Vegas Shows In May 2026

Top Headliners and Residency Shows

1. No Doubt becomes the first female-fronted act to headline Sphere with a 12-night May run celebrating the 30th anniversary of Tragic Kingdom. Gwen Stefani, Tony Kanal, Tom Dumont, and Adrian Young haven’t performed an extended concert series together in 14 years—since a seven-night Los Angeles stand in 2012. The Sphere’s wraparound LED display and immersive sound system transform “Don’t Speak,” “Just a Girl,” and “Spiderwebs” into visual experiences the original recordings couldn’t imagine. Vibee packages through The Venetian bundle hotel stays with priority entry and exclusive merchandise.
2. Morgan Wallen opens May with back-to-back stadium shows at Allegiant. The “Still the Problem” tour brings Brooks & Dunn on May 1 and Thomas Rhett on May 2, with Gavin Adcock and Vincent Mason supporting both nights. Wallen’s 2024 Dangerous Tour broke attendance records across North America; these Vegas dates land before festival season pulls him elsewhere.
3. Rod Stewart marks 15 years at The Colosseum with “The Encore Shows” on May 27, 29, and 30. The residency that began in 2011 wrapped its original run in 2024, but demand brought him back for encore dates that blend hits, deep cuts, and new production elements. At 81, Stewart still commands the room—”Maggie May” and “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy?” delivered with the rasp that sold 250 million records.
4. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler bring their “Restless Leg Tour” to Resorts World Theatre on May 3. The SNL queens’ first joint tour pairs sketch-honed chemistry with stand-up material—a rare pairing that sold out theaters nationwide.

Best Shows by Category

May’s permanent roster runs without interruption while festivals and residencies compete for attention. Mother’s Day (May 10) and Memorial Day weekend (May 22-25) add family and leisure travelers to the convention and festival crowds already in town.

Cirque du Soleil Shows

With five unique productions anchored on the Strip, Cirque du Soleil provides a core pillar of Vegas entertainment throughout May. Their consistent schedules offer a dependable counterpoint to the month’s more limited-engagement events.

• “O” at Bellagio – The Aquatic Dreamscape
  This is the quintessential romantic experience. Artists perform in, on, and above a 1.5-million-gallon custom pool, creating a seamless, dreamlike fusion of synchronized swimming, high-diving, and aerial artistry.
  Showtimes: Wednesday-Sunday, 6:30pm & 9pm.
• KÀ at MGM Grand – The Gravity-Defying Epic
  Experience a cinematic tale of twin siblings told through martial arts and acrobatics on a revolutionary stage that rotates into a vertical wall. The epic scale, pyrotechnics, and perilous 80-foot descents captivate teens and adults.
  Showtimes: Monday-Wednesday & Saturday-Sunday, 6pm & 8:30pm; weekend matinees at 4:30pm.
• Mystère at Treasure Island – The Classic Powerhouse
  As the original Vegas Cirque (running since 1993), this show delivers the timeless wonder of the big top. It’s a vibrant explosion of raw athletic power, playful clowning, and elegant aerial acts perfect for first-time visitors and families.
  Showtimes: Friday-Tuesday, 6pm & 8:30pm.
• Michael Jackson ONE at Mandalay Bay – The Pop Concert Reimagined
  This high-voltage production transforms the King of Pop’s iconic catalogue into a visual and acrobatic dance spectacle. The choreography, inspired by groups like the Jabbawockeez, turns hits like “Thriller” into breathtaking set pieces.
  Showtimes: Thursday-Monday, 6:30pm & 9pm.
• Mad Apple at New York-New York – The Nightclub Spectacular
  Offering a grittier, more contemporary vibe, this show captures the energy of a NYC night out. It blends daring acrobatics with sharp comedy and live music for an adults-oriented, socially charged experience.
  Showtimes: Tuesday-Saturday, 9:30pm.

Comedy Shows

May stacks touring headliners across three weekends, creating one of the strongest comedy calendars of the year. The first weekend alone offers four distinct flavors of funny at four different venues.

