December in Las Vegas runs at two speeds. The first half belongs to the National Finals Rodeo, when the city fills with cowboy hats and country concerts. Then things calm down until Christmas, before New Year’s Eve brings one of the biggest crowds of the year. Pick your dates with that rhythm in mind and you can have cool weather, holiday lights and a good hotel rate.
December 2026 at a glance
| Dates | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 5, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027 | Holiday Cactus Garden lights ($3) | Ethel M, Henderson |
| Nov 6, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027 | Glittering Lights drive-thru | Las Vegas Motor Speedway |
| Nov 19, 2026 to Jan 17, 2027 | Oasis Ice Rink | Fontainebleau |
| Nov 20 to Dec 27, 2026 | Enchant Christmas | Las Vegas Ballpark |
| Nov 27, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027 (select dates) | Magical Forest | Opportunity Village |
| Dec 3 to 12, 2026 | Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, 5:45 pm nightly | Thomas & Mack Center |
| Dec 3 to 12, 2026 | Cowboy Christmas gift show (free) | Las Vegas Convention Center, South Halls |
| Dec 12 to 27, 2026 | The Nutcracker, Nevada Ballet Theatre | The Smith Center |
| Dec 13, 20 and 27, 2026 | Raiders home games | Allegiant Stadium |
| Dec 31, 2026, 12:45 pm | Las Vegas Bowl | Allegiant Stadium |
| Dec 31, 2026, gates 7 pm | Countdown Under the Canopy (21+) | Fremont Street Experience |
Weather and what to pack
December is one of the coolest months in Las Vegas. At Harry Reid International Airport, the normal high is about 57°F and the normal low about 40°F (1991 to 2020 normals). Rain is rare: about 0.45 inch for the whole month, spread over roughly three days. It feels pleasant in the afternoon sun and cold after dark, especially in the wind.
- Bring a warm jacket for the evening. Most holiday lights, the ice rinks and New Year’s Eve on the Strip are outdoors and at night.
- Dress in layers. Casinos and showrooms are heated, so you will take the jacket off and put it back on all day.
- Pack comfortable closed shoes. You will still walk a lot, and the distances between resorts are longer than they look.
- Don’t count on pool time. Many resort pools close or cut their hours in winter, so check with your hotel if a swim matters to you.
Holiday lights and displays
Bellagio Conservatory (free)
The Bellagio Conservatory is free and open 24 hours a day. Last season’s train-themed display ran from November 14, 2025 to January 3, 2026. The fall harvest display runs through November 7, 2026, and the holiday display replaces it. Bellagio had not announced its 2026 holiday dates when we checked (November 2, 2026), but the holiday display usually opens in mid-November and stays up until early January. Go early in the morning or late at night to avoid the crowds.
Glittering Lights at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
This drive-thru light show winds through the speedway grounds from November 6, 2026 to January 3, 2027, opening nightly at 5 pm. A carload ticket starts at $39 if you pay cash on site, or $44 by card. You need a car: the speedway is north of the city, well away from the Strip.
Magical Forest at Opportunity Village
Opportunity Village’s holiday park (6300 W. Oakey Blvd.) has light displays, the Forest Express train, a carousel, mini golf and Santa visits through December 24. It opens on select dates: November 27 to 29, December 3 to 24 and December 26 to January 1. Hours are 5:30 pm to 9 pm Sunday through Thursday and until 9:30 pm on Friday and Saturday. Prices for 2026 were not posted yet when we checked. The park is a fundraiser for Opportunity Village, a local nonprofit for people with intellectual disabilities.
Ethel M Holiday Cactus Garden
The chocolate factory in Henderson (2 Cactus Garden Drive) wraps its cactus garden in lights from November 5, 2026 to January 3, 2027. It is open 5 pm to 10 pm most nights, closes at 8 pm on December 24, December 31 and January 1, and is closed on Christmas Day. Entry is $3 per person (free under 2 and over 65), with proceeds going to local charities. Santa is there until December 23.
Enchant Christmas
Enchant sets up its holiday light experience at the Las Vegas Ballpark in Summerlin from November 20 to December 27, 2026. Tickets start at $27 and change with the date and entry time.
Ice skating
The Oasis Ice Rink at Fontainebleau is open from November 19, 2026 to January 17, 2027, with fire pits, cocktails and holiday movie showings. The Cosmopolitan has set up a winter rink in past seasons, but it had not announced a 2026 season when we checked.
The Nutcracker
Nevada Ballet Theatre performs George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker at The Smith Center from December 12 to 27, 2026, with matinees most days and evening shows on several dates. It is the classic holiday outing for families. For more seasonal ideas, see our guide to Christmas in Las Vegas.
National Finals Rodeo and Cowboy Christmas
The Wrangler National Finals Rodeo runs for ten nights, December 3 to 12, 2026, at the Thomas & Mack Center on the UNLV campus. Every performance starts at 5:45 pm. The top 15 contestants in each event compete for the world titles.
You don’t need a rodeo ticket to feel it. Cowboy Christmas, the big western gift and gear show, fills the South Halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center from December 3 to 12, open daily 9 am to 4 pm, with free admission. Country music takes over the city that week: Resorts World and Allegiant Stadium both book country headliners (see the concerts list below).
NFR is the busiest stretch of early December. Hotel rates go up across the city, especially on the two weekends, so book early if your dates overlap.
