Donation-based Austin music festival Free Week adds third day for 2027

Even though Free Week is still not close to a full week — despite being a wonderful festival — it's getting closer. The 2027 event, from January 7-9, adds an extra day this year for even more admission-free shows by local musicians.

Even when it was just two days, Free Week was a large undertaking. The 2026 festival platformed more than 80 acts across 14 venues in the Red River Cultural District (RRCD) — both a place and a nonprofit to preserve and evolve it.

The annual donation-based event and its summer equivalent, Hot Summer Nights, offer paid gigs for Austin musicians, drive local musical discovery at a low financial risk to attendees, and raise funds for RRCD's projects. Attendees are able to hop from venue to venue with no commitment, although it's smart to arrive early for some of the more popular sets. Food and beverage deals also encourage spending at local businesses and tipping staff during predictably slow seasons.