1. Jerry Seinfeld (May 2-3, Colosseum) delivers polished observational comedy in the room where Sinatra played. The Caesars residency continues to sell because the material keeps evolving—Seinfeld workshopping new bits about technology and aging alongside the classics.
2. Tina Fey & Amy Poehler (May 3, Theatre at Resorts World) bring their “Restless Leg Tour” to Vegas for one night. The Weekend Update chemistry translates to a live format mixing conversation, callbacks to their SNL and film careers, and solo stand-up segments. This pairing rarely tours; catch it while available.
3. Jim Jefferies (May 2-3, Palazzo Theatre) brings Australian abrasiveness to the Venetian’s intimate theater. The material remains provocative; the delivery remains sharp. His Netflix specials preview the energy but can’t replicate the room.
4. Jimmy O. Yang (May 2-3, Encore Theatre) translates his Silicon Valley credentials into stand-up that mines immigrant family dynamics and Hollywood absurdity. The Wynn’s 1,500-seat room suits his conversational style.
5. Sebastian Maniscalco (May 24-25, Encore Theatre) returns for four shows across two nights, bringing the Italian-American family rants and physical comedy that fill arenas. The 7:30pm and 10:30pm showtimes let you catch dinner before or after.
6. Jim Gaffigan (May 28-31, Encore Theatre) closes the month with four nights of food-obsessed, family-friendly material. The “Everything is Wonderful!” tour showcases his ability to find comedy in mundane observations without relying on profanity.
7. Jimmy Carr (May 23, Encore Theatre) brings British wit and dark punchlines for one night. His rapid-fire delivery and willingness to cross lines make him polarizing—and consistently sold out.

For nightly options, Penn & Teller at Rio continue Thursday-Sunday, Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club at MGM Grand books rotating headliners, and Comedy Cellar at Rio imports New York’s format for tight sets and occasional surprise drop-ins.

Magic Shows

May’s magic calendar offers a tactical advantage: while EDC weekend floods the Strip with festival crowds hunting nightlife, the dedicated theater shows—Copperfield, Penn & Teller, Shin Lim—often have better availability than you’d expect. The daytime demographic skews differently.

• For first-time Vegas visitors, start with David Copperfield at MGM Grand. The 90-minute show at his custom-built theater (twice nightly, 7pm and 9:30pm, Sunday-Friday) delivers the grand illusions that defined the genre—cars appearing on stage, audience members vanishing—wrapped in autobiographical storytelling that distinguishes it from pure spectacle. You’ll understand why he’s sold more tickets than any magician in history.

• For comedy-forward magic, Penn & Teller at Rio (Thursday-Sunday, 9pm) balance explanation and mystery. They’ll reveal how a trick works, then do something inexplicable. The post-show meet-and-greet in the lobby—where they pose for photos with every audience member who wants one—remains genuinely unusual for headliners at this level.

• For close-up artistry, Shin Lim: Limitless at Venetian Theatre focuses entirely on card manipulation. The two-time AGT winner moves cards in ways that break your understanding of physics. Colin Cloud opens with mentalism that primes you to question everything. If sleight-of-hand fascinates you more than big-box illusions, this is your pick.

• For theatrical spectacle, Criss Angel MINDFREAK at Planet Hollywood leans into rock-concert staging—straitjacket escapes, fire, loud music—in a 2,000-seat theater. The production values suit audiences who want magic delivered with arena energy.

• For afternoon family shows, Mac King Comedy Magic at Excalibur (1pm and 3pm) pairs legitimate sleight-of-hand with dad-joke delivery at prices under $50. Kids stay engaged; parents laugh at the corny bits.

Adult & Burlesque Shows

Vegas after dark ranges from raunchy circus to sophisticated tease, and May’s festival crowds keep these rooms packed—especially during EDC week when the party doesn’t stop at 5am. Absinthe at Caesars Palace remains the gold standard: a circus-cabaret hybrid in an outdoor Spiegeltent where hosts insult the audience between genuinely dangerous acrobatic acts. The show has run since 2011 and sells out because nothing else matches its controlled chaos—not for the easily offended, but essential for anyone who appreciates performers willing to risk everything for a reaction. Zombie Burlesque at V Theater offers campy horror-comedy: atomic-era zombies performing classic burlesque backed by a live big band. The 75-minute commitment at 8:30pm leaves time for late-night plans. Magic Mike Live at Sahara draws couples as much as bachelorette parties; the theatrical production values and actual choreography distinguish it from standard male revues.

Family-Friendly Shows

Mother’s Day weekend (May 8-10) brings multigenerational groups to Vegas, and the city delivers more kid-appropriate options than its reputation suggests—many of them counterintuitively easier to book than adult shows during festival-heavy May.

• The daytime Sphere experience remains the easiest win for families. The Wizard of Oz runs multiple daily showtimes (11am, 2pm, 5pm, 8pm) and uses Sphere’s 360-degree display to immerse audiences in Oz without requiring concert stamina or late nights. The tornado sequence triggers genuine gasps from kids and adults. During No Doubt’s residency weeks, film showtimes work around concert schedules—check the calendar for conflicts.

• For sensory-seeking kids, Blue Man Group at Luxor delivers percussion, paint, technology experiments, and audience participation without dialogue. The 5pm shows work for younger children; older kids prefer the energy of later showtimes. No age restriction, but the volume and strobe effects require consideration for sensitive kids.

