Christmas in Las Vegas 2026: The Best Hotels for Holiday Decor, Deals and Events

For Christmas in Las Vegas 2026 (Christmas Day is a Friday), the best hotel is the one closest to the holiday sights you actually want to see. In early October, only a few were confirmed: Bellagio’s Conservatory holiday display, Fontainebleau’s ice rink, the Four Seasons’ holiday brunches, and the drive-out light shows at Ethel M and Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The LVCVA’s holiday roundup came out on Nov. 18 last year, so expect more announcements in November; this guide labels what’s confirmed and what comes from last year.

Christmas in Las Vegas 2026: the holiday calendar

Dates	What’s on	Status
Nov. 5, 2026–Jan. 3, 2027	Ethel M Holiday Cactus Garden Lights, Henderson	Confirmed
Nov. 6, 2026–Jan. 4, 2027	Glittering Lights drive-thru, Las Vegas Motor Speedway	Confirmed
Nov. 14, 2026–Jan. 2, 2027	Bellagio Conservatory holiday display (dark Nov. 8–13)	Confirmed; theme not announced
From Nov. 19	Fontainebleau Oasis Ice Rink	Confirmed
Nov. 26	Thanksgiving	See below
Nov. 27–Jan. 1, select dates	Magical Forest at Opportunity Village	Listed by Travel Nevada
Nov. 30–Dec. 4	AWS re:Invent convention	Confirmed
Dec. 3–12	National Finals Rodeo and the Cowboy Christmas gift show	Confirmed
Dec. 18–23	Clay Aiken’s holiday show at Harrah’s	Confirmed
Dec. 25 (Friday)	Christmas Day	Ethel M and Magical Forest closed
Dec. 31 (Thursday)	New Year’s Eve	See our NYE guide

Rodeo week has its own playbook in our NFR hotels guide, and the last night of the year is covered in our guide to New Year’s Eve hotels.

Where to stay for Christmas decorations at a glance

Hotel	Area	Price level	Resort fee	Parking	Booking.com
Bellagio Las Vegas	Center Strip	Luxury	$55 + tax per night	Self-parking $20/day for hotel guests; valet $40/day	Check prices
Fontainebleau Las Vegas	North Strip	Luxury	$55 + tax per night	Free self-parking for registered hotel guests; visitors first hour free, then $20 per 24 hours; visitor valet $35–$40	Check prices
Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas	South Strip	Luxury	—	—	Check prices
ARIA Resort & Casino	Center Strip	Luxury	$55 + tax per night	Self-parking $20/day for hotel guests; valet $40/day	Check prices
The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas	Center Strip	Luxury	$55 + tax per night	Self-parking $20/day for hotel guests; valet $40/day	Check prices
Wynn Las Vegas	North Strip	Luxury	$55 + tax per night	Free self-parking for hotel guests; valet $40/day	Check prices
Harrah's Las Vegas	Center Strip	Mid-range	$49.95 + tax per night	Paid self-parking and valet; free for Caesars Rewards Platinum and above	Check prices

Fees and parking are as of October 2026. Prices vary according to travel dates and availability. Wynn, The Venetian, ARIA, Caesars Palace and The Cosmopolitan hadn’t announced their 2026 holiday decor by early October, so the picks below lean on confirmed events.

1. Bellagio: Best for Christmas Decorations

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Best for Christmas Decorations

Bellagio Las Vegas

Center Strip · Luxury

• Fountain-view rooms
• Conservatory & gardens
• Five-pool courtyard
• "O" by Cirque du Soleil

Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, a free 14,000-square-foot garden next to the lobby, switches to its Holiday display on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, and keeps it up through Jan. 2, 2027. Bellagio notes that dates are subject to change.

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Prices vary according to travel dates and availability.

The 2026 theme hasn’t been published. Last season’s display, “All Aboard the Holiday Bells and Whistles,” was free and open 24 hours a day, according to the LVCVA. The garden goes dark Nov. 8–13 for the changeover, so a Thanksgiving trip still catches the holiday version. MGM Rewards Gold, Platinum and NOIR members get private “Golden Hour” access on Dec. 18 from 4 to 6 p.m. Check the Conservatory’s show schedule before you go.

Out front, the Fountains of Bellagio run free shows, usually every half-hour from the afternoon until midnight, and they’re canceled in high winds. Our guide to fountain-view rooms explains which rooms face them, and our Bellagio review covers the rest.

