Austin’s ‘Hi, How Are You Day’ returns with benefit concerts and citywide coffee meetups in January
A citywide check-in tied to Daniel Johnston’s legacy
Austin’s annual “Hi, How Are You Day” is set to return in late January with a slate of events designed to prompt one simple question—“Hi, how are you?”—and encourage residents to turn it into a genuine conversation.
The day is rooted in the legacy of Austin musician and visual artist Daniel Johnston and the enduring visibility of the “Hi, How Are You” mural near the University of Texas area. The annual observance is held around Johnston’s birthday, Jan. 22, and has become a recurring focal point for mental health awareness efforts in the city.
Three-night music program anchored at the Paramount Theatre
The centerpiece event for 2026 is a benefit concert scheduled for Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, at the Paramount Theatre in downtown Austin. Doors are set for 7 p.m., with the show at 8 p.m. The billed headliner is Nathaniel Rateliff performing solo, with Lamont Landers also listed on the lineup. The concert is structured as a fundraising event supporting mental health programming focused on young adults.
Additional live music is planned around the main concert date. A kickoff show is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at the 29th Street Ballroom featuring Caroline Hale and Witches Exist, with organizers stating that ticket revenue will benefit the same mental health nonprofit behind the annual observance. A late-night concert is also listed for Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, at the Continental Club, with Lamont Landers and Donovan Keith on the bill.
Jan. 22, 2026: 29th Street Ballroom — Caroline Hale and Witches Exist (benefit show)
Jan. 23, 2026: Paramount Theatre — Nathaniel Rateliff (solo) with Lamont Landers (benefit concert)
Jan. 23, 2026: Continental Club — Lamont Landers with Donovan Keith (late-night show)
Coffee meetups: a distributed, neighborhood-scale approach
Beyond ticketed concerts, “Hi, How Are You Day” has built a parallel tradition through coffee-shop meetups that invite people to sit down with friends, co-workers, or neighbors and check in on one another’s wellbeing. In recent years, more than a dozen Austin coffee shops have participated in coordinated activations, typically centered on Jan. 22, with participating businesses using themed materials and in-store prompts to encourage conversation.
The approach emphasizes low-barrier community settings—places where a brief encounter can become a meaningful exchange—while connecting the public-facing day of action to year-round mental health education initiatives.
“Hi, how are you?” — the question at the center of the annual Austin observance and its mental health message.
What to know for planning
Events are spread across multiple venues and dates, with the largest audience expected at the Paramount Theatre on Jan. 23. The benefit programming is positioned as both an awareness campaign and a fundraiser, with proceeds directed toward mental health education and support initiatives for young adults.