The Chainsmokers return to Austin City Limits with a nostalgia-driven set

October 4, 2026

A hazy evening gave way to a pulse-driven set as The Chainsmokers opened their Austin City Limits appearance on the Snapchat stage. Smoke rose from the crowd and stage, totems bobbed through the audience, and a pared-down medley of “Roses,” “All We Know” and “Paris” shifted the crowd from quiet to ecstatic.

Alex Pall and Drew Taggart, both dressed in white, moved through a mix of their own material and well-known pop tracks. They blended Justin Bieber’s “Beauty and the Beat” with their “White Wine & Adderall,” and layered in Basement Jaxx’s “Where’s Your Head At” to keep the momentum varied.

The visual production intensified midset, with neon red lighting and strobe effects transforming the stage atmosphere. The Bag Raiders intro from “Shooting Stars” led into a ramped-up remix of “Don’t Let Me Down,” increasing the set’s intensity.

Taggart supplied much of the stage energy, running across the length of the DJ booth, while Pall at one point removed his wet shirt. Taggart also pushed the nostalgic direction of the night, dismissing the idea of prioritizing new material and steering the show toward older crowd favorites.

That approach moved directly into their 2017 single “Paris,” which prompted fans to sing along and coincided with fireworks over the venue. The group continued the retro streak with “We Are Your Friends,” a performance that featured drummer Matt McGuire playing with ignited drumsticks.

They followed with a darker remix of Kesha’s “We R Who We R,” and Taggart told the audience the night was exceeding expectations. The set revisited 2016 with “Closer,” where attendees supplied Halsey’s original part, and a remix of Miley Cyrus’s “The Climb” was dedicated to the women in the crowd, with phone flashlights visible across the audience.

Additional remixes included Kanye West’s “Runaway,” OMI’s “Cheerleader,” and the duo’s own “Roses.” Near the close, Taggart called for the remaining 2015-era energy in the crowd, then played Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas.” The performance ended with their collaboration with Coldplay, “Something Just Like This,” while flames, lasers and fireworks brightened Zilker Park as Pall offered a final Hook 'em sign.