Las Vegas is known for its lively nightlife scene, flashy shows, and concerts featuring A-list performers. Music fans flock to Sin City to see their favorite artists take the stage at venues along the famous Strip and beyond. But just how long do these Las Vegas concerts tend to last?
Typical Las Vegas Concert Length
The average Las Vegas concert runs about 90 minutes to 2 hours in length. This allows most headlining acts to perform 15-20 songs with a few breaks and encore numbers. Some factors that can influence the exact concert duration include:
- The artist – Some performers are known for particularly long or short shows based on their energy levels and pacing.
- Type of music – Classical, jazz, and acoustic shows may run shorter than high-energy rock/pop concerts.
- Tour type – Headlining residency shows often run longer than one-off tour stops.
While most Las Vegas concerts fit into that 90 minutes to 2 hours window, show lengths can vary from quick 45-minute lounge act sets to 3+ hour marathon performances by legendary headliners like Bruce Springsteen or U2. The venue and production values also impact stage time.
Average Set Times at Major Las Vegas Venues
Las Vegas is home to some spectacular state-of-the-art venues designed to host A-list concerts and residency shows. Here are the typical show lengths you can expect at some of the most popular concert sites along the Strip:
T-Mobile Arena
Located just off the Strip, this large-scale arena hosts concerts for today’s biggest pop, rock and country superstars. Most T-Mobile Arena headliners like Justin Timberlake, Janet Jackson, and Katy Perry perform 90 minute to 2 hour productions full of costume changes, choreography and special effects.
The Colosseum at Caesars Palace
The impressive 4,000 seat Colosseum is home to residencies by such icons as Celine Dion, Rod Stewart, and Mariah Carey. Show lengths range from 90 minutes for Elton John’s “Red Piano” production to 2 hours for most other Colosseum headliners.
Park Theater at Park MGM
Originally built for the residencies of Cher and Lady Gaga, this intimate 5,300 seat theater now also hosts singers like Bruno Mars and Alicia Keys. Most Park Theater concerts run between 90 minutes and 2 hours in length.
The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel
This packed concert venue regularly brings in rock, alternative, country, and comedy acts. The Joint concerts typically cap off around the 2 hour mark for most headliners.
House of Blues at Mandalay Bay
With a capacity of less than 2,000, House of Blues offers a more intimate concert setting. Show lengths vary based on artist but usually last in the 1 to 2 hour range.
Length of Las Vegas Residency Shows
In addition to one-off concerts, Las Vegas is famous for its ongoing concert residencies featuring icons across genres performing for extended multi-show runs. Here are some average show lengths for popular Las Vegas residencies:
| Residency Artist | Venue | Average Show Length |
|---|---|---|
| Aerosmith | Park Theater | 90 minutes |
| Britney Spears | Park Theater | 90 minutes |
| Celine Dion | Colosseum | 2 hours |
| Gwen Stefani | Planet Hollywood | 1 hour 45 mins |
Las Vegas residencies allow megastars to settle in one place and perform multiple shows over weeks or months. With elaborate sets, costumes, and production values, these shows tend to run 90 minutes to 2 hours on average.
Shortest and Longest Las Vegas Concerts
While most major Las Vegas concerts fit into that 90 minutes to 2 hours range, a few shows stand out for their particularly brief or extensive lengths:
Shortest Las Vegas Concerts
- 45 minutes – Comedians like Jerry Seinfeld often do quicker comedy club sets.
- 60 minutes – Some magic and hypnosis shows like Penn & Teller and Anthony Cools run just an hour.
- 75 minutes – A few lounge and club acts like Boyz II Men’s Mirage show play brief sets.
Longest Las Vegas Concerts
- 2 hours 45 mins – U2’s 2017 T-Mobile Arena stop spanned nearly 3 hours with a typically marathon setlist.
- 3 hours – Bruce Springsteen has played multiple 3+ hour shows on recent Las Vegas stops.
- 4 hours – Phish concert sets often stretch to 4 hours when the jam band plays Las Vegas.
How Set Times Are Determined
There’s quite a bit of strategy that goes into determining appropriate concert lengths in Las Vegas. Some key factors include:
- Artist preferences – The artist ultimately decides how long they want to be on stage based on their energy levels, production scale, and set possibilities.
- Curfews – Most Las Vegas venues have strict curfews affecting show lengths. For outdoor arenas like T-Mobile, noise ordinances also come into play.
- Union scheduling – Stagehands, electricians and other unionized labor have regulated schedule limits impacting start/end times.
- Audience expectations – Artists want to deliver a satisfying show based on what fans are accustomed to.
By balancing all these factors, concerts are timed out to run their ideal durations whether they are 90 minute residency productions or 4 hour classic rock marathons.
How Long Do Las Vegas Concerts Last Compared to Other Cities?
Compared to regular tour stops, Las Vegas concert lengths don’t tend to differ too drastically from shows in other major U.S. cities. Touring artists will generally perform their normal setlist whether they are playing an arena in Los Angeles, Chicago or Las Vegas. However, Las Vegas residencies allow for some unique advantages when it comes to show lengths:
- With repeat shows over an extended run, artists can fine tune production pacing and modify set times as needed night to night.
- Residency shows are built specifically for their venues versus being part of a traveling tour production.
- There’s extra incentive to go the extra mile creatively with choreography, skits, etc. to keep fans engaged over multiple shows.
So while most concerts last about the same time in Las Vegas as they would in other cities, residencies offer artists a bit more flexibility to expand their productions. The result is energetic shows ranging from 90 minutes to over 3 hours catered specifically to the Las Vegas audience.
Planning Your Las Vegas Concert Schedule
Knowing typical show lengths can help you plan your evening when catching a Las Vegas concert. Aim to arrive at least 30 minutes before showtime to get through security and check-in. That gives you time to find your seats and enjoy the pre-show atmosphere.
Most big-name Las Vegas shows are around 90-120 minutes without an intermission. After the concert concludes, exiting the venue can take another 30+ minutes at large arenas like T-Mobile. So a 9pm concert will typically have you out the door between 11-11:30pm. If seeing multiple shows a night, plan at least 90 minutes between start times. Grabbing drinks and dinner in between gives a nice Vegas energy recharge!
Las Vegas has one of the most spectacular and diverse live music scenes around. Now that you know what to expect for typical concert lengths, you can maximize your Vegas show schedule. Whether you opt for a rowdy 90-minute rock spectacle or a luxurious 3-hour residency production, Las Vegas concerts let you see your favorite stars performing at their very best.