Overview
- People Inc. announced Tuesday that it has acquired Hot Luck and will continue to operate the event under the Hot Luck name, with the next Austin festival scheduled for October 16–17, 2026.
- Co‑founders Aaron Franklin and James Moody will remain involved in guiding the festival’s growth, and Franklin will continue to curate culinary talent and programming.
- People Inc. said it will keep Hot Luck’s partnership with the Southern Smoke Foundation, which provides aid to hospitality workers, and pledged to maintain the festival’s community focus.
- The buyer plans to grow Hot Luck beyond Texas, expand its digital community and add more events in other cities in future years, building the festival into its portfolio of more than 60 live events.
- Organizers have not yet released lineup, venue or ticketing details for October, so attendees should expect announcements from People Inc. and Hot Luck in the coming weeks and watch for changes common to larger events such as new venues, ticket tiers, or additional dates.