Las Vegas holiday season 2026: Christmas lights, shows and New Year’s Eve

By TicketGlide Editorial Team · Facts checked October 30, 2026 · How we research and review

The Las Vegas holiday season runs from the Bellagio Conservatory’s holiday display, open from Saturday 14 November 2026, to the rooftop fireworks over the Strip at midnight on Thursday 31 December. The best of it is free or nearly free: the Conservatory costs nothing, and the Ethel M cactus garden lights cost $3. What is worth booking is a seat at a show that is actually playing on your dates (KÀ is dark on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve), a night tour or helicopter flight over the lit-up Strip, and a date-specific ticket for the Magical Forest. Dates and rules checked October 2026; New Year’s Eve details below are from 2025–26 until the county publishes this year’s plan.

Las Vegas holiday tickets and tours worth booking

The holiday displays and the New Year’s Eve fireworks are free or cheap; these are the evenings worth paying for. Prices were checked on 30 October 2026 and live prices in your currency are shown on each card. Most cards allow free cancellation up to 24 hours before; the helicopter flight needs 72 hours’ notice.

Where available, you can reserve now and pay later. Payment dates and eligibility depend on the experience and the options shown at checkout.

Finding experiences…

Guided evening tour of the Las Vegas Strip with the High Roller

From $130.78

Guide price · checked October 30, 2026

About 3 hours · A first December evening: the lights, Downtown and the Strip from 550 feet, without driving

Includes hotel pickup and drop-off, a local guide, bottled water, a photo stop at the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign, a drive past the wedding chapels to Downtown and Fremont Street, and a ride of about 30 minutes on the High Roller wheel. Gratuities are extra; minimum age 2. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before; confirmation is not instant.

Open-top night bus tour of Las Vegas

From $59

Guide price · checked October 30, 2026

2 to 3 hours, depending on the departure · Seeing the lit-up Strip on a budget, from the top deck

Choose the 7pm or 10:15pm tour from the High Roller bus loading zone at 3973 LINQ Lane (only the 10:15pm tour stops at the Welcome sign), or the 8pm adults-only tour (21+) with a welcome drink, checking in at the Hard Rock Cafe, 3771 Las Vegas Blvd, between 7:15pm and 7:40pm. Recorded commentary in English and Spanish; seats are first come, first served. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before, instant confirmation. The top deck is cold in December, so bring a warm layer.

Night helicopter flight over the Strip

From $99

Guide price · checked October 30, 2026

10–12 minute flight; allow 1 to 2 hours · Couples and a once-in-a-trip view of the Strip, Sphere and Fremont Street lit up

Flights leave from the heliport opposite Mandalay Bay and the Four Seasons, with free parking; taxes and fees are included. An option adds a 6pm dinner at Pampas Brazilian Grille at Planet Hollywood with a Mercedes Sprinter drop-off. Passengers weighing 250 to 375 lb must buy an extra seat on the day. Free cancellation only up to 72 hours before; no refund after that.

Michael Jackson ONE at Mandalay Bay

From $117.57

Guide price · checked October 30, 2026

90 minutes · New Year’s Eve before the fireworks, or Christmas night with older children

Usually Thursday to Monday at 6:30pm and 9pm; on New Year’s Eve the shows move earlier, to 4:30pm and 7pm, so you are out well before midnight. The price includes the 9% Live Entertainment Tax; minimum age 5. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before; confirmation is not instant and prices change with demand.

“O” by Cirque du Soleil at Bellagio

From $121.83

Guide price · checked October 30, 2026

90 minutes · A Christmas-week show in the same resort as the Conservatory’s holiday display

Plays Wednesday to Sunday at 6:30pm and 9pm, so Friday 25 December is a regular show day, but it is dark from 2 to 13 December 2026. Minimum age 5; only small bags (9 x 5 x 2 inches) are allowed in the theater. Live Entertainment Tax included. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.