Watch out for: a $55 resort fee plus tax (as of October 2026), and the 2026 theme is still unannounced.

2. Fontainebleau: Best for Ice Skating

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Best for Ice Skating

Fontainebleau Las Vegas

North Strip · Luxury

• Opened December 2023
• Seven pools incl. LIV Beach
• LIV Nightclub
• Vegas Loop station

Fontainebleau’s Oasis Ice Rink returns Nov. 19 on the third-floor pool deck, billed as “the largest real ice-skating rink experience on the Strip.” Entry is free; skating starts at $30 plus taxes and fees, and Nevada locals pay from $15 on select dates (as of October 2026).

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Prices vary according to travel dates and availability.

The rink keeps long holiday hours: 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. from Dec. 19 to Dec. 30, with no Christmas closure listed. Tuesday holiday movies run Nov. 24 to Dec. 29, including Elf (Dec. 1), The Polar Express (Dec. 15) and A Christmas Story (Dec. 22). Fontainebleau’s page says the season ends Jan. 4; a TV report said Jan. 17, so check before planning a January visit.

Watch out for: a $55 resort fee plus tax (as of October 2026), and it’s at the north end of the Strip, away from Bellagio and the center-Strip displays.

3. Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas: Best for a Quiet Christmas Day

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Best for a Quiet Christmas Day

Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas

South Strip · Luxury

• No casino
• Smoke-free
• Five-Star spa
• Private pool + Mandalay Bay Beach

The Four Seasons has no casino and no smoking, and it has posted its holiday dining: Christmas Eve brunch at Veranda (Dec. 24, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.) and Christmas Day brunch (Dec. 25, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.), plus hot chocolate and cider in the lobby.

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Prices vary according to travel dates and availability.

Its Nutcracker Afternoon Tea runs at Veranda on Saturdays and Sundays from Nov. 28 to Dec. 27, 2 to 5 p.m., with part of the proceeds going to The Smith Center. Prices weren’t posted, so book ahead and ask. The hotel sits on the Mandalay Bay campus, where Shark Reef ran “Santa in the Shipwreck” Dec. 20–24 last year.

Watch out for: we couldn’t confirm the current resort fee or parking charges, so check both when you book. The private pool is seasonal.

4. ARIA: Best Bet for Lobby Decor (Last Year’s Pattern)

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Best Bet for Lobby Decor

ARIA Resort & Casino

Center Strip · Luxury

• Modern, tech-forward rooms
• Forbes Five-Star spa
• LIQUID Pool Lounge (21+)
• Steps from Bellagio

Last season, ARIA turned its lobby into a ski chalet from Dec. 1, 2025, to Jan. 12, 2026, per the LVCVA. Its 2026 plans hadn’t been announced in early October.

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Prices vary according to travel dates and availability.

ARIA’s free Express tram, running 8 a.m. to midnight, stops at Bellagio, so you can see the Conservatory without a long walk. Book here if you prefer modern rooms and want to be a short tram ride from Bellagio’s display.

Watch out for: a $55 resort fee plus tax (as of October 2026), and the decor is a bet on last year’s pattern, not a confirmed event.

5. The Cosmopolitan: Best Walk to the Bellagio Display

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Best Walk to the Bellagio Display

The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

Center Strip · Luxury

• Terrace rooms
• Marquee Dayclub
• The Chandelier bar
• MICHELIN-recognized dining

An interior bridge links The Cosmopolitan with Bellagio and Vdara, so the Conservatory is an indoor walk away. Many rooms have private terraces.

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Prices vary according to travel dates and availability.

The Cosmopolitan’s winter ice rink hasn’t been announced for 2026, and its old rink page now redirects; past seasons ran roughly from late November to early January. Its 21+ Marquee Dayclub runs “The Dome,” billed as “the only winter pool party in Las Vegas,” from October through winter.

Watch out for: a $55 resort fee plus tax (as of October 2026). Don’t book for the rink until dates are posted.

6. Wynn Las Vegas: Best Luxury Pick (Decor TBA)

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Best Luxury Pick

Wynn Las Vegas

North Strip · Luxury

• Free guest self-parking
• Five-Star Tower Suites & spa
• Wynn Golf Club
• Lake of Dreams

Wynn hasn’t announced 2026 holiday decor, and its holiday page says “this page has checked out.” Last December it hosted holiday master classes, per the LVCVA. Its free Lake of Dreams show runs nightly, and hotel guests park free.

