Cirque du Soleil Las Vegas Guide 2026: All 4 Shows Compared

Cirque du Soleil has been part of Las Vegas since Mystère opened at Treasure Island on December 25, 1993. The line-up has shrunk in the last few years: The Beatles LOVE took its final bow in July 2024 when The Mirage closed, and Mad Apple at New York-New York has also ended its run. As of September 2026, Cirque's own site lists four Las Vegas shows: "O" at Bellagio, KÀ at MGM Grand, Mystère at Treasure Island and Michael Jackson ONE at Mandalay Bay.

All four run about 90 minutes with no intermission. They differ a lot in everything else: price, the youngest age allowed in, and the kind of spectacle. This guide compares them using the facts Cirque and the resorts publish, and helps you pick the one (or two) that fit your trip.

The Four Shows at a Glance

"From" prices are the lowest ticket price shown on Cirque's ticket pages in September 2026. They move with demand and date, and taxes are extra.

• Most spectacular staging: "O", performed in and above a 1.5-million-gallon pool.
• Best for a story: KÀ, a wordless epic about two heroes, told on a moving vertical stage.
• Best for young children: Mystère, the only one open to all ages.
• Best for music fans: Michael Jackson ONE, built around his recordings.

"O" at Bellagio

"O" opened with Bellagio on October 15, 1998, and Cirque says more than 20 million people have seen it. The name is a pun on the French word for water, eau, and the stage is a pool that Cirque describes as 25 feet deep, filled with 17 feet of water and holding 1.5 million gallons. Performers dive, swim, fly and appear to walk on the surface as the stage rises and sinks.

It takes a lot of people: Cirque lists 75 artists on stage, plus 130 technicians and 14 scuba divers working behind the scenes at every performance. Cirque says the cast includes eight Olympians: seven artistic swimmers and a diver.

• Tickets: from $125 on Cirque's site, the highest starting price of the four.
• Age: minimum age 5. Cirque warns the show uses loud sounds and periods of darkness that may frighten some children.
• Arrival: doors open 30 minutes before showtime.
• Upgrade: a VIP Experience is sold with early theatre access, a guided virtual tour and a pre-show reception.
• Schedule: performance days and times are set by Bellagio. Check the Bellagio or Cirque ticket page for your dates.

Who it suits: anyone who wants the most technically astonishing show in town and is happy to pay for it. If you only see one Cirque show and budget isn't the deciding factor, this is the usual choice.

KÀ at MGM Grand

KÀ is the Cirque show with a plot. Cirque describes it as an epic story told without words, following two heroes through life, love and war. The title comes from ka, the ancient Egyptian idea of a spiritual double that accompanies us through life. The stage is the star: Cirque describes a dynamic vertical stage, and the performers fight, fall and climb across it as it moves.

The music is played live at every show. Cirque says its musicians follow the performers through high-definition cameras so the score stays in sync with the action.

• Tickets: from $69, the lowest starting price of the four shows.
• Age: children under 3 are not permitted, and under-18s must be with an adult. The show is loud and has dark scenes.
• Runtime: 90 minutes with no intermission.
• Schedule: set by MGM Grand; check the MGM Grand or Cirque ticket page for your dates.

Who it suits: people who like action films and a story to follow, older kids and teens, and anyone who wants a big production for less than "O" costs.

Mystère at Treasure Island

Mystère is the original: Cirque's first resident show in Las Vegas, opening on December 25, 1993, and which Cirque calls the longest-running Cirque du Soleil show in Las Vegas. Cirque describes it as "a voyage to the very heart of life", and describes it as a combination of circus arts, music, costumes and props. It is the closest of the four to a classic Cirque evening.

Treasure Island is not an MGM resort, and its own show page gives the schedule. In September 2026 it listed two shows a night, Friday to Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m., so Mystère is dark on Wednesdays and Thursdays. TI also listed extra dark dates on November 10 and December 22, 2026, and special performances at 4:30 and 7 p.m. on December 31, 2026. It notes that all dates and times can change.

• Tickets: from $77 on Cirque's site. Treasure Island's price table ran from $59 to $193 across categories, including the box office fee but not Live Entertainment Tax.
• Age: suitable for all ages. Children under 1 are free on a parent's lap; older children need a ticket, and child pricing is available.
• Sensory note: Cirque warns of loud noises, darkness, strobe lighting, theatrical fog and startling moments.
• Arrival: TI suggests arriving 30 minutes early for the pre-show.
• Upgrade: the ON STAGE VIP Experience adds an on-stage and backstage tour and an artist meet-and-greet. TI listed it at $285 including taxes and fees, at select 6:30 p.m. shows.

Who it suits: families (it is the only Cirque show in Vegas with no minimum age), first-timers who want the classic Cirque experience, and anyone looking for official discounts: Mystère has more published discounts than the others (see below).

Michael Jackson ONE at Mandalay Bay

Michael Jackson ONE premiered at Mandalay Bay in June 2013. Cirque describes it as a visual and audio experience dedicated to Jackson's creative legacy: acrobatics and dance set to his recordings, with 63 performers and LED panels placed throughout the theater. It is the most concert-like of the four.

