Las Vegas in August 2026: concerts, shows, events, and everything happening this month

By ThingsVegas Editorial Team | 2026-06-26 | 9 min read read

Everything happening in Las Vegas in August 2026 — concerts at Allegiant Stadium, residencies at the Sphere and Caesars, pool parties, and the best shows on the Strip.

Concerts at Allegiant Stadium

August opens with two of the biggest stadium concerts of the summer back to back.

AC/DC — August 1, Allegiant Stadium

AC/DC kicks off August with one of the most anticipated stadium shows of 2026. The band’s Las Vegas date at Allegiant Stadium is part of their North American tour. Allegiant Stadium holds 65,000 for concerts, and floor and lower bowl tickets are expected to sell through quickly. Book early.

Guns N’ Roses with The Black Crowes — August 22, Allegiant Stadium

Guns N’ Roses returns to Las Vegas with The Black Crowes opening the show. Two of rock’s most iconic live acts on one bill at one of the best outdoor stadium venues in the country. This is one of the marquee events of the Las Vegas August calendar.

Residencies in August 2026

The Backstreet Boys wrap up their Into the Millennium residency at the Sphere with final August dates running through August 22. Their run at the Sphere has been one of the most talked-about residencies of 2026 — the immersive screen experience combined with a catalog of ’90s hits has drawn strong reviews. If you have not seen it, August is your last chance.

Following the Backstreet Boys, the Sphere transitions to The Wizard of Oz — a fully immersive cinematic screening experience using the Sphere’s 160,000-square-foot interior display with haptic seats and scent effects. It is a different kind of Sphere experience than a concert residency and worth seeing on its own terms.

The Colosseum at Caesars Palace — Kelly Clarkson and Rod Stewart

Kelly Clarkson’s Studio Sessions residency runs August 1 through 15 at the Colosseum. She performs hits spanning her full catalog from “Since U Been Gone” through her most recent releases in an intimate venue setting.

Rod Stewart follows with Encore Shows dates from August 18 through 29 at the Colosseum. Stewart has been one of the most consistent residency performers in Las Vegas for years — the Colosseum suits his catalog and his stage presence.

Dolby Live at Park MGM — New Kids On The Block

New Kids On The Block continue their residency at Dolby Live through August. The show covers their full catalog of ’80s and ’90s hits. Dolby Live is one of the best mid-size venues in Las Vegas for sound quality — 5,200 capacity, excellent sightlines throughout.

Boyz II Men — August 14 to 22, The Cosmopolitan

Boyz II Men bring their residency to The Cosmopolitan for a limited August run. One of the tightest R&B vocal groups in music history in an intimate Vegas setting. Tickets for their Cosmopolitan dates are available now.

Mary J. Blige — Dolby Live at Park MGM

Mary J. Blige continues her My Life My Story residency with August dates on the 2nd, 5th, and 6th at Dolby Live. The show is a theatrical production blending her catalog with live narration and performance — more than a standard concert residency. One of the more distinctive shows of the summer.

Gabriel Iglesias — August 11 and 12, The Chelsea at the Cosmopolitan

Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias brings his stand-up to The Chelsea for two nights in August. The Chelsea is a 1,200-capacity venue inside the Cosmopolitan — one of the better rooms for stand-up comedy on the Strip.

Santana — House of Blues, August 16 through 27

Santana returns to the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay for multiple August dates: August 16, 17, 19, 20, 23, 24, 26, and 27. The House of Blues is an intimate room for Santana’s catalog. Eight dates across two weeks — strong scheduling for anyone who wants to catch him live without paying Allegiant Stadium prices.

Barry Manilow — Westgate Las Vegas, multiple dates

Barry Manilow continues his long-running residency at the International Theater at Westgate Las Vegas through the summer and fall. He holds the record for the longest-running headliner residency in Las Vegas history. Tickets are consistently available without the last-minute pressure of stadium shows.

Long-running shows playing all August

These resident shows run year-round and are all operating through August 2026: WOW – The Vegas Spectacular at the Rio Hotel. Penn and Teller at the Rio, Thursday through Sunday at 8 p.m. ROUGE at The STRAT. Mystère by Cirque du Soleil at Treasure Island. O by Cirque du Soleil at the Bellagio. KÀ by Cirque du Soleil at MGM Grand. Absinthe at Caesars Palace, nightly in the Spiegeltent. Blue Man Group at Luxor. Mad Apple by Cirque du Soleil at New York-New York. Shin Lim at his dedicated residency venue. Piff the Magic Dragon at Flamingo Las Vegas.