• For active imaginations, Tournament of Kings at Excalibur combines dinner theater with jousting and pyrotechnics. Kids pick a knight to cheer for, eat with their hands, and watch horses charge. The 6pm showtime and 90-minute runtime leave evenings free for pool time.

• For dance-obsessed tweens and teens, Jabbawockeez at MGM Grand translates viral choreography into theatrical scale. The masked performers’ hip-hop routines reference TikTok trends while delivering technical precision that impresses dance-class kids. Shows at 7pm and 9:30pm.

• For quiet afternoon options, Mac King Comedy Magic at Excalibur (1pm and 3pm) and Nathan Burton Comedy Magic at Planet Hollywood both deliver family-friendly illusions with comedy that lands for kids without boring adults. Both run under $50.

Cirque considerations: Mystère welcomes ages 5+ and runs Friday-Tuesday at 6pm and 8:30pm. KÀ’s martial arts action and occasional pyrotechnics suit older kids (8+); the weekend matinees at 4:30pm pair naturally with early dinner. Michael Jackson ONE works best for kids who know the music—the tribute lands harder when they can sing along.

May Show Dates With Most and Least Options

May’s calendar stays consistently stacked, but the number of daily listings still rises and falls predictably. On quieter dates, there may be fewer total choices which can sometimes translate to easier decision making and better pricing opportunities. On the most crowded dates, the advantage flips: travelers get a wider selection across genres, which is especially helpful for last minute planning or groups trying to satisfy different tastes in one night. Some visitors love maximum variety; others prefer a slightly slimmer slate and a smoother pace. May delivers both, depending on the day.

Across the month, daily totals typically ranged from about 42 to 52 shows. Sundays were reliably the lightest, while Tuesdays and Thursdays most often posted the fullest lineups.

Slower days

The pattern is consistent: Sundays tend to cap out around the mid 40s, making them a natural fit for travelers who are deal-conscious or don’t care for the broadest menu of options.

• 📅 May 3 (Sun)
• 📅 May 10 (Sun)
• 📅 May 17 (Sun)
• 📅 May 24 (Sun)
  

Busiest days

If flexibility matters when choosing, late switching plans, or finding something that fits a specific mood the these Tuesdays and Thursdays are the most forgiving nights of the month. The longest nights list around 52 shows:

• 📅 May 5 (Tue)
• 📅 May 7 (Thu)
• 📅 May 12 (Tue)
• 📅 May 14 (Thu)
• 📅 May 19 (Tue)
• 📅 May 21 (Thu)
• 📅 May 26 (Tue)
• 📅 May 28 (Thu)
  

May Dark Weeks

Even with a packed calendar, May includes several mid-month maintenance windows that matter when plans revolve around a specific production. The key distinction is between regular weekly dark days and limited maintenance breaks that temporarily reduce availability.

The most important window to watch is May 10–19, when multiple productions pause at overlapping times.

Cirque du Soleil

Mystère (Treasure Island)

• Weekly Dark Days: Wednesday & Thursday
• May Dark Dates: May 15–19

KÀ (MGM Grand)

• Weekly Dark Days: Thursday & Friday
• May Dark Dates: May 10–19

MJ ONE (Mandalay Bay)

• Weekly Dark Days: Tuesday & Wednesday
• May Dark Dates: May 14–18

Mad Apple (New York-New York)

• Weekly Dark Days: Sunday & Monday
• May Dark Dates: May 11–19

“O” (Bellagio)

• Weekly Dark Days: Monday & Tuesday
• May Status: Running as normal

Production & Variety Shows

Awakening (Wynn Las Vegas)

• Weekly Dark Days: Wednesday & Thursday
• May Dark Dates: May 4–12

Jabbawockeez (MGM Grand)

• Weekly Dark Days: Tuesday & Wednesday
• May Dark Date: May 6

Tournament of Kings (Excalibur)

• Weekly Dark Day: Tuesday
• May Dark Dates: May 11–15

Blue Man Group (Luxor)

• May Dark Date: May 6

Magic & Variety Specials

David Copperfield (MGM Grand)

• May Status: Typically dark May 13–20.

Penn & Teller (Rio)

• Weekly Dark Days: Tuesday & Wednesday
• May Status: Longer breaks often occur in March and May.

Where To See Shows In May

May’s demand hotspots shift depending on which event wave is shaping the week.

• Week 1 concentrates activity toward the South Strip luxury corridor, driven by HD Expo business travel.
  
• Week 3 (EDC) creates citywide pressure, with especially heavy nighttime congestion across the Strip.
  
• Week 4 shifts focus toward the Central Strip as WSOP begins, adding steady weekday lift without festival-level spikes.
  

Rather than one consistent crowd pattern, May delivers several back-to-back demand profiles each rewarding a slightly different planning approach.