Bellagio Conservatory holiday display

Free

Guide price · checked October 30, 2026

Self-paced, walk-through · Everyone: the Strip’s best-known free holiday sight

The 14,000-square-foot Conservatory turns to its holiday theme from 14 November 2026 to 2 January 2027. No ticket is needed. It is closed for the changeover from 8 to 13 November and again from 3 to 8 January, when the Lunar New Year display is installed.

Book on the official website

Magical Forest at Opportunity Village

2026 prices not yet published

Guide price · checked October 30, 2026

An evening, from 5:30pm · Families with young children: a walk-through holiday park with rides and games

A holiday park of lit trees, rides and $5 carnival games that raises money for Opportunity Village, which serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. New for 2026, tickets are for a specific date; buy online before you go, as nights can sell out. Children aged 3 and under are free; seniors (65+) get $3 off and military and first responders $5 off, at the box office only.

Book on the official website

Ethel M Holiday Cactus Garden lights

$3 per person

Guide price · checked October 30, 2026

An evening, from 5pm · A short, cheap evening out in Henderson with hot chocolate and Santa

No reservation needed. The $3 entry fee (cash or card) supports Help of Southern Nevada and Three Square Food Bank; children under 2 and seniors 65+ are free. Santa is there daily from 5pm until Wednesday 23 December, with the line closing at 9pm; a $40 Santa Express Pass reserves a time for up to six people.

Book on the official website

Las Vegas holiday events in 2026: what happens when

Bellagio Conservatory holiday display 2026 (14 November – 2 January)

The Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens switch to their holiday display on Saturday 14 November 2026 and keep it until Saturday 2 January 2027; entry is free. The 14,000-square-foot garden is redesigned five times a year, for spring, summer, fall, winter and Lunar New Year.

Time your visit around the closures: the Conservatory is dark from Sunday 8 to Friday 13 November while the holiday display is built, and again from Sunday 3 to Friday 8 January 2027. The Lunar New Year display follows from 9 January to 6 March 2027.

Christmas lights in Las Vegas 2026: Ethel M, Magical Forest and Glittering Lights

Las Vegas has three big holiday light displays away from the Strip, and each suits a different visitor: Ethel M for a cheap, short stroll, the Magical Forest for young children, and Glittering Lights if you have a car.

  • Ethel M Holiday Cactus Garden, Henderson: the 33rd annual display, with about a million lights in Nevada’s largest botanical cactus garden. Open nightly from Thursday 5 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027, 5pm to 10pm; on 24 December, 31 December and 1 January it closes at 8pm, and it is closed on Christmas Day. Entry is $3 per person, with no reservation.
  • Magical Forest at Opportunity Village: a holiday theme park of lit trees, rides and holiday food, running for more than 30 years. Open 27–29 November, 3–24 December and 26 December to 1 January; Sunday to Thursday 5:30pm to 9pm, Friday and Saturday 5:30pm to 9:30pm, with the box office closing 30 minutes earlier. It is closed on Christmas Day and from 30 November to 2 December. Ticket prices had not been published on 30 October 2026.
  • Glittering Lights at Las Vegas Motor Speedway: a drive-through light show, open from Friday 6 November 2026 to Monday 4 January 2027, nightly from 5pm. The organizer’s FAQ lists carload tickets (per vehicle) from $39 cash on site or $44 by card, and a season pass of about $149. Weekends and holidays are busiest, so arrive soon after 5pm. On Sunday 15 November 2026 a 5K run and 1-mile walk goes through the lights.

Las Vegas shows on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve 2026

Most Cirque du Soleil shows in Las Vegas play on Christmas Day, but KÀ does not, and “O” takes a 12-night break in early December. Christmas Day 2026 is a Friday and New Year’s Eve a Thursday, so each show’s weekly dark days decide what you can see.