Sports in December
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders play three December home games at Allegiant Stadium, all on Sundays: the Los Angeles Chargers on December 13 (1:05 pm), the Denver Broncos on December 20 (1:25 pm) and the Tennessee Titans on December 27 (1:05 pm). Times are Pacific and can still change if the NFL moves a game. Tickets are on Ticketmaster, the stadium’s only authorized seller. The full list is on the Raiders schedule. If you go, stay within walking distance: see our best hotels near Allegiant Stadium. Our guide to watching a Raiders game in Vegas covers tickets, getting to the stadium and game day.
Vegas Golden Knights
The Golden Knights have six home games at T-Mobile Arena in December 2026, according to the NHL schedule (tickets on Ticketmaster):
- Thursday, December 3: Utah Mammoth, 7 pm
- Saturday, December 5: Winnipeg Jets, 4 pm
- Wednesday, December 16: San Jose Sharks, 7 pm
- Friday, December 18: New York Islanders, 7 pm
- Monday, December 21: Carolina Hurricanes, 7 pm
- Thursday, December 31: St. Louis Blues, noon
The team is on the road from December 8 to 12 and from December 22 to 29.
Las Vegas Bowl
For the second year in a row, the Las Vegas Bowl is played on New Year’s Eve: Thursday, December 31, 2026, at 12:45 pm at Allegiant Stadium, on ESPN. It matches a team from the SEC against one from the Big Ten, Big 12 or ACC, or Oregon State or Washington State. The teams are named after the college regular season, and tickets are sold on Ticketmaster. With the bowl and a noon Golden Knights game, New Year’s Eve gets busy long before midnight.
Concerts and residencies with December 2026 dates
These dates come from the venues’ own calendars. Residencies play select nights only, so check the exact night before you plan around a show.
- Sphere: the Eagles (run from November 13, 2026 to January 23, 2027), Metallica (run from October 1, 2026 to March 13, 2027) and the Backstreet Boys (December 26, 2026 to January 2, 2027). The Wizard of Oz at Sphere also plays. Every date, with tickets and the hotels next door, is on our Sphere page.
- Allegiant Stadium: Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean, Double Down Tour, December 11.
- Resorts World Theatre: Dwight Yoakam (December 3), Gary Allan (December 4), Chris Young (December 5), Riley Green (select nights December 6 to 10), Lee Brice (December 9) and Sheryl Crow (December 12).
- Encore Theater at Wynn: comedian Nate Bargatze (December 9 to 12) and Love Actually in Concert, with a live orchestra playing the film’s score (December 17).
For Cirque du Soleil and the other resident shows, browse our shows page and our list of the best shows in Las Vegas.
New Year’s Eve on the Strip and Fremont Street
December 31, 2026 falls on a Thursday. Clark County and the LVCVA had not announced the 2026 New Year’s Eve plans when we checked (November 2, 2026). In recent years, the Strip has closed to cars in the evening and turned into a huge street party, with fireworks launched from several resort rooftops at midnight. Expect packed sidewalks and very long waits for rideshares and taxis after midnight. Plan to walk back to your hotel, and book early: our New Year’s Eve hotel deals list the rates we track.
Downtown, the Fremont Street Experience holds its ticketed Countdown Under the Canopy party. It is 21 and over, and gates open at 7 pm. The lineup includes Hoobastank, Petey Pablo, Alien Ant Farm and Bubba Sparxxx across several stages, and early-bird tickets were $35 plus fees when we checked. Not sure where to stay? Compare Downtown Las Vegas and the Strip, and read our full guide to New Year’s Eve in Vegas.
Crowds and hotel prices
December is not one season but three (our guide to the cheapest time to visit Las Vegas covers the rest of the year):
- December 3 to 12 (NFR): busy and expensive, especially Friday and Saturday nights. The Raiders game on Sunday, December 13 keeps the last weekend busy.
- December 13 to 23: usually the calmest stretch of the month. Weeknights are your best chance at a low rate, while the Raiders weekend of December 19 to 20 costs more.
- December 26 to January 1: the most expensive week, peaking on New Year’s Eve. Book months ahead if you want a Strip room that night.
If you are thinking about late November instead, note that the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix runs November 19 to 21, 2026, which pushes Strip rates up that week (see our F1 weekend hotel deals). Whatever your dates, compare the total price: on the Strip, the 13.38% room tax and the nightly resort fee come on top of the rate. Start with our hotel deals and our tips for Vegas on a budget.
Las Vegas in December: FAQ
Is December a good time to visit Las Vegas?
Yes, if you avoid the peak dates. Mid-December, between the end of the rodeo and Christmas, combines cool weather, holiday displays and hotel rates that are often lower than the rest of the month. NFR week and New Year’s week are fun but expensive.
How cold is Las Vegas in December?
Normal highs are around 57°F and normal lows around 40°F. Freezing nights happen but are not the norm, and snow is rare. A warm jacket is enough.
When is the National Finals Rodeo in 2026?
December 3 to 12, 2026, at the Thomas & Mack Center, with every performance at 5:45 pm. Cowboy Christmas runs the same ten days at the Las Vegas Convention Center, with free entry.
Is the Strip closed to cars on New Year’s Eve?
It has been in recent years, from the evening of December 31 until after the midnight fireworks. The 2026 closure times had not been announced in early November, so check local news the week before.
