Mad Apple closes September 5. Here's what to see instead.
By ThingsVegas Editorial Team | 2026-08-29 | 4 min read read
Mad Apple plays its final show September 5. These five Las Vegas alternatives match its mix of acrobatics, comedy, live music, and variety-show energy.
Planning Context
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If the original option is no longer available, compare nearby alternatives on location, timing, total cost, and the group’s priorities rather than choosing from a headline alone. That keeps a change of plan from becoming a rushed decision.
What to see instead
Mad Apple plays its final show September 5, and if it was on your list, here's how to fill that slot. Mad Apple worked because it mixed acrobatics, stand-up comedy, and live music into one show instead of a single storyline. These five hit that same variety format in different directions, from family-friendly to adults-only.
WOW – The Vegas Spectacular
If you liked Mad Apple's mix of acrobatics and comedy but want something the whole family can see, WOW is the closest match. It's a 30-performer acrobatic water show at the Rio with tickets from $45, built around water walls, projections, and specialty acts rather than a single narrative, the same "something for everyone in 90 minutes" structure Mad Apple had.
Absinthe
The most direct genre match. Absinthe runs the same variety-show DNA as Mad Apple, acrobatics, raunchy stand-up from the Gazillionaire, and a rotating cast of acts, at Caesars Palace. It leans harder into adult comedy than Mad Apple did, so it's the pick if the comedy was your favorite part.
Rouge – The Sexiest Show in Vegas
The Strip's only adult show with a mixed male and female cast, running 75 to 90 minutes of burlesque, acrobatics, comedy, and dance at The STRAT. Closer to Mad Apple's comedy-and-spectacle mix than a straight burlesque show, and it's a genuine alternative for couples or groups who want the adult energy without a single-theme show.
V – The Ultimate Variety Show
If the format itself, not any one performer, is what you'll miss, V is literally built as a variety show: magic, comedy, acrobatics, and specialty acts rotating through one 75-minute set at Planet Hollywood. It's the most structurally similar show to Mad Apple on this list.
Blue Man Group
For families or first-timers who want the comedy-plus-live-music side of Mad Apple without any adult content, Blue Man Group at Luxor delivers the same crowd-interaction, percussion-driven energy. It's the pick if you want something loud, funny, and appropriate for kids.
Frequently asked questions
When is Mad Apple's last show? September 5, 2026, at New York-New York.
What's replacing Mad Apple at New York-New York? No replacement production has been announced as of this writing.
Which of these is closest to Mad Apple? Absinthe and V are the closest structural matches, both are true variety shows without a single storyline. WOW is the best family-friendly equivalent.
Are any of these adult content? Rouge and Absinthe both lean adult. WOW and Blue Man Group are family-friendly. V sits in between, PG-13 in tone.
Current lineup
For the current lineup of everything running now, see our shows guide.