Austin-Bergstrom Airport Wins Marketing Excellence Award
The airport received a national award for its public outreach during the 2026 Blues on the Green concert series.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Air Travel
Live Poll
Should airports prioritize community outreach events to build trust with local residents?
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport earned the inaugural 2026 Community Education and Outreach - Off Campus Category award. The honor recognizes the airport's efforts to engage the public at the 2026 Blues on the Green concert series in Zilker Park.
Why it matters
This initiative aimed to foster transparency and build trust with the local community while gathering direct public feedback for a future airport art installation. By meeting travelers where they gather, the airport sought to improve its connection to Austin residents.
Austin-Bergstrom received the Airports Council International - North America honor for its work during the 2026 concert season. The airport partnered with the local Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment Art in Public Places Program to reach concertgoers.
The players
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
This facility is the primary airport serving the Austin, Texas, area and is currently undergoing significant expansion projects.
Airports Council International - North America
This trade association represents local, regional, and state-governed airports across the United States and Canada.
Malti Lee
The artist led interactive public input sessions to help the airport engage with community members during music events.
The details
Airport representatives used educational materials and giveaways to interact with attendees at Zilker Park. Artist Malti Lee facilitated public input activities during the events to help inform the planning of the Journey With AUS expansion program.
Timeline
October 21, 2026: The Airports Council International - North America announced the annual award recipients.
October 28, 2026: This news was formally reported.
Travel Outlook
The airport’s win reflects a shift toward more proactive, off-site community engagement to improve the passenger experience. This aligns with broader industry trends where airports leverage public events to build rapport during major construction projects.
Travelers should note that the airport is actively seeking public input for future projects, which may impact terminal art and facility planning. Residents can look for these outreach efforts at future large-scale community events held throughout the city.
The takeaway
Engaging residents in public spaces can successfully bridge the gap between complex infrastructure projects and the people they serve. Airport passengers and local residents can continue to provide feedback on facility updates through official city and airport channels.
Further reading
Learn more about local aviation developments in the Air Travel section.
More information
View the full ACI-NA press release for the complete list of winners.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Flyaustin.
Live Poll
Should airports prioritize community outreach events to build trust with local residents?