  • “O” at Bellagio: Wednesday to Sunday, 6:30pm and 9pm. Dark from 2 to 13 December 2026, which covers most of the National Finals Rodeo; plays on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve under its regular schedule.
  • KÀ at MGM Grand: Monday to Wednesday at 6pm and 8:30pm, Saturday and Sunday at 4:30pm and 7pm; dark every Thursday and Friday. Extra dark dates on Saturday 19 and Saturday 26 December 2026, so there is no KÀ on 25, 26 or 31 December.
  • Mystère at Treasure Island: Friday to Tuesday, 6:30pm and 9pm. Extra dark date Tuesday 22 December; two special New Year’s Eve shows on Thursday 31 December at 4:30pm and 7pm. Tickets for it are non-refundable.
  • Michael Jackson ONE at Mandalay Bay: Thursday to Monday, 6:30pm and 9pm. Extra shows on Wednesday 30 December at 6:30pm and 9pm, and early shows on New Year’s Eve at 4:30pm and 7pm.

New Year’s Eve on the Las Vegas Strip: America’s Party

New Year’s Eve on the Strip is free to watch: at midnight on Thursday 31 December 2026, fireworks launch from resort rooftops along Las Vegas Boulevard. The LVCVA and Clark County usually publish the year’s launch sites, road closures and rules in December; until then, the 2025–26 plan is the best guide.

For 2025–26, the 25th America’s Party, Fireworks by Grucci fired an eight-minute show from the rooftops of 10 resorts: ARIA, Caesars Palace, Fontainebleau Las Vegas, MGM Grand, the Palms, Planet Hollywood, Resorts World, The STRAT, Treasure Island and The Venetian. For the first time, 600 drones flew a light show alongside the fireworks, and Sphere ran the official countdown to midnight on its Exosphere. About 345,000 visitors were expected in the city.

The launch sites stretch from MGM Grand to The STRAT, so the show is spread along the Strip rather than centered on one spot. Resort parties, rooftop bars and nightclubs sell their own tickets.

New Year’s Eve rules on the Strip: what you cannot bring

In 2025–26, from 6pm on 31 December to 6am on 1 January, glass bottles, metal containers, strollers, coolers, backpacks and bags larger than 12 x 12 x 6 inches were banned on the Strip. Clark County code restricts glass beverage containers on designated streets during special events.

The road closures started early: the Flamingo off-ramps from Interstate 15 closed at about 5:30pm, Las Vegas Boulevard began closing between Spring Mountain Road and Tropicana Avenue at 6:30pm, and the Strip was closed to all vehicles by 8pm. Clark County reminds visitors that New Year’s Eve falls in the coldest part of the year: dress warmly and wear comfortable shoes.

Fremont Street New Year’s Eve: a ticketed party Downtown

Fremont Street is not free on New Year’s Eve: the Fremont Street Experience turns the canopy into a ticketed, 21-and-over party called Countdown Under the Canopy. In 2025–26 it had six concerts on several stages, gates opened at 7pm, and the Plaza Hotel fired fireworks at midnight. Wristbands were collected in advance at the SlotZilla box office with photo ID, and all ticket sales were final.

For New Year’s Eve 2026 the Fremont Street Experience lists Hoobastank, Petey Pablo, Alien Ant Farm, Bubba Sparxxx and DJ sets across its stages; gates open at 7pm, it is strictly 21+, and early-bird tickets were listed at $35 plus fees at the end of October 2026. For the rest of the year the canopy and its nightly shows are free; see our Fremont Street guide.

National Finals Rodeo and Cowboy Christmas in Las Vegas (3–12 December 2026)

The Wrangler National Finals Rodeo runs for ten nights, from Thursday 3 to Saturday 12 December 2026, with 119 qualifiers competing for world titles. Every performance starts at 5:45pm at the Thomas & Mack Center on the UNLV campus.

Cowboy Christmas, the western shopping show that runs alongside the rodeo, is free: it is open daily from 3 to 12 December, 9am to 4pm, in the South Halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center. If you come for the rodeo, note that “O” is dark from 2 to 13 December.

What is open on Christmas Day in and around Las Vegas

On Friday 25 December 2026 most Strip sights and shows keep their usual schedules, but several holiday events and day-trip sights close.

