Angle-resolved ion-yield spectra are reported for the Cls --> Rydberg excitations of linear acetylene C2H2 in comparison with N-2 and CO. The 3 sigma(u)* valence state is observed in the 3s sigma(g) Rydberg region with no mixing. The 3p sigma(u) state is found in the same region as the Cls sigma(g) --> 3p pi(u) state, which shows only totally symmetric vibrations. This is the first to observe that the Rydberg state in C2H2 keeps gerade and ungerade symmetries without vibronic coupling through antisymmetric stretching vibrations related to core-hole localization. On the other hand, the lowest 1 pi(g)* valence state induces vibronic coupling through bending vibrations in the 3 sigma(u)* and 3s sigma(g) states. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.