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Prices vary according to travel dates and availability.

Book Wynn for the hotel itself, not a promised display. Our Wynn Las Vegas review covers the towers and rooms.

Watch out for: a $55 resort fee plus tax (as of October 2026, per independent trackers).

7. Harrah’s: Best Mid-Priced Pick for a Holiday Show

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Best Mid-Priced Pick for a Holiday Show

Harrah's Las Vegas

Center Strip · Mid-range

• All-ages pool
• Monorail station
• Next to LINQ Promenade
• Skybridge to CAESARS FORUM

Harrah’s Showroom hosts “Clay Aiken Presents A Joyful Noise,” a holiday show, Dec. 18–23, 2026, and Taylor Dayne plays Dec. 29 through Jan. 2. The hotel is mid-priced and center-Strip, with a Monorail station.

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Prices vary according to travel dates and availability.

Watch out for: a $49.95 resort fee plus tax (as of October 2026), and smoking is allowed on the casino floor.

What’s open in Las Vegas on Christmas Day?

Christmas Day hours for restaurants, shows and pools are set hotel by hotel, and most hadn’t been posted by early October. Here’s what’s confirmed for Friday, Dec. 25, 2026:

• Open: the Bellagio Conservatory holiday display (it runs through Jan. 2), Fontainebleau’s ice rink (2 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily Dec. 19–30), the Four Seasons’ Christmas Day brunch at Veranda (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and Glittering Lights, which Travel Nevada lists as open nightly.
• Closed: Ethel M’s cactus garden lights (Dec. 25 only) and the Magical Forest, which closes early on Christmas Eve and reopens Dec. 26.
• Not announced: most Strip restaurants’ Christmas menus and show schedules. Book Christmas dinner as soon as your hotel posts it.

Pools are a gamble in December. No official 2026 winter pool dates were published, but some resorts swim year-round: Caesars Palace names Neptune as its heated winter pool, The Venetian says “it’s always swimming season” (weather permitting), Mandalay Bay’s 21+ Tailgate Beach Club is open year-round except Tuesday and Wednesday, and Circa’s 21+ Stadium Swim Downtown runs all year. Our guide to Las Vegas hotels with pools tracks winter hours.

Is Las Vegas busy at Christmas?

Less than most of the year, on average. The LVCVA doesn’t publish Christmas-week figures, only monthly ones. In December 2025, occupancy was 76.2%, the second-lowest month of the year after July, with weekends at 84.6% and midweek at 73.2%. The average room rate was $183.88 citywide and $197.06 on the Strip. Conventions thin out too: December drew 306,000 convention attendees, against 547,000 in November.

The busy stretches are predictable:

• Early December: AWS re:Invent ends Dec. 4, and the National Finals Rodeo fills Dec. 3–12.
• The week before Christmas: no citywide event appears on our calendar after the rodeo ends Dec. 12, which makes Dec. 13–23 the best window to price, especially Sunday to Thursday.
• Between Christmas and New Year’s: no official occupancy data exists, but headliners start stacking up. The Backstreet Boys play Sphere on Dec. 26 and 27, and New Year’s Eve, a Thursday, is a special-event night.

For month-by-month rates, see our guide to the cheapest time to visit Las Vegas.

Christmas lights beyond the Strip

Glittering Lights at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

The drive-thru show runs Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, through Monday, Jan. 4, 2027, per the speedway (Travel Nevada lists Jan. 3). Travel Nevada describes “more than six million lights and 750 dazzling displays” over three miles, open 5 to 9 p.m. nightly, rain or shine, with tickets from $39 per car and an outdoor Santa Tram at $25 per person (as of October 2026). The speedway is north of the city, so you’ll need a car; our guide to hotels near Las Vegas Motor Speedway covers the area.

Ethel M Holiday Cactus Garden Lights

Ethel M’s 33rd annual display at its Henderson chocolate factory, 2 Cactus Garden Drive, runs nightly Nov. 5, 2026, to Jan. 3, 2027, with “a million lights” and no reservations. Entry is $3 per person, and children under 2 and seniors 65 and older get in free (as of October 2026). Hours are 5 to 10 p.m. most nights, 5 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 24, Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, and it’s closed Christmas Day. Santa visits daily through Dec. 23, with photos from $35 (as of October 2026). Part of the proceeds goes to HELP of Southern Nevada and Three Square; details are on Ethel M’s holiday page.