  • Closed on Christmas Day: the Ethel M cactus garden, the Magical Forest, the Hoover Dam Visitor Center and tours (the dam itself is open from 5am to 9pm), and Antelope Canyon, which also closes on Thanksgiving, the day after and New Year’s Day.
  • Open: the Bellagio Conservatory, the Neon Museum, which is open 365 days a year, and most Strip shows except KÀ. The Mob Museum normally opens daily from 9am to 9pm but says hours can change on holidays.
  • Valley of Fire is closed for maintenance from Tuesday 1 to Monday 14 December 2026, so plan a December visit for after 15 December. Red Rock Canyon’s Scenic Drive needs a timed-entry reservation from 1 October to 31 May and closes at 5pm from November to February.

Map of Las Vegas holiday lights and events, and how to get there

The map starts at the Bellagio Conservatory on the Strip. The holiday light displays are in the suburbs, between 4 and 15 miles away, and are easiest by car or rideshare; distances below are as the crow flies.

Getting around the Strip on New Year’s Eve

Walk or take the bus. In 2025–26 the RTC ran free rides on all transit routes from 6pm on 31 December until 9am on 1 January, including the Deuce along the Strip, with detours on some routes. Once Las Vegas Boulevard closes to traffic (fully by 8pm in 2025–26), taxis and rideshares cannot use it, so plan any pickup away from the Boulevard.

The Las Vegas Monorail runs behind the east side of the Strip, about 4 miles from MGM Grand to SAHARA, with trains every 4 to 8 minutes. A single ride costs $5.75 online ($6.25 full fare) and a one-day pass $13.95 online. Its New Year’s Eve hours had not been published on 27 October 2026.

Las Vegas Monorail hours in November and December 2026

The Monorail runs nonstop during F1 week, from 7am on Tuesday 17 November to 3am on Monday 23 November 2026. In December it closes early on several nights: at midnight from 29 November to 2 December, 6 to 10 December and 13 to 15 December, and at 1am on 3 December. Check the operator’s notices before relying on a late train.

Driving to the holiday lights

For Glittering Lights, the organizer says not to use GPS, which can send you to a closed entrance: take I-15 North to exit 54 (Speedway Blvd), turn right and follow the signs for about half a mile. Ethel M is at 2 Cactus Garden Drive in Henderson; park in its own lots or the Smith’s lot across the street, not at the Green Valley Business Park or Roseman University, where cars are towed. The Magical Forest is at 6300 W. Oakey Blvd, west of the Strip; bags larger than a diaper bag are not allowed in.

Las Vegas holiday sights beyond the Bellagio

Timing tips for the Las Vegas holiday season

For a Las Vegas holiday trip with the fewest clashes, aim for 15 to 23 December: Valley of Fire has reopened, the rodeo has ended, “O” is back and every holiday display is open.

  • Mid-November has two clashes: the Conservatory is closed from 8 to 13 November, and the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix is held on and around the Strip from 19 to 21 November 2026. Visit the Conservatory from 14 November.
  • During rodeo week (3 to 12 December), “O” is dark from 2 to 13 December; KÀ, Mystère and Michael Jackson ONE keep playing on their usual days.
  • Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day close the Ethel M garden early, at 8pm, and Christmas Day closes it completely.
  • Dress for desert nights: December averages a high of 57°F (14°C) and a low of 40°F (4°C), so it is near the low at midnight on New Year’s Eve. November is milder, with an average high of 67°F (19°C).
  • Book a New Year’s Eve show early in the evening: Mystère and Michael Jackson ONE play at 4:30pm and 7pm, which leaves time to reach the Strip before the roads close.

What to skip at Christmas and New Year in Las Vegas

Skip anything that only repeats what you can see for free from the Strip sidewalk.

  • Driving onto the Strip on New Year’s Eve: in 2025–26 it closed to all vehicles by 8pm, and the Flamingo off-ramps from I-15 closed from about 5:30pm.
  • A Christmas-week trip to Valley of Fire in early December: the park is shut from 1 to 14 December 2026.
  • Paying for a Strip viewing spot just to see the fireworks: they fire from rooftops along the whole Strip and are free to watch from the street. Pay only if you want the party, the view from a bar, or a seat indoors.
  • Booking KÀ for 25 or 31 December: it is dark on both dates, and on 19 and 26 December as well.

