Downtown Austin will be packed with TV diehards May 28–31 as ATX TV Festival returns for its 15th season, rolling out first looks, cast reunions, and fan-friendly activations across theaters and hotels. The four-day event mixes screenings, Q&As, and industry panels with public programming that has turned late May into a standing date for TV creators and fans. With a long weekend full of buzzworthy sessions, organizers are already warning that the biggest events will come with equally big lines.
Opening night will spotlight an exclusive first look at HBO’s House of the Dragon Season 3, with showrunner Ryan Condal and members of the cast expected to appear. Ted Lasso co-creator Bill Lawrence will receive the festival’s Showrunner Award and host a “Bill Lawrence & Friends” conversation, while award-winning producer Warren Littlefield is set to pick up ATX’s inaugural Creative Impact Award as part of the Season 15 slate. These program details and the festival dates are outlined by ATX TV Festival.
Other marquee moments on the schedule include a Friday Night Lights 20th-anniversary reunion, complete with a “Texas Made” award presentation, and an Everybody (Still) Loves Raymond conversation featuring Phil Rosenthal, Ray Romano, and writers from the series. The festival folds those reunions into a wider mix of retrospectives, table reads, and new-show previews that local critics say deliver a steady blend of nostalgia and fresh scoops. That context comes from coverage by The Austin Chronicle.
Fan activations, panels, and premieres
Beyond traditional panels, the lineup includes immersive activations and studio-led showcases, including a Baywatch-inspired activation and CBS-tied “Marshals” panels focused on stunt work and action-heavy storytelling that have been highlighted in local previews. Organizers note that high-profile sessions tend to fill quickly, so attendees are encouraged to track the schedule closely and lock in Fast Forward or TV Pass reservations as early as possible. These festival features and fan activations are detailed in coverage by KXAN.
How to attend
Season 15 headquarters will be based at the Omni Austin Hotel Downtown, which will house registration, the badgeholder lounge, and several programming spaces, while many of the marquee events will unfold at the Paramount and Stateside theaters. ATX is selling festival badges, TV Passes, and a limited number of single tickets, and the festival’s “Prepare” page lays out registration hours, badge pick-up details, and venue policies, including Paramount seating rules and line procedures. For logistical details, badge options, and registration times, see ATX TV Festival.
Launched in 2012, ATX has evolved from a one-weekend “TV camp” into a four-day gathering spot for creators and fans that regularly features showrunner conversations, table reads, and premieres. The Season 15 lineup keeps Austin firmly on the TV map with a mix of fan spectacle and behind-the-scenes conversation, according to Wikipedia.
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