Our guide to where to stay in Austin compares the areas near each venue.
• Check the bag policy: Q2 Stadium bans nearly all bags; other venues have their own rules, which they post on their sites.

An Austin sports calendar

Season	What’s on
Winter (December-February)	Longhorns basketball at the Moody Center; Texas Stars and Austin Spurs in Cedar Park; the Austin Marathon (February 14, 2027)
Spring (March-May)	Austin FC’s season in full swing; the Round Rock Express start their season; college baseball and softball on campus; pro volleyball through April
Summer (June-August)	Round Rock Express evenings; Austin FC; early-morning golf and runs
Fall (September-November)	Longhorns football Saturdays; Formula 1 at COTA (October 23-25, 2026); the Texas Stars’ season opener; Austin FC’s stretch run and playoffs

Planning a trip around a big game

A home football weekend or Formula 1 week reshapes the city. Hotels fill and prices rise, so book as soon as you have tickets. Stay within walking distance of the venue if you can: downtown or near campus for the Longhorns, downtown for the COTA shuttle. Build the rest of the weekend around the game rather than against it: the Friday night before is perfect for live music in the Red River district or on Sixth Street, and our Austin nightlife guide covers the districts. Avoid scheduling a museum or restaurant reservation near campus on a football Saturday, and leave extra time for the airport after a big event.

For a sports-mad weekend, the fall calendar lets you stack events: a Longhorns home game on Saturday, a Texas Stars game in Cedar Park that evening or the next, and Austin FC on the weekend’s other day, schedules permitting. This year the two collide: the Longhorns host a home game on Saturday, October 24, in the middle of Formula 1 weekend, so expect very tight hotel availability and heavy traffic across the city. Our guide to Austin neighborhoods for tourists explains which areas sit closest to each venue.

Sports with kids and accessibility

The minor-league teams are the easiest family outings: Texas Stars and Austin Spurs games in Cedar Park and Round Rock Express games at the Dell Diamond are shorter, cheaper and calmer than a sold-out football game. Peter Pan Mini Golf and the disc golf course in Zilker are easy additions. For accessible seating at any venue, book through the team’s official ticketing and ask about accessible parking and entrances; CapMetro’s buses and trains are an option for Q2 Stadium. Summer heat matters for everyone: day games in August are a test of endurance, so bring water where it’s allowed and use shaded concourses. Our guide to Austin with kids has more family ideas.

Austin sports guide FAQ

What professional sports teams does Austin have?

Austin FC, in Major League Soccer, is the city’s only major-league team, playing at Q2 Stadium. The region also has the Texas Stars (AHL hockey) and Austin Spurs (NBA G League basketball) at the H-E-B Center in Cedar Park, and the Round Rock Express, the Texas Rangers’ Triple-A baseball team, at the Dell Diamond in Round Rock.

How do you get to Q2 Stadium?

Take CapMetro Rail to McKalla Station on the Red Line, which serves the stadium; CapMetro adds special-event service on match days. Bus routes 383, 392 and Rapid 803 also stop nearby, and a train ride costs $3.50. Leave your bag behind: Q2 Stadium bans all bags except hand-sized clutches, and lockers cost $10.

When are the Longhorns home football games in 2026?

The remaining 2026 home Saturdays at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium are October 17, 24 and 31 and November 21. The Longhorns play in the Southeastern Conference. Expect road closures, expensive parking and full hotels on game weekends, and plan to walk or take the bus to the stadium.

When is the Formula 1 race in Austin?

The 2026 United States Grand Prix runs from Friday, October 23 to Sunday, October 25 at Circuit of The Americas, southeast of Austin, with the race on Sunday. COTA sells shuttle passes from downtown’s Waterloo Park; the last inbound shuttle leaves at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Book hotels early: race week is one of Austin’s busiest.

Can visitors play golf in Austin?

