Vegas Shows In September 2026

Top Headliners and Residency Shows

Carín León — Boca Chueca Tour at The Sphere

History in motion: Carín León becomes the first Latin artist to headline the Sphere. His Boca Chueca Tour transforms the dome’s 16K screen into sweeping Sonoran deserts and surreal dreamscapes that mirror his blend of regional Mexican roots and modern pop production. Expect live mariachi horns colliding with cinematic visuals built specifically for the venue’s curved LED environment.

Spotlight Insight: Demand for the first weekend (Sep 4) is outpacing even U2’s early Sphere residency—book early; resale prices already trend +40%.

Alejandro Fernández — El Grito Centerpiece

On September 15, the MGM Grand Garden becomes the emotional heart of El Grito de Independencia. Alejandro Fernández’s De Rey A Rey concert continues a two-decade Vegas tradition, complete with a full mariachi orchestra and a video tribute to his father, Vicente Fernández.

Dolly Parton & Ricky Martin — Iconic Contrast

Two legends share the Colosseum in wildly different weekends. Dolly Parton’s limited engagement blends story-songs and stage anecdotes into a theater-style acoustic evening. Ricky Martin follows with a high-gloss Latin-pop set loaded with choreography and charisma—ideal timing for El Grito weekend visitors.

Santana — House of Blues Residency

Carlos Santana returns for another fiery run inside the 1,500-seat House of Blues, proving intimacy can still feel arena-sized. His “Greatest Hits Live” residency remains one of the Strip’s best-sounding rooms—close enough to watch every bend of the guitar neck.

iHeartRadio Music Festival — Two Nights of Everything

T-Mobile Arena, Sep 18–19. The lineup drops late summer, but it traditionally unites ten A-list performers in rapid-fire sets—think Dua Lipa, Foo Fighters, Drake, or Billie Eilish in past years. The festival also brings Daytime Stage events at AREA15 and pop-up performances along the Strip.

Best Shows by Category

Cirque du Soleil Shows

September brings a new rhythm to Cirque du Soleil. As international visitors pour in for festivals and El Grito celebrations, the theaters become multilingual meeting points — spectacle understood in every language.

• “O” – Bellagio:Elegance remains effortless inside Bellagio’s aquatic amphitheater, where divers break the water’s surface like dancers through silk. The show’s timeless romance pairs beautifully with the late-summer mood. Travelers in September will notice thinner midweek crowds and ticket prices about 15–20% lower than weekend peaks — an ideal time for first-time visitors to secure prime seating.

• KÀ – MGM Grand: The KÀ theater recently unveiled sharper projection mapping and color grading on its colossal rotating stage, giving its “battle in the sky” sequence an even more cinematic texture. The upgrades have breathed new life into the production — reviewers call it “clearer, faster, and louder than ever.” September’s mixed audience of families and Latin travelers makes this one of the most universally loved picks of the month.

• Mad Apple – New York-New York: Cirque’s wild card continues to evolve. A new late-night segment channels downtown Manhattan’s after-hours chaos — brass, beatboxing, and stand-up stitched between acrobatics. The result feels more like a variety concert than a traditional Cirque, and it’s catching buzz among festival-goers staying nearby at Park MGM.

Production & Magic Shows

The Wizard of Oz – The Sphere: Still dazzling audiences in its first full year, The Wizard of Oz Immersive Film replaces Postcard from Earth with a brighter, story-driven experience. Multiple daily screenings make it a mid-day refuge from 100°F afternoons.

Shin Lim – Limitless (Venetian): Pure sleight-of-hand artistry that consistently sells out three weeks ahead. Lim’s pacing and production quality keep the show rated among the city’s top five overall performances.

Comedy Shows

• Nikki Glaser & David Spade – The Colosseum: If timing is everything in comedy, Glaser and Spade have it synced like a drum kit. Their back-and-forth roast banter lands harder each month, with audiences calling it “Vegas’s funniest date night.” The humor walks a perfect tightrope — biting but self-aware, like two friends roasting life on the Strip in real time.

• L.A. Comedy Club (The STRAT): North Strip, neon skyline outside the window, a lineup that changes nightly — this room feels like Vegas before it got polished. Raw, fast, funny, and often cheaper than a casino cocktail.

• Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club (MGM Grand): Downstairs in a club built for punchlines, Garrett curates national headliners and surprise cameos. It’s the kind of venue where the MC might be more famous than the headliner — and that’s exactly the charm.

Adult & Burlesque Shows

September nights belong to the grown-ups. As the festival crowds fade into afterparties, the Strip glows softer — all velvet light and brass notes drifting from cabaret doors.

Top Pick — Absinthe (Caesars Palace)
Still the most daring show in town, Absinthe isn’t just adult humor; it’s organized chaos under a spiegeltent dome. Fire-breathing acrobats, insult comedy, and audience banter create the kind of controlled mayhem that feels different every night. After Spiegelworld’s 2026 revamp, expect sharper choreography and more front-row engagement — or warning, depending on your comfort zone.

