The Austin City Limits Festival has reshuffled its 2025 lineup, with The Killers stepping in as headliners following Doja Cat’s abrupt withdrawal. The announcement came Friday, just hours after the pop star revealed she would be unable to perform at the long-running Texas festival due to scheduling conflicts tied to her upcoming album.

Doja Cat had originally been slated to close out both Sundays of the two-weekend event, October 5 and October 12. But in a statement shared on social media, the singer explained that the timing of her new record left her unable to commit fully to the festival sets. Her highly anticipated LP Vie is scheduled for release on September 26, just one week before the festival kicks off.

“Unfortunately, I will not be performing at Austin City Limits this year,” she wrote. “When I made the commitment I didn’t know exactly when Vie would be released. I’ve been working on finalizing the album, making videos, taking the time to put together an album campaign that I am really excited about, and it’s become clear to me that I cannot give you guys the show you deserve within this time frame.”

She concluded her note by thanking festival organizers: “Thank you to the ACL team for their support and I hope to see you all again soon when the time is right. I’m forever grateful for the opportunity.”

Within hours of Doja Cat’s cancellation, Austin City Limits organizers revealed that The Killers would take her place on both Sunday nights of the festival. The Las Vegas band is no stranger to the event, having last headlined ACL back in 2017. Their return this year will mark another high-profile festival stop for the group, who have spent much of 2025 touring arenas and appearing at marquee events such as Montreal’s Osheaga Festival and Milwaukee’s Summerfest.

The Killers, led by frontman Brandon Flowers, bring with them a deep catalog of hits that have made them festival mainstays for nearly two decades. Songs like “Mr. Brightside,” “Somebody Told Me,” and “When You Were Young” have long been staples of festival fields, and their inclusion helps ACL maintain the kind of arena-sized singalongs expected of its headlining slots.

Despite the shuffle, this year’s ACL lineup remains one of the festival’s most eclectic in recent memory. Headliners also include Sabrina Carpenter, Hozier, Luke Combs, and The Strokes, ensuring the two weekends cover a wide range of genres. Beyond the headliners, the bill features Cage the Elephant, Doechii, Rilo Kiley, Maren Morris, Empire of the Sun, and rising indie artist Mk. Gee, among others.

The festival, set once again at Austin’s Zilker Park, continues its tradition of showcasing both established acts and emerging talent across multiple stages. For fans, the addition of The Killers provides a familiar yet still thrilling headlining experience, particularly given the band’s reputation for energetic live performances.