Mistakes to avoid at Christmas and New Year in Las Vegas

Most holiday mistakes in Las Vegas come from assuming a show, a park or a light display is open just because the Strip is.

  • Bringing a backpack, cooler, stroller or glass bottle to the Strip on New Year’s Eve. They were banned from 6pm to 6am in 2025–26, as were bags larger than 12 x 12 x 6 inches.
  • Expecting Fremont Street to be free at midnight. It is a ticketed 21+ party on New Year’s Eve, and in 2025–26 all ticket sales were final.
  • Turning up at the Magical Forest without a ticket for that night. Tickets are date-specific for the first time in 2026, and nights can sell out.
  • Typing Las Vegas Motor Speedway into GPS for Glittering Lights. The organizer says GPS can route you to a no-entry gate; use exit 54 from I-15 North.
  • Planning a Christmas Day trip to Hoover Dam or Antelope Canyon. The dam’s visitor center and tours are closed, and so is Antelope Canyon.

Las Vegas holiday season FAQ

When is the Bellagio Conservatory holiday display in 2026?

From Saturday 14 November 2026 to Saturday 2 January 2027. It is free; the Conservatory is closed for the changeover from 8 to 13 November and from 3 to 8 January.

Are Cirque du Soleil shows on Christmas Day in Las Vegas?

Most are. Christmas Day 2026 is a Friday, a regular show day for “O”, Mystère and Michael Jackson ONE. KÀ is dark every Thursday and Friday and on 26 December.

Where can you see Christmas lights in Las Vegas?

At the Ethel M Holiday Cactus Garden in Henderson ($3, 5 November to 3 January), the Magical Forest at Opportunity Village (27 November to 1 January, selected nights) and Glittering Lights, a drive-through at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (6 November to 4 January).

How much is the Ethel M cactus garden at Christmas?

$3 per person in 2026, cash or card; children under 2 and seniors 65+ are free. It is open nightly from 5pm to 10pm, with earlier 8pm closing on 24 and 31 December and 1 January, and is closed on Christmas Day.

Is the Magical Forest open on Christmas Day?

No. In 2026 it is open 27–29 November, 3–24 December and 26 December to 1 January, from 5:30pm. Tickets are date-specific this year.

Do you need tickets for the New Year’s Eve fireworks on the Strip?

No. The fireworks are free to watch from the street; in 2025–26 they lasted eight minutes from midnight and launched from 10 resort rooftops. Resort parties and rooftop venues sell their own tickets.

What can’t you bring to the Strip on New Year’s Eve?

In 2025–26, glass bottles, metal containers, strollers, coolers, backpacks and bags larger than 12 x 12 x 6 inches were banned from 6pm on 31 December to 6am on 1 January.

When does the Strip close to traffic on New Year’s Eve?

In 2025–26, closures on Las Vegas Boulevard began at 6:30pm and the Strip was closed to all vehicles by 8pm; the Flamingo off-ramps from I-15 closed at about 5:30pm. The 2026–27 plan is usually published in December.

When is the National Finals Rodeo in 2026?

From Thursday 3 to Saturday 12 December 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center, nightly at 5:45pm. Cowboy Christmas, the free gift show, runs at the Las Vegas Convention Center on the same dates, 9am to 4pm.

How cold is Las Vegas in December?

December averages a high of 57°F (14°C) and a low of 40°F (4°C), with about 0.45 inches (11 mm) of rain, so evenings outdoors need a coat.

Was this guide helpful?

Spotted something out of date? Tell us

Sources

We checked the facts on this page against these sources on October 30, 2026. Prices and times can change, so confirm them when you book.

Spotted something out of date? Email support@ticketglide.com.

More things to do in Las Vegas

From prices are indicative. Choose your date and confirm availability, cancellation terms and the final total on the booking page. * Ratings and reviews are collected by Viator and Tripadvisor.
* “What travellers say” summarises recent reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor, covering every star rating (October 2026).

Christmas & New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas 2026 | TicketGlide