Austin’s Feb. 13–15, 2026 weekend calendar: Valentine events, performances, and the city’s marathon
A weekend shaped by Valentine’s Day and major community gatherings
Austin’s calendar for Friday through Sunday, Feb. 13–15, 2026, centers on Valentine’s weekend programming alongside large-scale public events that draw both residents and visitors. The lineup spans ticketed performances, neighborhood markets, campus arts programming and a marquee road race that affects downtown mobility.
Downtown race weekend: Austin Marathon returns Sunday
The Ascension Seton Austin Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K are scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 15, with races starting and finishing near the Texas State Capitol. The event includes a two-day Health and Fitness Expo on Friday and Saturday, and a race-day schedule that begins with early-morning corrals for the marathon and half marathon, followed by the 5K later in the morning.
For attendees who are not running, the race typically creates intermittent traffic impacts around the start/finish area and along the course footprint in central Austin. Spectators are commonly drawn to the downtown corridor and key cheering locations.
Valentine’s-themed markets and bookstore programming
Several events lean into Valentine’s Day weekend with an emphasis on local makers and community socializing. A dark Valentine’s market titled “Till Death Do Us Party” is set for Friday evening, Feb. 13, at Ani’s Day & Night on East Riverside Drive, featuring vendors and scheduled activities including speed-dating programming.
Book-related Valentine programming is also slated for Saturday, Feb. 14. BookPeople plans an in-store event built around romance-themed activities and an author appearance, while Finney’s Books is offering a “blind date with a book” concept beginning Friday, Feb. 13, inviting customers to select wrapped titles based on curated descriptions.
Performances and concerts across the weekend
Live performance options range from theater to film-with-orchestra presentations. Austin Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” is scheduled to run across multiple dates beginning Friday, Feb. 13, at The Long Center. On Saturday, Feb. 14, “La La Land in Concert” is slated for Bass Concert Hall, pairing the film with live musical performance.
Additional ticketed entertainment includes a candlelit Valentine’s concert program at St. David’s Episcopal Church on Friday night, Feb. 13, and a run of “Beehive: The 60s Musical” in Lakeway beginning Feb. 13.
Campus and cultural programming; Lunar New Year celebration Sunday afternoon
On Saturday, Feb. 14, the University of Texas at Austin lists multiple arts and humanities events at the Visual Arts Center, including exhibitions and public programming. On Sunday, Feb. 15, the Austin Great Wall Chinese School is scheduled to host a free Lunar New Year Festival from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at 601 E. St. Johns Ave., featuring cultural performances, a lion dance and family activity booths.
Dates: Feb. 13–15, 2026
Key anchors: Valentine’s weekend events (Feb. 14) and Austin Marathon race day (Feb. 15)
Notable family option: Lunar New Year Festival, Sunday 2–5 p.m.
Planning tip: With multiple downtown draws on Sunday, arriving early and using transit or rideshare drop-offs can reduce delays near central corridors.