ATX TV Festival’s Season 15 Will Bring ‘House of the Dragon’ and a ‘Friday Night Lights’ Reunion to Austin
The festival’s latest lineup includes a first look at HBO’s fantasy hit, a hometown reunion for the Texas-filmed drama and more anniversary events
The ATX TV Festival returns to Austin May 28-31 for its 15th season, bringing a lineup of high-profile reunions, anniversary events, preview screenings and career retrospectives to downtown theaters. This year’s programming includes an opening-night look at season 3 of HBO’s “House of the Dragon,” a 20th anniversary “Friday Night Lights,” reunion and special events marking milestones for “Everybody Loves Raymond” and “I Love Lucy.”
The festival’s opening-night event will feature a first look at HBO’s “House of the Dragon,” with showrunner Ryan Condal and cast members Steve Toussaint, Harry Collett, Bethany Antonia and Abubakar Salim discussing the series ahead of its June return on HBO and HBO Max.
“Celebrating our 15th anniversary as a festival — or as we like to say, season — by featuring one of television’s most epic and majestic series on TV today, ‘House of the Dragon’ in partnership HBO (who has been with us all 15 seasons) just feels right,” co-founders Caitlin McFarland and Emily Gipson said in a recent statement.
Bill Lawrence, Warren Littlefield and a “Friday Night Lights” reunion
Also joining the Season 15 lineup are two major career honors. Emmy-winning creator Bill Lawrence will receive the festival’s 2026 Showrunner Award, while producer and former NBC Entertainment president Warren Littlefield will receive ATX TV Festival’s inaugural Creative Impact Award. Lawrence will appear in “Bill Lawrence & Friends,” a conversation covering more than three decades of work in television, from “Spin City” and “Scrubs” to “Ted Lasso,” “Shrinking,” and “Rooster.” Littlefield, meanwhile, will join the festival for a one-on-one discussion about a career that spans NBC’s “Must See TV” era and acclaimed later productions including “Fargo” and “The Handmaid’s Tale.”
For locals, one of the biggest draws is likely to be the “Friday Night Lights” reunion. Filmed in and around Austin, the beloved series will return to the Paramount Theatre on Friday, May 29, for a 20th anniversary panel. Newly announced participants include actor Scott Porter and executive producer Sarah Aubrey, joining previously announced cast members Connie Britton, Kyle Chandler, Gaius Charles, Adrianne Palicki, Jesse Plemons and Aimee Teegarden, along with showrunner Jason Katims and several writers and producers from the series. The group will also receive the festival’s 2026 Texas Made Award, presented with Media For Texas.
Anniversary celebrations
ATX TV Festival will also spotlight two beloved sitcoms during its 15th season. Phil Rosenthal, Ray Romano and writers from “Everybody Loves Raymond” will reunite at the Paramount Theatre on Saturday, May 30, for a 30th anniversary event celebrating the Emmy Award-winning series.
The festival will also present an “I Love Lucy” 75th anniversary script reading on Sunday, May 31, at the Paramount Theatre. Guest actors will perform two classic episodes, with casting to be announced.
Badges and passes for the festival are on sale now, including the all-access Camp Badge for $535, the General Programming Badge for $335 and the TV Pass for $150. Select single tickets are also available, along with a limited number of discounted options for Austin locals.
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