Variety Shows in Las Vegas

Variety Shows on Spotlight

1. V - The Ultimate Variety Show — Planet Hollywood

Seven shows in one. Literally.

If there is one show in Las Vegas built from the ground up to be a variety show, it is this one. V - The Ultimate Variety Show features a rotating cast of specialty acts from around the world: jaw-dropping acrobatics, death-defying stunts, side-splitting comedy, sleight-of-hand magic, and high-energy performance art.

The format is the genius: because the cast rotates, regulars who come back for a second night catch an entirely new lineup. Acts have included breakdancing, juggling, rollerblade stunts, quick-change artistry, extreme gymnastics, and stand-up comedy, all packed into a single electric evening.

The beauty of this show is universal appeal. Everyone in every group will find something they love, and most leave wanting more.

Venue: V Theater, Miracle Mile Shops, Planet Hollywood

Schedule: 7:00 PM nightly; select dates at 5:30 PM or 8:30 PM

Duration: 75 minutes

Price From: $52, prices vary

Age: All ages

2. Blue Man Group — Luxor Hotel & Casino

Nothing like it anywhere in the world.

Three blue-painted performers combine percussive art, comedy, technology, and genuine theatricality into something that defies description. They don't speak. They communicate through percussion: banging on instruments made of PVC pipes, industrial materials, and custom rigs, and through perfectly timed physical comedy and facial expressions.

The result is a show that works for toddlers (mesmerized by colors and sounds), teenagers (the tech and music are genuinely cool), and adults (the dry humor and conceptual wit land hard). There's also audience participation, flying toilet paper, and a light show finale that is one of the most visually stunning moments in Vegas entertainment.

Because the show has no dialogue, it is also one of the best picks for international visitors or anyone in a group where not everyone speaks the same language.

Venue: Blue Man Theatre, Luxor Hotel & Casino

Schedule: Multiple shows weekly; check Spotlight for current schedule

Duration: 90 minutes

Price From: $60, prices vary

Age: All ages (especially great for kids 5+)

Pro tip: Book the Poncho section (first few rows) for the full immersive, up-close, slightly messy experience.

3. Penn & Teller — Rio Hotel & Casino

Four decades of legendary magic and comedy. Still the best in the business.

Penn and Teller have been performing together for over four decades, and their Las Vegas residency is a masterclass in what happens when brilliance meets longevity. Penn (tall, verbose) and Teller (silent, inexplicably terrifying) blend magic, comedy, and outright subversion into something that constantly surprises, even when you know a trick is coming.

The show is uniquely self-aware. Penn and Teller frequently explain how a trick works right before doing something that makes the explanation irrelevant. They play with audience expectations ruthlessly and hilariously. Some signature acts, like catching a bullet in their teeth, remain legendary after thousands of performances.

After the show, Penn and Teller come to the lobby to meet every audience member who wants a photo. This is genuinely rare for headliners of their stature. Factor in an extra 30-45 minutes.

Venue: Penn & Teller Theater, Rio Hotel & Casino

Schedule: Most Thursdays through Tuesdays, 8:00 PM

Duration: 90 minutes

Price From: $90, prices vary

Age: All ages

4. Tape Face — MGM Grand

Pure physical comedy genius. Not a word spoken. Not a single dull moment.

Tape Face (Sam Wills, from New Zealand) is one of the most quietly brilliant performers in Las Vegas. His act is pure physical comedy and mime, performed entirely in silence with a strip of tape across his mouth and the world's most expressive face. No dialogue, no punchlines you could write down, just exquisitely crafted physical storytelling that has audiences in tears of laughter.

His material draws on everything: silent film comedy, balloon artistry, lip-sync performance, audience participation, and absurdist visual gags. The show constantly evolves, making it worth seeing more than once.

Because there is zero language barrier, Tape Face is one of the strongest picks for international visitors and mixed-language groups.

Venue: Theater in the Underground, MGM Grand

Schedule: Thursday through Tuesday, Doors 7:00 PM / Show 7:30 PM (dark Wednesdays)

Duration: ~60 minutes

Price From: $71, prices vary

Age: All ages (3+); all guests must purchase a ticket

5. The Mentalist — Planet Hollywood

Comedy meets psychology. Every show is different. No two audiences the same.

Gerry McCambridge turns the psychology of influence, observation, and suggestion into a comedy show that doubles as a mystery you can't solve. He reads volunteers from the audience, predicts choices before they're made, and reveals information about strangers in the room that he could not possibly know. The comedy comes naturally, and the mind-reading is legitimately unsettling in the best possible way.

Because every performance relies on live audience participation, no two shows are ever identical. The Mentalist is also the best budget pick on this list: from $40, it delivers an interactive 75-minute experience that punches well above its price point.

Venue: V2 Upstairs Showroom, Planet Hollywood

Schedule: Most nights at 7:30 PM

Duration: 75 minutes

Price From: $40, prices vary

Age: Recommended 16+ (some adult language)

Pro tip: Sit in the front third of the theater. McCambridge regularly pulls volunteers from those rows.

6. WOW - The Vegas Spectacular — Rio Hotel & Casino

Multiple Best of Las Vegas wins. For good reason.

WOW has picked up Best Acrobatic Show and Best Family-Friendly Show awards since its 2017 debut, and it earns them every time. The show is a high-energy blend of acrobatics, contortion, aerial acts, large-scale illusions, and theatrical spectacle, tied together with a narrative and stunning production design.

These performers do things that should not be physically possible, and the production design (sets, lighting, costume) elevates it beyond pure acrobatics into genuine theatrical artistry. If your group loves Cirque du Soleil-style shows but wants something more accessible, this is the pick.

Venue: Rio Hotel & Casino

Schedule: Select Friday through Sunday dates; matinees from 5:00 PM, evening shows from 7:00 PM

Duration: ~80 minutes

Price From: $69, prices vary

Age: All ages

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