Penn & Teller have played their mix of magic and comedy at the Rio Hotel & Casino since January 2001, the longest run of any headliners at a single Las Vegas hotel, and they have extended the residency through December 2029. The show plays Thursday to Sunday in the Penn & Teller Theater, inside the resort that now calls itself Rio Las Vegas.
The renovated theater seats nearly 1,500, with a main floor plus mezzanine and balcony seating upstairs. A lot of what you came to see is close-up work at center stage, so sit as close and as central as your budget allows: the middle of the main floor is the place to be.
Best seats for Penn & Teller
The best seats for Penn & Teller are in the center of the main floor, in the front half, where you can follow the hands and not just the faces. The very first rows have long been sold as a premium block called the Ampersand. Since the room was renovated, go by the categories on the seat map for your date rather than by what you remember from an earlier visit. Within a category, take the seat closest to the stage and to the middle of the row.
Best value seats
For value, look at the first rows of the mezzanine: a raised, central view of the whole stage that beats the back rows of the main floor. Prices change by date and by seat, so compare the front of the mezzanine with the main floor on the map for your show. If the mezzanine costs less, that's your pick; if the gap is small, go downstairs and get closer.
Seats to avoid
Avoid the far sides and the back rows of every level: with magic this small, a sharp angle or a long distance costs you more than it would at a big production show. In practice, a seat near the middle of a row is worth more than one a row or two closer at the very end. The same goes upstairs: the front of the mezzanine is a good seat, the last rows much less so.
Accessible seating
Wheelchair and companion seats are sold through the box office: call the Rio before you book, since their location in the renovated room is not published.
Section by section
Main floor
The main floor faces the stage and is where this show works best. The front rows put you close enough to watch the sleight of hand. Farther back, the center of the floor still gives a straight view, while the outer seats see the stage at more of an angle.
Mezzanine and balcony
Upstairs, the Rio sells mezzanine and balcony seats at every performance. The front rows of the mezzanine give a clean, raised view of the whole stage and are our value pick.
The farther back and higher you go, the smaller the close-up moments get, although the bigger illusions hold up better from a distance. If you end up upstairs, favor the center over the sides.
Good to know before you go
- Shows are Thursday to Sunday at 8 p.m. and run about 90 minutes.
- Guests must be 5 or older.
- An official VIP meet and greet after the show is sold separately and requires a show ticket. It includes a selfie with the duo, a souvenir bag with a signed poster and a VIP lanyard.
- Look for the Penn & Teller Theater inside the Rio Hotel & Casino, which now brands itself Rio Las Vegas.
Checked on October 5, 2026 against Rio Las Vegas: Penn & Teller, Las Vegas Review-Journal and Fox5 Vegas.
