The three things to check every time
Before booking any Las Vegas show for a family, check the age minimum, the start time and the run length. Age minimums are set by the theatre and enforced: Cirque du Soleil admits from age five, many production shows from age five or six, comedy clubs and adult revues from 18 or 21, and a few theatres bar under-fives regardless of the content. Start times matter because a 9:30 pm curtain with a 90-minute run puts a seven-year-old on the Strip at 11 pm; the 7 pm show is nearly always the right one. And run length — most shows are 75–100 minutes with no intermission — sets the limit for younger children's attention.
One more rule: every person needs a ticket and a seat, including toddlers. There are no lap seats at the major theatres.
Ages 5–8: short, bright and funny
- Mystère (Treasure Island) — the best first Cirque show for young children: fast, silly, colourful, intimate theatre, 90 minutes. Ages 5+.
- Mat Franco (The LINQ) — warm, interactive close-up magic with the hands on screen. About 80 minutes. All ages.
- Tournament of Kings (Excalibur) — a jousting dinner show in an arena, with horses, knights, fireworks and a meal eaten with your hands. It is the single most reliable hit with children under ten. About 90 minutes including dinner, with early showtimes. All ages.
- Popovich Comedy Pet Theater — a long-running afternoon show of rescued cats and dogs performing tricks with a clown. Short, cheap and beloved by small children. All ages.
As of 2026, expect roughly $60–$130 per seat for these before fees, with Tournament of Kings including dinner. Mystère and the afternoon shows are regulars at the discount booths.
Ages 9–12: bigger and bolder
- O (Bellagio) — most children from about eight are mesmerised by the water stage. 90 minutes, ages 5+.
- Michael Jackson ONE (Mandalay Bay) — high energy, familiar music, loud. Bring ear protection for sensitive kids. Ages 5+.
- David Copperfield (MGM Grand) — grand illusion with audience participation. All ages.
- Blue Man Group (Luxor) — percussion, paint, comedy and mess; one of the most consistently kid-approved shows in the city. Ages 3+ with a ticket. Check the current venue on the official site.
This age group can also handle the free spectacles later in the evening — the Bellagio Fountains and the Fremont Street canopy — which cost nothing and are covered in free shows.
Teens: the shows they will actually talk about
- KÀ (MGM Grand) — the story, the fights and the vertical stage make it the Cirque show teenagers rate highest.
- A Sphere concert — if a residency they care about is running during your dates, this is the show of the trip. Age policies depend on the artist; most admit all ages with a ticket.
- Penn & Teller (Rio) — smart, funny and slightly subversive, ideal for older teens.
- Shin Lim — sleight of hand that survives phone-camera scrutiny, which is the teenage test.
Teens are also the age at which the exclusions bite: comedy clubs, Absinthe, Mad Apple and all the revues are 18+ or 21+ regardless of how mature the teenager is. Do not try; the door staff check ID.
Shows that are not what they sound like
A few titles catch families out every year. Mad Apple is a Cirque show, but it is 18+ with adult humour and a bar on stage. Absinthe is a circus, but the ringmaster's material is explicit; 18+. Fantasy and X Burlesque are topless revues. Magic Mike Live is a male revue, not a magic show. Piff the Magic Dragon is a magician in a dragon suit and is adult-oriented. Comedy clubs are 18+ or 21+ and late sets are blue. Our adult shows page explains the categories if you are unsure about a title.
Costs, discounts and seating with kids
Family show costs add up fast: four mid-tier Cirque seats can run $500–$700 with fees. Ways to bring it down: choose Mystère over O; buy the cheapest sections, which see well in every purpose-built theatre; use the same-day discount booths for the family-friendly afternoon shows and Mystère; and look at resort packages that bundle a show with a room. Details in cheap show tickets.
On seating: with children, an aisle seat mid-house is worth more than proximity. It allows a quiet exit if needed and keeps you clear of the front rows, where performers interact with the audience and where the loudest effects land. Booster cushions are available at most theatres on request.
Planning the evening
Book the 7 pm performance, eat early — a buffet at 5 pm is the classic family move, see dining — and plan to be back at the hotel by 9:30. If you are staying at the host resort, it is the easiest evening of the trip; if not, allow 30 minutes of walking or a taxi each way, because the Strip is longer than it looks and the pedestrian bridges add time with a stroller. Our Las Vegas with kids guide has full-day itineraries that slot a show into each evening.