Runner-Up — Rouge (The STRAT)
Rouge walks the line between sensual and surreal. Performers suspended from aerial silks twist above flickering candles while the soundtrack moves from jazz to house beats. It’s the perfect date-night bridge between dinner and the casino floor — sophisticated, a little mysterious, and proudly Vegas.

Classic Choice — Magic Mike Live (SAHARA)
For groups and bachelorettes, this remains the surest bet for laughter and choreography in equal measure. September audiences skew lively but less crowded than midsummer, making late shows the best mix of energy and space.

Spotlight Insight: Night-owls should aim for the 10 p.m. and midnight shows — the air cools, the Strip lights sharpen, and the audience energy shifts from curious to electric. All tickets available exclusively on Spotlight.Vegas.

Family-Friendly Shows

September is a sweet spot for family travelers — cooler evenings, smaller crowds, and shows that balance spectacle with heart. Inside the MGM Grand, the Jabbawockeez keep the beat alive with their syncopated choreography and trademark masks, pulling kids into impromptu dance-offs that spill into the lobby afterward. Just down the Strip, Blue Man Group at the Luxor turns rhythm into comedy — three blue-painted performers splattering paint, pounding pipes, and cracking visual jokes that land without a single word. For parents looking to introduce their kids to Vegas magic, Mystère at Treasure Island still captures that first-time wonder. The aerial drums, tumbling acrobats, and bursts of laughter remind you why Cirque shows never fade — because they speak directly to curiosity.

Spotlight Insight: September families tend to book earlier showtimes (5–7 p.m.) before strolling the Promenade for dessert — check Spotlight.Vegas listings for combo deals that make the night easy

September Show Dates With Most and Least Options

September’s show calendar doesn’t move evenly from start to finish. Some days scale back slightly, favoring value and simplicity, while others expand with extra listings that give late planners more flexibility. Preference matters here: some travelers enjoy a tighter shortlist, others want the reassurance of many options.

Across the month, daily show counts typically range from about 42 to just over 50, with the widest swings appearing later in September.

Slower days

The lightest schedules usually cap out around 42–45 shows, often ending earlier in the evening. Sundays’ and midweek dates trend lighter, for visitors who prefer a calmer pace or don’t need the broadest possible selection to enjoy an evening out.

• 📅 September 1 (Tuesday)
• 📅 September 8 (Tuesday)
• 📅 September 20 (Sunday)
• 📅 September 27 (Sunday)
• 📅 September 29 (Tuesday)
  

Busiest days

The most crowded calendars appear when listings extend beyond the usual cutoff, pushing totals to 52 or more shows. These dates cluster later in the month and lean heavily toward weekends.

• 📅 September 18 (Friday)
• 📅 September 19 (Saturday)
• 📅 September 23 (Wednesday)
• 📅 September 25 (Friday)
• 📅September 26 (Saturday)
  

September Dark Weeks

September’s citywide show volume stays strong, but mid-month maintenance windows can affect availability for specific productions. These pauses don’t reduce overall options, but they matter if a trip is built around a particular title.

The most schedule-sensitive stretch falls between September 10 and September 22, when multiple productions pause at overlapping times.

Cirque du Soleil

Travelers visiting mid-September should double-check dates if a specific Cirque title is a priority, as several maintenance windows overlap during that period.

MMystère (Treasure Island)

• Weekly Dark Days: Wednesday & Thursday
• September Dark Dates: September 11–15

KÀ (MGM Grand)

• Weekly Dark Days: Thursday & Friday
• September Dark Dates: September 13–22

MJ ONE (Mandalay Bay)

• Weekly Dark Days: Tuesday & Wednesday
• September Dark Dates: September 10–14

Mad Apple (New York-New York)

• Weekly Dark Days: Sunday & Monday
• September Dark Dates: September 14–22

“O” (Bellagio)

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

Production & Variety Shows

Awakening (Wynn Las Vegas)

• Weekly Dark Days: Wednesday & Thursday
• September Status: Dark through September 8

Tournament of Kings (Excalibur)

• Weekly Dark Day: Tuesday
• September Dark Dates: September 7–11

Blue Man Group (Luxor)

• September Dark Dates: September 2 and September 7

Jabbawockeez (MGM Grand)

• Weekly Dark Days: Tuesday & Wednesday
• September Status: Running as normal

Magic & Variety Specials

David Copperfield (MGM Grand)

• September Status: No September dark period listed.

Penn & Teller (Rio)

• September Status: No September break listed.

• Weekly Dark Days: Tuesday & Wednesday

Where To See Shows In September

In January, the crowded areas will come down to which zones are under the most pressure from overlapping conventions. Based on our event research, congestion doesn’t spread evenly it September’s demand footprint shifts as the month progresses.

• Early September concentrates activity along the Central Strip, supported by football weekends and steady leisure travel.
  
• Mid-month pressure builds near the Convention Center, with spillover into nearby Strip resorts.
  
• Late September sees the strongest clustering around Venetian-area resorts and Central Strip gaming corridors, driven by G2E.
  

This progression makes flexibility greatest in the first half of the month, while the final week favors committing to preferred show dates and times earlier.