If you’ve never been to the strip in Las Vegas, you’ll understand the hype as soon as you visit. The city is literally an adult playground. Not only is there an incredible amount of shopping, fine dining, casinos and a bustling nightlife, but visitors are spoiled when it comes to world-class entertainment. We think the popular shows in Las Vegas are unlike anywhere on earth.
In this guide we’ll share the top 10 running shows on the Las Vegas Strip. Many of these performances have been in town for decades and still continue to entertain visitors. We’ve used recent reviews and show history to compile this unique list.
Our Experience
We’ve visited Las Vegas twice, once in October 2019 and then again in November 2021. Both times we booked a show because we think this is one of the best things you can do in Vegas. Cirque du Soleil is an extremely popular entertainment company with performances featuring circus acts, acrobatics and dance. We decided to see “O” during our first visit and then we saw “KÀ” on our second visit.
Personally we thought both shows were excellent and we look forward to more Cirque du Soleil productions in our future. But if you’re not interested in Cirque du Soleil, Las Vegas offers so many other types of shows. Visitors can enjoy comedy, magic, adult rated and various tribute shows on the strip. Our goal is to help you narrow down the choices so you can enjoy one of these highly rated performances during your trip. Read more about us.
Travel Tip: You can not take photos or videos during shows in Las Vegas. So to respect performers, most of the photos in this guide have been sourced from official websites.
Now let’s find the best shows on the Las Vegas strip:
1. “O”
- Location: O Theatre at the Bellagio
- Show length: 90 minutes
- Tickets: Start around $120
- Age limit: Must be 5 years or older
- Show times: 7:00pm and 9:30pm Wednesday to Sunday
Despite the show name being only one letter, this family friendly shows packs a serious punch. We thought “O” was incredibly unique because it takes place in a 1.5-million-gallon pool with swimmers, divers and various marine performers. It’s truly an aquatic masterpiece with an air of artistry, surrealism and romance intertwined.
Throughout the entire show, we thought the blend of water and stage elements were seamless. Without giving too much away, it features a compelling storyline, amazing stunts and incredible costumes. It completely exceeded our expectations which officially made us Cirque Du Soleil fans for life. “O” has been running in Las Vegas since October 1998 and there’s no wonder why it’s one of the longest running performances on the strip.
>> BOOK: Official Website | Get Your Guide | Viator
2. KÀ
- Location: KÀ Theatre at MGM Grand
- Show length: 90 minutes
- Tickets: Start around $75
- Age limit: Must be 3 years or older
- Show times: 7:00pm and 9:30pm Wednesday to Sunday
Much different than “O”, KÀ takes the age-old story of good versus evil both onto land and into the sky. In this performance, the stage is made up of two large platforms that move in various directions. We were impressed with the martial arts, pyrotechnics and the Wheel of Death.
KÀ began in February 2003. It features a story about a brother and sister who undergo a journey of self discovery through various scenes. However, we think it can sometimes be difficult to follow the storyline at times because there’s so much going on. We highly recommend you read the overview before attending the show.
>> BOOK: Official website | Get Your Guide | Viator
3. Michael Jackson ONE
- Location: Mandalay Bay Theatre at Mandalay Bay
- Show length: 90 minutes
- Tickets: Start around $90
- Age limit: Must be 5 years or older
- Show times: 7:00pm and 9:30pm Thursday to Monday
Michael Jackson ONE is on our bucket list for next time we visit Las Vegas. It’s a very highly rated Las Vegas show filled with visual iconography and stunts featuring all of Michael’s greatest hits. Viewers often rave about the amazing choreography and stunning acrobatic stunts. While there are other MJ shows in town, we’d pick this one every time based on reviews and our experience with Cirque Du Soleil.
>> BOOK: Official Website | Get Your Guide | Viator
4. The Mentalist
- Location: V2 at the Miracle Mile Shops in Planet Hollywood
- Show length: 75 minutes
- Tickets: Start around $40
- Age limit: Must be 16 years or older
- Show times: 7:30pm Thursday to Tuesday
Another long running Vegas performance since 2005, the Mentalist is a popular one man magic show featuring Gerry McCambridge. This show is unique because it combines comedy, magic and a little bit of telepathy.
And if you’re a skeptic, Gerry has been known to get inside the minds of complete strangers by revealing personal information such as their hometowns, anniversaries and more. We think the Mentalist is a fun option because the audience is always involved in his shows.
