December 2026 in Las Vegas splits into two halves. The first belongs to the National Finals Rodeo, December 3 to 12, when the whole city books country music around it. The second belongs to Christmas, with holiday concerts, Olivia Rodrigo's arena weekend and the run-up to New Year's Eve. Here are the 10 worth planning a trip around, in date order.
1. National Finals Rodeo and Cowboy Christmas, December 3 to 12
The National Finals Rodeo brings the top 15 contestants of the season in each event to the Thomas & Mack Center for ten performances on ten straight nights, with every round's money counting toward the world titles. By day, Cowboy Christmas fills the Convention Center's South Halls with more than 375 western vendors, and entry is free. Our Cowboy Christmas guide covers the gift show, and our NFR concerts guide lists every country show of the week, night by night.
Where: Thomas & Mack Center, UNLV campus, east of the Strip. Dates: December 3 to 12, nightly. Best for: rodeo fans and anyone who wants to see the city in boots.
Check National Finals Rodeo tickets
2. Dierks Bentley at Fontainebleau, December 4 and 5
Dierks Bentley takes the first NFR weekend at BleauLive Theater. He has been a Grand Ole Opry member since 2005, and the set runs from What Was I Thinkin' and Drunk on a Plane to the songs from Broken Branches, his 2024 album. Two nights means it fits around a rodeo ticket on either one.
Where: BleauLive Theater, Fontainebleau Las Vegas, north Strip. Dates: Friday, December 4, and Saturday, December 5. Best for: country fans in town for opening weekend.
3. Thomas Rhett at the Colosseum, December 10 and 12
Thomas Rhett brings more than twenty number one singles to the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, from Die a Happy Man to What's Your Country Song, for two nights in NFR's closing week. The room seats just over four thousand, a far closer look than his usual arenas, and the second night lands on the rodeo's final night.
Where: The Colosseum, Caesars Palace, center Strip. Dates: Thursday, December 10, and Saturday, December 12. Best for: radio-country fans who want every chorus to be a familiar one.
4. Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan at Allegiant Stadium, December 11
Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan close their Double Down stadium tour under the roof at Allegiant Stadium, with Jon Pardi and Chase Matthew opening. Aldean plays the rock half of country, Bryan the party half, and it's the last stadium night of the year in town. Our Aldean and Bryan guide has the full bill.
Where: Allegiant Stadium, across I-15 from Mandalay Bay. Dates: Friday, December 11. Best for: country fans and groups who want a stadium night.
Check Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan tickets
5. Creedmas at Fontainebleau, December 11 and 12
Creed - Creedmas is a Christmas show with the amps up: all four original members, Scott Stapp, Mark Tremonti, Brian Marshall and Scott Phillips, playing Higher, My Sacrifice and With Arms Wide Open, the song that won them a Grammy. Tim Montana opens. Our Creedmas guide covers the two nights.
Where: BleauLive Theater, Fontainebleau Las Vegas, north Strip. Dates: Friday, December 11, and Saturday, December 12. Best for: rock fans who wore out Human Clay.
6. Debbie Gibson's Winterlicious at The STRAT, December 17 to 20
Debbie Gibson, a Las Vegas resident since 2009, plays five holiday shows in the STRAT Theater, a room of about six hundred seats. The set pairs Sleigh Ride and White Christmas with Only in My Dreams, Shake Your Love and Lost in Your Eyes. Weekend matinees make it easy to add the tower. Our Winterlicious guide has the details.
Where: The STRAT Theater, The STRAT, north end of the Strip. Dates: Thursday, December 17, to Sunday, December 20. Ages: 5 and up. Best for: anyone who owned a radio in 1988, and families.
7. Clay Aiken's A Joyful Noise at Harrah's, December 18 to 23
Clay Aiken Presents A Joyful Noise brings the American Idol runner-up's Christmas show to the Harrah's Showroom for five performances in the week before Christmas. The name goes back to 2004, when his Merry Christmas with Love was the best-selling holiday album of the year. The carols are sung straight, by a voice made for them.
Where: Harrah's Showroom, Harrah's Las Vegas, center Strip. Dates: Friday, December 18, to Wednesday, December 23. Best for: families and Idol fans.
8. Olivia Rodrigo at T-Mobile Arena, December 19 and 20
Olivia Rodrigo brings the Unraveled Tour, built on her third album, to T-Mobile Arena for the weekend before Christmas. The show moves through four acts named for the seasons, from the pop-punk of good 4 u to the ballads, drivers license among them. Devon Again opens. Our Olivia Rodrigo guide covers the setlist.
Where: T-Mobile Arena, south-center Strip. Dates: Saturday, December 19, and Sunday, December 20. Best for: fans of every album, and teens with a parent along.
9. Derek Hough's Dance for the Holidays, December 29
Derek Hough Dance for the Holidays is one night only at BleauLive Theater. Hough won Dancing with the Stars a record six times as a pro, and the show, directed by NappyTabs, sends a full company through carols and pop hits. It fills the quiet gap between Christmas and New Year's Eve.
Where: BleauLive Theater, Fontainebleau Las Vegas, north Strip. Dates: Tuesday, December 29. Best for: families and dance fans.
10. The Las Vegas Bowl and New Year's Eve, December 31
The Las Vegas Bowl kicks off at midday on New Year's Eve under the roof at Allegiant Stadium, so the final whistle comes with the whole night ahead. After dark the Strip closes to cars and fills with people waiting for the midnight fireworks. Our New Year's Eve guide plans the day hour by hour.
Where: Allegiant Stadium, across I-15 from Mandalay Bay. Dates: Thursday, December 31. Best for: college football fans with a whole night planned after.
The lights, all month
Between bookings, the Strip does Christmas for free. The Bellagio Conservatory turns into its holiday display, and our Bellagio Christmas guide covers it next to the Palazzo's atrium. Enchant's light maze runs at Las Vegas Ballpark in Summerlin until December 27; see our Enchant guide. For Christmas Day itself, our Christmas in Las Vegas guide lists the shows still playing on the 25th.
The short version
Rodeo fans should come December 3 to 12 and book hotels early, since NFR week fills the city. Christmas music fans should aim for December 17 to 23, when Debbie Gibson and Clay Aiken overlap and Olivia Rodrigo plays the weekend. The quietest stretch is the week between Christmas and New Year's Eve, until the 31st.