Pool parties and dayclubs in August

August is the best-value month for Las Vegas pool parties. Full infrastructure is running, summer residency headliners are still in town, and there is no holiday premium on hotel rates or dayclub tickets the way there is in July.

All nine major dayclubs are operating through August 2026. The August schedule: Encore Beach Club at Wynn runs Thursday through Sunday. OMNIA Dayclub at Caesars Palace runs Wednesday through Sunday. Marquee Dayclub at the Cosmopolitan runs Friday through Monday. Palm Tree Beach Club at MGM Grand runs Wednesday through Sunday. LIV Beach at Fontainebleau runs Friday through Sunday. AYU Dayclub at Resorts World runs Friday through Sunday. TAO Beach at The Venetian runs Thursday through Sunday. Tailgate Beach Club at Mandalay Bay runs Friday through Sunday. Stadium Swim at Circa runs daily.

Marquee Dayclub’s Beatport Fridays series runs through September 4 — August is the final stretch of that 16-week series.

DEF CON — August 6 to 9, Las Vegas Convention Center

DEF CON, one of the world’s largest cybersecurity conferences, returns to Las Vegas for four days in August. Roughly 30,000 security professionals, researchers, hackers, and government agency representatives attend. It is not a tourist event — but it does fill hotel rooms and affects Strip pricing for that weekend. If you are visiting August 6 to 9, book accommodations early.

Hotel rates in August

August is the slowest month of the summer for Las Vegas hotel occupancy. Convention traffic thins, many leisure travelers have returned to school schedules, and rates frequently dip below what they cost in October, March, or any peak weekend. The exception is the Allegiant Stadium concert weekends — August 1 and August 22 — when rates near the south Strip and airport corridor increase.

If your priority is value on a Strip hotel, weekdays in August outside of the DEF CON and concert weekends are when Las Vegas hotel rooms are at their most affordable all year.

What to know about visiting Las Vegas in August

The heat is real. August afternoons in Las Vegas regularly reach 108 to 112°F. The practical rule: outdoor activity before 10 a.m. or after 8 p.m. The window between noon and 6 p.m. is best spent in air-conditioned venues — casino floors, shows, restaurants, or dayclubs with pool access.

Hydration is not optional. Alcohol dehydrates faster in extreme heat. If you are spending time at a pool party, alternate water with drinks throughout the day. Most dayclubs sell water but do not always make it easy to find — bring a refillable bottle in your bag.

Evening Las Vegas is a different experience. After 9 p.m. in August, temperatures drop to the mid-80s and outdoor walking on the Strip is comfortable. The Bellagio Fountains, the High Roller, and the walk between properties are all significantly more enjoyable after dark in summer.

Frequently asked questions

What concerts are in Las Vegas in August 2026? The biggest concerts in Las Vegas in August 2026 are AC/DC on August 1 and Guns N’ Roses with The Black Crowes on August 22, both at Allegiant Stadium. Residency performers at the Colosseum include Kelly Clarkson (August 1 to 15) and Rod Stewart (August 18 to 29). The Backstreet Boys wrap their Sphere residency through August 22.

Is August a good time to visit Las Vegas? Yes, for the right traveler. August has the lowest hotel rates of the summer, a full entertainment calendar, and all nine major dayclubs running. The tradeoff is heat — afternoon temperatures regularly exceed 110°F. If you can structure your days around indoor activities and evenings, August delivers strong value.

Are pool parties still running in August in Las Vegas? Yes. All nine major Las Vegas dayclubs run full programming through August 2026. Encore Beach Club, OMNIA Dayclub, Marquee Dayclub, Palm Tree Beach Club, LIV Beach, AYU, TAO Beach, Tailgate Beach Club, and Stadium Swim are all operating. August is considered the best-value month of pool party season — full lineups, no holiday premium.

What shows are playing in Las Vegas in August 2026? Permanent resident shows including WOW, ROUGE, Penn and Teller, all three Cirque du Soleil productions, Absinthe, Blue Man Group, Shin Lim, and Piff the Magic Dragon are all playing in August. Concert residencies include Kelly Clarkson, Rod Stewart, Mary J. Blige, Boyz II Men, Barry Manilow, and New Kids On The Block. Santana plays multiple nights at House of Blues.

How hot is Las Vegas in August? Average high temperatures in Las Vegas in August are between 104 and 112°F. Mornings are manageable — typically in the mid-80s before 9 a.m. Afternoons between noon and 6 p.m. are the most extreme. Evenings after 9 p.m. drop to the mid-80s and are comfortable for outdoor activity.