Magical Forest at Opportunity Village

This 2.5-acre holiday park on West Oakey Boulevard has Santa, a carousel, a 50-foot slide, a train and mini golf. Travel Nevada lists select dates from Nov. 27 to Jan. 1 (Nov. 27–29, Dec. 3–6, Dec. 10–24 and Dec. 26–Jan. 1), 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 5:30 to 9 p.m. other nights. Opportunity Village hadn’t posted its own 2026 page or prices.

Christmas in Las Vegas with kids

The holiday sights that welcome children are mostly free or cheap: the Bellagio Conservatory, Ethel M’s lights (free under 2), Glittering Lights’ Santa Tram and the Magical Forest. For a hotel, pick one where kids aren’t an afterthought. The Four Seasons provides kids’ toiletries, cribs and babysitting through the concierge, and it shares the Mandalay Bay campus with Shark Reef. Our guide to family hotels in Las Vegas ranks the rest.

December weather: what to pack

December is cool. NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals at Harry Reid International Airport show an average high of 56.9°F and an average low of 39.6°F, with about 4.6 nights a month at or below freezing and 0.45 inch of rain. Light shows and ice rinks mean evenings outdoors, so bring a warm coat, gloves for the drive-thru lights and layers you can shed indoors. Our list of what to pack for Las Vegas covers the rest.

Thanksgiving 2026 in Las Vegas

Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026, the week after the Las Vegas Grand Prix (Nov. 19–21). The season’s attractions are already running that week. Bellagio’s holiday display opens Nov. 14, Fontainebleau’s rink stays open 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. Nov. 25–28, the Magical Forest opens Nov. 27, and the speedway hosts the Thanksgiving E.T. Bracket Nationals Nov. 24–29.

Is Las Vegas busy during Thanksgiving? The LVCVA doesn’t publish a Thanksgiving-week figure. November 2025 ran at 79.5% occupancy (88.3% on weekends, 75.0% midweek), with an average room rate of $193.04, or $208.39 on the Strip, both higher than December. November’s normal high is 67.1°F, warmer than December.

Where to eat: confirmed 2026 Thanksgiving meals so far:

• Four Seasons: Thanksgiving Day lunch at Veranda, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and a three-course prix fixe at Bourbon Steak with Turkey Wellington or Creekstone prime rib. Prices not posted.
• Cannery Casino Hotel (North Las Vegas): Carve’s Thanksgiving dinner, 3 to 9 p.m., $44 per person, dine-in only (as of October 2026). It’s off the Strip, so it suits drivers.

MGM, Caesars, Wynn and Venetian properties hadn’t posted their 2026 Thanksgiving buffets or menus in early October.

FAQ

Is Christmas a good time to visit Las Vegas?

Yes, if you want lower crowds and don’t need pool weather. December 2025 had the second-lowest hotel occupancy of the year (76.2%), and the holiday displays run all month. Expect cool days (a 56.9°F average high) and plan around the National Finals Rodeo (Dec. 3–12) and New Year’s Eve.

When does the Bellagio Christmas display start?

Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026. The Conservatory’s Holiday display runs through Jan. 2, 2027, after the garden goes dark Nov. 8–13 for the changeover. It’s free; the 2026 theme hasn’t been announced, and Bellagio says dates are subject to change.

What is open in Las Vegas on Christmas Day?

Casinos, the Bellagio Conservatory display, Fontainebleau’s ice rink (2 p.m. to 2 a.m.) and the Glittering Lights drive-thru (listed as open nightly) are open, and the Four Seasons serves Christmas Day brunch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ethel M’s cactus garden lights and the Magical Forest are closed on Dec. 25.

Is Las Vegas busy between Christmas and New Year’s?

It gets busier as New Year’s Eve approaches, though the LVCVA publishes no weekly figures. Headliners such as the Backstreet Boys at Sphere (Dec. 26 and 27) add demand, and Dec. 31 is a special-event night with its own rates and rules. For lower prices, book the weeknights before Christmas.

Is Vegas open on Thanksgiving?

Yes. Thanksgiving week 2026 already has the Bellagio holiday display, Fontainebleau’s ice rink, Ethel M’s lights and Glittering Lights running. The Four Seasons and the Cannery have posted Thanksgiving meals; most Strip resorts hadn’t released menus in early October.

Holiday plans firm up in November, so book a refundable rate now and check back for decor announcements. Still choosing an area? Start with where to stay in Las Vegas.