>> BOOK: Official Website | Get Your Guide | Viator
5. David Copperfield
- Location: David Copperfield Theatre at MGM Grand
- Show length: 90 minutes
- Tickets: Start around $85
- Age limit: Must be 5 years or older
- Show times: 7:00 and 9:30pm nightly, 4pm on Saturday
Often called the greatest illusionist of our time, David Copperfield is a legendary showman and has been entertaining in Vegas since 2009. He performs an impressive 15 shows per week and while many people have seen him on tv, this is a chance to see him live in person. This popular Las Vegas show is filled with unbelievable illusions that will leave you wondering how the heck he did it.
>> BOOK: Official Website | Get Your Guide | Viator
6. Penn & Teller
- Location: Penn & Teller Theater at Rio Hotel & Casino
- Show length: 90 minutes
- Tickets: Start around $75
- Age limit: Must be 5 years or older
- Show times: 8:00pm Saturday to Wednesday
Penn and Teller have been entertaining together since 1975 and they’ve been performing in Las Vegas since 1993, making this duo one of the longest running headlining shows in Sin City. With a combination of comedy, magic and entertainment, this show is always highly rated. They will often combine large scale illusions, classic magic tricks and amazing sleight-of-hand routines. The audience will often get called up on stage to help with tricks too.
>> BOOK: Ticketmaster | Viator
7. Blue Man Group
- Location: Blue Man Theater at Luxor
- Show length: 90 minutes
- Tickets: Start around $55
- Age limit: 3 years or older recommended
- Show times: 2:00pm, 5:00pm and 8:00pm on select days
While we didn’t see the Blue Man Group in Vegas, Kristen saw it when they were on tour in Rochester, NY. It’s a unique show because the three bald blue stars use mostly music and movements throughout their entire production. You can expect just a little bit of verbal communication combined with a high sensory experience. We like that the Blue Man Group is family friendly show so it’s one popular with kids.
>> BOOK: Official Website | Get Your Guide | Viator
8. Tournament Of Kings
- Location: King Arthur’s Arena at Excalibur
- Show length: 90 minutes
- Tickets: Start around $70
- Age limit: No age restriction (children 4 and older are charged a full ticket)
- Show times: 6:00pm Wednesday to Monday plus 8:30pm Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday
Another of the most family friendly shows on the Las Vegas Strip, the Tournament of Kings will have you traveling back to the Middle Ages. Appropriately shown in the castle looking facade of Excalibur, this dinner show showcases jousting, poems, music and of course, a feast fit for a king. Many reviewers agree the food isn’t amazing, but they always rave about the show. We’ve stayed in Excalibur and in hindsight, we would have seen the Tournament of Kings during our stay.
>> BOOK: Official Website | Get Your Guide | Viator
9. Absinthe
- Location: Spiegeltent on the Roman Plaza at Caesars Palace
- Show length: 75 minutes
- Tickets: Start around $140
- Age limit: Must be 18 years or older
- Show times: 8:00pm and 10:00pm Sunday to Thursday plus 7:00pm, 9:00pm and 11:00pm Friday to Saturday
Often called one of the most raunchy shows in Vegas, Absinthe combines carnival and burlesque comedy through wild outlandish acts on an intimate stage. It’s hosted by The Gazillionaire and his sidekick Wanda Widdles. So if you’re up for an R-rated, politically incorrect experience where you won’t stop laughing, Absinthe is for you. While this is one of the more expensive performances, we think it must be worth it because they recent reviews are always excellent.
>> BOOK: Official Website | TripAdvisor
10. VEGAS! The Show
- Location: Saxe Theater in the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood
- Show length: 75 minutes
- Tickets: Start around $60
- Age limit: No age restriction
- Show times: 7:00pm daily
Last but not least, we’ll finish up this list with a classic option on the strip, VEGAS! The Show. This is the quintessential performance we always think about when someone says Las Vegas because it’s filled with glamorous showgirls, beautiful dancers and a live band. It’s a tribute paying homage to Elvis, The Rat Packs, Tom Jones and many more. So if you want to see why Las Vegas is officially the “Entertainment Capital of the World,” book a show now. We think this is a great option for first time visitors.
>> BOOK: Official Website | Viator
Free Shows In Las Vegas
It’s no secret that Las Vegas shows can quickly burn a hole through your pocket. So if you aren’t ready to splurge, why not check out some of the free shows offered in town? This is one of the best ways to enjoy Vegas on the cheap:
- Fountains at Bellagio – See a thousand fountains rise more than 1,000ft with water soaring 460ft into the air directly in front of the famous Bellagio Hotel. From 3:00pm to 8:00pm, the fountains run every 30 minutes then every 15 minutes from 8:00pm to midnight.