Yes. The City’s GolfATX program runs six public courses, including Lions Municipal, Roy Kizer, Jimmy Clay and Morris Williams, plus a short practice course. Weekday tee times open online at 9 a.m. seven days ahead; weekend times are online only and open the Monday before at 8 p.m. Tee off early in summer.

Is there hockey in Austin?

Yes. The Texas Stars, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Dallas Stars, play at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park, about 20 miles northwest of downtown. The 2026-27 season opened at home on October 2, and the team plays 36 home games. You’ll want a car or rideshare to get there.

What’s the bag policy at Longhorns football games?

UT Athletics uses a clear bag policy: any bag larger than 4.5 by 6.5 inches must be clear plastic and no bigger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches, and fans with other bags are turned away. Small clutches are fine. Q2 Stadium’s rule for Austin FC is stricter, banning nearly all bags, including clear ones.

What’s the best way to get to COTA for Formula 1?

COTA’s own shuttle, which sells round-trip passes from Austin pickup points including Waterloo Park downtown and uses a dedicated bus lane to a front-gate drop-off. Shuttles start 60 minutes before gates open, and the last inbound shuttle leaves at 6:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on race Sunday. Driving means prepaid parking and long exits.

Is Austin FC worth seeing?

Yes, especially if you’ve never been to an MLS match. Q2 Stadium is compact, the supporters are loud, and CapMetro Rail’s McKalla Station makes it easy to reach without a car. Tickets are usually easier to find than for big Longhorns football games. Leave your bag at the hotel, since Q2 Stadium bans nearly all bags.

When does the Round Rock Express season run?

The Texas Rangers’ Triple-A team plays in the spring and summer at the Dell Diamond in Round Rock, about 20 miles north of downtown Austin, so there are no home games in the fall and winter. Check the team’s schedule for exact dates, and plan on a car or rideshare to reach the ballpark. Summer evening games are the most pleasant.

Related Austin Guides

• Austin Events and Festivals: F1, ACL, SXSW and the rest of the calendar.
• Getting Around Austin: trains, buses and parking for game days.
• Where to Stay in Austin: the best bases for the stadium, campus and COTA shuttle.
• Austin Nightlife: where to go after the final whistle.
• Outdoor Activities in Austin: running, cycling and hiking in the city.

Sources and verification

Schedules, venues, transit, bag policies and golf rules in this guide were checked on September 23, 2026 against the teams, venues, agencies and organizers listed below. The guide is compiled from these sources rather than from other travel lists, and it doesn’t claim first-hand attendance. Schedules change; check the team’s official site before you buy.

• Teams and leagues: Austin FC: Q2 Stadium bag policy, Q2 Stadium A-Z guide, Texas Athletics: Moody Center, Texas Stars 2026-27 home opener, H-E-B Center: Austin Spurs, Round Rock Express affiliation
• Racing: Formula 1, Circuit of The Americas shuttles
• Transit: CapMetro: Q2 Stadium service, CapMetro: COTA and F1, CapMetro Rail, CapMetro fares
• City of Austin: GolfATX, Trail directory, Parks closures
• University of Texas: Texas Science & Natural History Museum (game-day closures), Bullock Museum parking
• Events: Austin Marathon, Peter Pan Mini Golf

Photo credits

• Austin FC at Q2 Stadium, 2021: photo by Daniel Ziegler, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
• Circuit of The Americas, 2023: photo by Zach Catanzareti Photo, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
• Moody Center, UT Austin, 2025: photo by ajay_suresh, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)
• Texas Stars game at the H-E-B Center, 2023: photo by NauticalFox, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
• Dell Diamond, Round Rock, 2017: photo by Larry D. Moore, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)
• Austin Marathon, 2019: photo by Larry D. Moore, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)
• Lions Municipal Golf Course, 2025: photo by Magnushopium, Wikimedia Commons (CC0)
• Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium at night, 2011 (featured image): photo by Brint03, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)