• Tickets: from $99 on Cirque's site.
• Age: children under 5 are not permitted, and under-16s must be with an adult.
• Photos: still photos on phones and pocket cameras are allowed; flash and any video recording are not.
• Dress code: none. Cirque says you can dress up or wear something comfortable.
• Schedule: set by Mandalay Bay; check the Mandalay Bay or Cirque ticket page for your dates.

Who it suits: Michael Jackson fans, groups who want a high-energy night out, and anyone who prefers dance and music to a story.

Which Cirque Show Should You See?

If you are choosing between "O" and KÀ, the difference is mood. "O" is a dreamlike series of images with no plot to follow; KÀ is a story with battle scenes and a stage that seems to defy gravity. Both are big, expensive productions, so seeing both in one trip doesn't feel repetitive.

Buying Tickets and Saving Money

Where to buy

Buy from Cirque du Soleil's website, the resort's website, or the show's box office. For O, KÀ and Michael Jackson ONE, Cirque's ticket page hands you on to the MGM resort site to finish the booking. Cirque's Las Vegas page is clear that all Las Vegas ticket sales are final: no exchanges, no refunds, and tickets are non-transferable. Settle your dates before you buy.

Third-party sellers, including same-day discount booths on the Strip, also sell Cirque tickets. They are not official Cirque outlets, so check exactly which seats you are getting and the total price including fees before you pay.

Official ways to pay less

• Mystère military and child discounts: Treasure Island says active military and children under 12 are eligible for 35% up to 50% off, based on availability. These are not sold online: call 1-866-712-9308 or 1-702-894-7722, or buy at a Cirque box office.
• Mystère Family Nights: on Monday and Tuesday 6:30 p.m. shows, TI advertises children saving up to 50%.
• Promo codes on the resort site: in September 2026 TI's Mystère page listed limited-time offers of 25% and 30% off select shows. Codes change, so check the page when you book.
• Groups: every Cirque ticket page says groups can get discounts; contact Cirque's group sales.
• Club Cirque: Cirque's free mailing list, which promises early word of presales, special events and discounts.
• Pick the cheaper show: KÀ and Mystère start well below "O". Prices also vary by date and time, so compare a few nights if your schedule is flexible.

For a wider look at discount options for all Vegas shows, see our guide to cheap Las Vegas show tickets.

Choosing Seats

Cirque and the resorts price seats by category, and the cheapest categories are usually furthest from the stage or at the sides. A few general rules help:

• "O": the pool is the show. Seats with a little height let you look down into the water and see the full picture; the very front rows are dramatic but you see less of the overall pattern.
• KÀ: much of the action happens high up on the vertical stage, so seats further back are less of a compromise than at most shows. Very close seats can mean looking up a lot.
• Mystère: TI's price table spans four categories, from $59 to $193, so it is the easiest show to see on a budget from a mid-price seat.
• Michael Jackson ONE: the effects fill the theater, so center seats a little way back give the best view of the whole stage.

Before paying for a premium category, look at the seating chart on the ticket page. The price difference between neighbouring categories can be larger than the difference in view.

Practical Tips

• Arrive early. "O" opens its doors 30 minutes before showtime, and TI suggests arriving 30 minutes early at Mystère. Allow extra time to walk through the casino: the theaters are deep inside the resorts.
• No intermission. Every show runs about 90 minutes straight through, so use the restroom first.
• Dress comfortably. None of the shows has a formal dress code; smart casual is typical. Theaters are air-conditioned, so bring a layer.
• Photos: rules vary by show. At Michael Jackson ONE, still photos without flash are allowed and video is not. Ask an usher at the others.
• Sensitive to noise or light? Cirque warns that its shows use loud sound and darkness, and Mystère adds strobe lighting and fog.
• Accessibility: contact the show's box office before booking to arrange accessible seating.

Closed Cirque Shows

Older guides and hotel packages still mention shows that no longer run. According to Cirque du Soleil:

• The Beatles LOVE (The Mirage): final performance July 7, 2024, after an 18-year run seen by more than 11.8 million people. The Mirage itself closed in 2024.
• Mad Apple (New York-New York): Cirque's page now says the show's journey "has come to an end".
• Zumanity (New York-New York): 2003 to 2020.
• Criss Angel Believe: 2008 to 2016, followed by Criss Angel MINDFREAK LIVE! from 2016 to 2018.
• Viva Elvis: 2009 to 2012.

If a hotel package or a reseller offers tickets to any of these, it is out of date.

Seeing More Than One Show

Because each show is only about 90 minutes, two in one trip is easy, and three is doable over a long weekend. A few ways to plan it:

• Check dark days first. Mystère doesn't perform on Wednesdays or Thursdays; the others have their own dark days. Pick your nights around the schedules, then book.
• Mix the styles. "O" and KÀ are the two biggest productions and very different from each other. Add Mystère for a classic circus feel or Michael Jackson ONE for music.
• Mind the map. Bellagio, MGM Grand and Mandalay Bay are all on the south and center Strip; Treasure Island is further north. An early Mystère show at 6:30 p.m. leaves time for dinner afterwards.
• Remember the no-refunds rule. With all sales final, don't book a late show after a long travel day.

Planning the rest of your evenings? Our Las Vegas shows guide covers magic, comedy and headliners, and the Cirque tickets guide goes deeper on buying.