- Lake of Dreams at the Wynn Las Vegas – The Lake of Dreams features a singing frog, a 90-foot waterfall and 5,500 LED lights. It begins after dusk with performances every 30 minutes.
- The Sphere – One of the newest and most immersive attractions in Vegas, this 18,600 seat concert venue has a 16K interior LED screen, but also showcases an stunning exterior display that’s always changing.
- Fremont Street Experience – Check out the world’s largest LED canopy screen, water slide and zipline on one of Vegas’s busiest streets. It begins at the top of the hour from 6:00pm to 2:00am every night.
- Fall of Atlantis – A free show about the Fall of Atlantis at Caesars’ Forums Shops with special effects and animatronic figures who recount the myth of the sea. Typically on the hour from 12:00pm to 8:00pm.
- Circus Circus Acts – Catch a free circus performance at center stage on the Carnival Midway. Performances start at 1:30pm Monday to Thursday plus 11:30am Friday to Sunday.
- Flamingo Wildlife Habitat – Located on the grounds of the Flamingo Hotel, be sure to visit the Chilean flamingos, koi fish and many other unique animals.
- Silverton Hotel Aquarium – Don’t miss the 117,000-gallon tropical aquarium with sharks, stingrays and interactive mermaid swims.
Travel Tip: Sadly the Volcano at the Mirage Hotels closed down in 2024 to make way for the new Hard Rock Hotel.
Tips For Watching Las Vegas Shows
After attending a few of the Vegas shows ourselves, here are a few tips we learned:
- Most shows in Vegas do not have an intermission. So take your bathroom break before and be ready to sit through 75-90 minutes.
- Give yourself plenty of time to park. A good rule of thumb is to arrive at least 30 minutes before the show. Keep in mind you’ll also have to walk through the venue and find the theater.
- Check your tickets to see if there are any pre-show acts. In this case, you may want to arrive well before the show starts.
- Bring a jacket or something to cover up with because most theaters crank the air conditioning. If you’re someone who always gets cold like Kristen, a sweater is a must.
- Various shows offer add ons or package deals. This can be a great way to meet your favorite act or score some great deals after the show.
- Understand the seating arrangements on your tickets. If you have assigned seats, you don’t have much to worry about but if your tickets are general admission, the seats will be first-come first-serve so try to arrive early.
- Print or download your tickets to your phone prior to the show. If you have to go to Will Call, be sure to bring a form of ID.
- Research the dress code. Most theaters in Las Vegas do not have an official dress code and you can wear whatever makes you comfortable. However, select venues may suggest business casual attire.
The Morgan Conclusion
What we like: Overall, we think tickets to shows in Las Vegas can be reasonably priced if you find the right one. We also like the vast selection of options for visitors of all ages. Las Vegas is unique because it offers everyone the chance to see some of the most popular running shows including very popular performers.
What we didn’t like: Unfortunately some shows in Vegas can be extremely expensive. The shows can also be time consuming eating up several hours so if you’re only in town for a short time, seeing a show might not be your best bet. Popular performances can also sell out fast so you might have to book fast.
Is a Las Vegas show worth it? Yes, we think shows in Las Vegas are worth it. This is the entertainment capital of the world so it’s only right for first time and returning visitors to make the most of it. If you’re on a budget shop around for a great deal or take a day watching the free shows offered along the strip and downtown. There is truly something in Vegas for everyone.
More From Las Vegas And Nearby
- Unique things to see in Las Vegas
- Best Las Vegas hotels on the strip
- Tips for visiting Vegas in November
- Our Las Vegas Secret Food Tour review
- Popular day trips from Las Vegas day trips
- How to spend one day in Death Valley
- What to so in Valley of Fire State Park
- How to hike Fire Wave Trail at sunrise
- 10 best hikes in Red Rock Canyon
- Las Vegas to Hoover Dam day trip
- Are the Seven Magic Mountains worth it?
Want more Nevada content? Head over to our Nevada Travel Guides to explore state parks, beautiful landscapes and the best things to do in Las Vegas.
We hope our guide to the best shows in Las Vegas helps with planning your trip to Sin City!
Please let us know if you have questions about any of these shows or visiting the strip in the comments below.
Happy Travels,
Mark and Kristen
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Mark and Kristen Morgan are travel, hiking and photography experts. Over the last 6 years traveling full time, they have explored more than 40 countries and 30 US states.
Where Are Those Morgans has been featured in USA Today, Gestalten, Get Your Guide, CityPASS and Condé Nast Traveler along with various other publications. Read more about us.