In a matter of days — hours, even — 53,000 of the top professionals in the firearm industry will convene at The Venetian Expo and Caesars Forum in Las Vegas for the 2026 SHOT Show®. Whether its perusing products from more than 2,700 exhibiting companies, attending a SHOT University™ session or networking with fellow professionals, there is a lot for attendees to see each day during the show.
As the day at the show draws to a close, there are countless after-hours entertainment options available for those staying in Las Vegas during SHOT Week®. Here’s a collection of some of the top live-performance acts taking place Sunday, Jan. 18 through Saturday, Jan. 24.
SHOT Show Networking Receptions
We’ll start with SHOT Show-specific events: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday after the closing of the SHOT Show (from 5:30–6:30 p.m.), attendees will have the opportunity to converge on the Caesars Forum Great Outdoors Plaza for networking receptions — featuring a hosted bar each night and live entertainment Tuesday and Wednesday evening.
During the Tuesday Industry Welcome Reception, there will be an exclusive drone show in honor of America’s 250th birthday and to celebrate our freedoms and the start of the 2026 SHOT Show. You won’t want to miss this unforgettable celebration under the stars to kickstart another show.
Wednesday evening, attendees of the Industry Networking Reception will be treated to a free beer on the SHOT Show, as well as live music.
Lastly, Thursday’s Industry Happy Hour will provide one more large-scale networking opportunity to mark the coming conclusion of a successful show.
Concerts & Residencies
Las Vegas is synonymous with entertainment. During the week of SHOT Show, there are scores of musical acts — from legendary rock groups and country music stars to unique tributes — in and around the strip. We’ve uncovered a few for your consideration.
Eagles Live at Sphere: When it comes to music, it doesn’t get much bigger than the Eagles. When it comes to immersive venues, Sphere and its 16K x 16K resolution, 160,000 sq. ft. wraparound interior LED screen and 167,000 speakers stands on its own. Bringing the two together is an unparalleled experience. Eagles are performing Friday and Saturday after the 2026 SHOT Show concludes, so those sticking around have the option of taking in the spectacular. Limited tickets are available Friday; Saturday is virtually sold out.
Blake Shelton Residency: Country music mogul Blake Shelton’s residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace begins a week before most SHOT Show attendees will be in Las Vegas (Jan. 15) but will have performances running throughout SHOT Week — Sunday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Tickets are widely available for each of these dates. (Blake Shelton’s live music bar Ole Red is a 12-minute walk from the Colosseum and offers a commanding view of The Strip on the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Flamingo Road.)
Styx – At The Venetian Resort: Legendary rock band Styx will be performing at The Venetian Theatre Friday, Jan. 23 and Saturday, Jan. 24, at 8:30 p.m. For those attendees who are sticking around for a day or two after the show’s closing, this represents an easily accessible show with seats available both days.
Santana – Greatest Hits Live: It only takes a few seconds into a guitar riff to know its Carlos Santana behind it. The iconic guitarist celebrates more than a decade at House of Blues in Mandalay Bay with a short-run residency in 2026 — and part of it overlaps during the SHOT Show. “An Intimate Evening with Santana – Greatest Hits Live” kicks off Wednesday during SHOT Week (Jan. 21) and will run Thursday, Friday and Saturday beginning at 7:00 p.m. (Not many tickets are left, but as of this writing, there are some available for these four dates.)
Zayn Malik: Once of the popular boy band One Direction, Zayn Malik has flourished as a solo artist, and he’ll stage several performances in Dolby Live at Park MGM — performing Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday during SHOT Week. Tickets are widely available.
Ashlee Simpson: Just steps from the halls of SHOT Show, four-time platinum and rock-pop vocalist Ashlee Simpson will be performing at Voltaire in The Venetian Friday and Saturday. This intimate venue has availability for those staying in Las Vegas after the close of SHOT Show.
Tribute Acts
Tapping into nostalgia, a variety of tribute acts and bands perform nightly on The Strip.
Michael Jackson Tributes: There are two notable Michael Jackson tributes in Las Vegas. With nightly performances beginning at 7:00 p.m., MJ Live at Harrah’s features a high-energy show with a live band and outstanding choreography performing the King of Pop’s greatest hits. Another tribute presented in a different style, Michael Jackson ONE by Cirque du Soleil combines acrobatics from a vibrant cast of 63 performers with urban dance and dynamic aerial stunts. Shows will be held at Mandalay Bay at 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Thurs.–Sat. during SHOT Week.
Other Tributes: Additional tributes for Soul of Motown, Elvis, Frank Sinatra, The Rat Pack, Neil Diamond, Bee Gees, The Carpenters and more play regularly around Las Vegas. A quick Google search will yield more information about the acts, locations and times.
Other Live Performances
Awakening: Featuring a cast of 60 international artists, mind-bending illusions, dance, grand-scale puppetry and more, Awakening is a groundbreaking show staged at the Wynn. Set on a unique 360-degree prismatic stage and narrated by Anthony Hopkins, this show will run Sunday (4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.), Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday (6:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.) during SHOT Week.
Cirque du Soleil Acts: In addition to the Michael Jackson ONE act, Cirque du Soleil has additional shows that run in Vegas, including “O” By Cirque du Soleil at the Bellagio (6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday) and KÀ by Cirque du Soleil at the MGM Grand (4:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., Sunday; 6:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday; 6:00 p.m. only Wednesday).
Magic Acts: If the art and mystery of magic is of interest, two world-renowned magicians will be in Las Vegas during SHOT Week. David Blaine has a residency at the Wynn’s Encore Theatre, which will run Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 8:00 p.m. Mat Franco will have a performance at the LINQ every night of SHOT Week, except Wednesday, with shows starting at 7:00 p.m.
Sphere: While this isn’t a “live” performance, Wizard of Oz at Sphere is a highly immersive, 4D cinematic experience. This is a one-of-a-kind journey down the Yellow Brick Road. There are multiple showings every evening of SHOT Week (other than Friday, when the Eagles come to town).
Comedy: If comedy is high on your priority list, there are several shows in venues around Las Vegas offering comedic showings throughout SHOT Week, including Las Vegas fixtures Penn & Teller (Rio), Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club (LINQ Promenade), Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club (MGM Grand), L.A. Comedy Club (The STRAT Hotel), Las Vegas Live Comedy Club (Planet Hollywood) and much more.
Sports: If you’re a fan of ice hockey, the Vegas Golden Knights have a marquee matchup with the Philadelphia Flyers at 5:00 p.m. on Monday night before SHOT Show’s official first day. Home ice (T-Mobile Arena) is less than two miles from The Venetian Expo.
As you can see here, when it comes down to deciding what to do after the SHOT Show closes each day — options abound. If you are on a budget, make sure you take a moment and see our features on economical entertainment and dining. We’ll see you in Las Vegas, here’s to a successful show!
– Jade Moldae, Director of Content, NSSF
For more information on SHOT Show events and activities, visit the SHOT Show Blog.