Sporting superstars, exclusive music performances, lavish VIP events and team-sponsored watch parties. Here’s what’s happening across the city in Las Vegas on 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend!
Traditionally, November is a relatively quiet month for the city of Las Vegas – but that’s all about to change in 2023! After months of preparations, Formula 1’s first race on the Las Vegas Strip is now just weeks away.
The 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix is set to take place on November 16-18 and the on-track antics won’t be the only entertainment as the city prepares to welcome the pinnacle of motorsport. Below, we’ve rounded up some of the biggest and best events happening across Las Vegas in the build up to the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix!
Head to the Las Vegas Raiders vs New York Jets NFL Game
Image: Cornfield948, A View From My Seat, CC BY-SA 3.0
Formula 1 isn’t the only sport in town. Kick off 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix by watching an NFL game! The Las Vegas Raiders play the New York Jets on Sunday November 12 at Allegiant Stadium. The impressive 65,000 capacity stadium opened only three years ago. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster.
Join the Williams F1 Team at their Fan Zone
Williams’ Fan Zone has been a popular addition in recent years at a number of races. The 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix is the latest event at which the pop up experience will be taking place, running on the Brooklyn Bridge at the famous New York-New York Hotel.
Entry to the Williams Fan Zone is free. Two show cars will be on display and there’ll be limited edition merchandise available plus a range of other activities on offer. You can also expect appearances from current Williams drivers Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant.
The Fan Zone is open 12:00-22:00 every day from Monday 13 to Saturday 18 November.
Hear from Shaquille O’Neal and David Beckham at Club Sports Illustrated
Club Sports Illustrated will be hosting sporting royalty in the form of Shaquille O’Neal and David Beckham on race night. The duo will be taking part in “candid conversations” about their respective careers for an exclusive audience ahead of the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix on November 18.
This event is part of Club Sports Illustrated’s 3-day hospitality package. Tickets aren’t cheap, coming in at $7,000 per person for a 3-day ticket.
Wynn Las Vegas’ Ultimate Race Week
Wynn Las Vegas has unveiled plans for an ‘Ultimate Race Week’ running from Friday November 10 to Sunday November 19. Top of the bill is an exclusive auction in collaboration with RM Sotheby’s, which will feature many pieces of unique memorabilia – including Lewis Hamilton’s race-winning 2013 Mercedes car. The auction itself takes place from 15:30 on Friday November 17. The event will be hosted by James Corden.
Other events taking place include an exhibition of 250 distinctive automobiles, culminating in a parade on the Las Vegas Strip on November 12; luxury food offerings and more. The full programme can be found here.
XS Nightclub and Encore Beach Club are also involved in the Ultimate Race Week, with an exclusive entertainment line-up featuring acts such as Calvin Harris, Marshmello, The Chainsmokers, Swedish House Mafia, Diplo, Purple Disco Machine and more. Here’s the full line-up:
XS Nightclub at Encore:
- Saturday November 11 – The Chainsmokers
- Wednesday November 15 – Marshmello
- Thursday November 16 – The Chainsmokers
- Friday November 17 – Swedish House Mafia
- Saturday November 18 – Calvin Harris, Diplo & Dom Dolla
- Sunday November 19 – Rüfüs Du Sol & Black Coffee
Encore Beach Club:
- Friday November 17: Dom Dolla & Purple Disco Machine
- Saturday November 18: Marshmello and special guest Tyga
- Sunday November 19: The Chainsmokers
Watch parties at the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix
With many resorts, hotels and other establishments lining the track at the Las Vegas Strip Circuit, there are lots of watch parties taking place just a stone’s throw from the circuit, some of which you can access without having a ticket for the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix. More details about individual company’s plans for race week can be found on their websites.
Some of the watch parties taking place in Las Vegas will be sponsored by Formula 1 teams. The Circa Resort & Casino, for example, will be home to the Red Bull Watch Party. Taking place at Stadium Swim, you can take in the race in a heated pool or a private cabana and watch the action unfold on a three-story high definition screen! There’s free admission for the race watch party itself, while General Admission tickets for the full day start at $25.
Residencies over the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix Weekend
As the so-called Entertainment Capital of the World, it’s no surprise that there are plenty of concerts and events which coincide with the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix. Vegas is famed for its big-name residencies and there are some in town across the race week.
Usher’s “My Way” residency – at the 5,200 capacity Dolby Live, part of the Park MGM resort – runs through to December, with his closest shows to the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix being on Saturday November 11. Limited tickets remain available via Ticketmaster.
Catch legendary American rock band Santana’s residency at the House of Blues on November 11-12, rock and roll royalty Rod Stewart’s residency at Caesars Palace on November 15, 17 and 18 or country star Keith Urban’s residency at Planet Hollywood throughout Grand Prix week.
Other Performances in Las Vegas
There’s plenty of other music and comedy on offer in the build up to the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix. Multi-platinum selling rock band REO Speedwagon are in Las Vegas for two shows at The Venetian Theatre on November 10-11. Notably, The Venetian Resort will be the official home and hotel partner of the BWT Alpine F1 Team over the race weekend.
If Djs are your thing, head to one of Las Vegas’ many clubs. Zouk Nightclub will play host to a range of musical acts over the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend, including DJ Snake (who recently headlined the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix), Travis Scott, Zedd and Tiesto. The Maruqee Nightclub also has a number of yet-to-be-announced special guests lined up, while Steve Aoki, Martin Garrix and Alesso are on the bill at Omnia at Caesars Palace.
Comedy acts performing during race week include Jay Leno at the Encore Theater, part of the Wynn Las Vegas resort, on November 12. Nate Bargatze will be bringing his Be Funny Tour to the same venue for four shows from November 10-11. Daniel Tosh performs at The Mirage Theatre on November 10-11.
Looking for something a little different? RuPaul’s Drag Race Live is on throughout race week at the Flamingo Showroom at Flamingo Las Vegas. Or how about a combination of film, hip-hop and classical music? Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse Live in Concert takes place at Reynolds Hall on November 14. Limited tickets are still available.
Experience the new MSG Sphere
The recently-opened state-of-the-art MSG Sphere – situated near Turn 8 of the Las Vegas Strip Circuit – is a “game-changing” new entertainment space in the heart of Las Vegas. The huge domed arena is fully immersive, with huge LED video walls – the largest anywhere in the world – stretching the full height of the dome.
U2 opened the venue as part of their residency there in early October. While U2 aren’t around during the week of the Las Vegas Grand Prix (their nearest shows are November 4 and December 1), you can still experience the venue in The Sphere Experience.
The Sphere Experience runs three times per day on Monday November 13 and Tuesday November 14 (at 16:30, 19:00 and 21:30). Tickets are available via the official website. It has to be seen to be believed!
The 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix Opening Ceremony
The official Formula 1 festivities kick off on Wednesday November 15, with an Opening Ceremony event planned to take place at 19:30. Full details about this event have now been announced. All 20 drivers will be making an appearance on the starting grid at the conclusion of a star-studded event which is set to feature special performances by world-renowned musical acts. Keith Urban, Journey and will.i.am are among the confirmed performers.
Access to the event is included for four-day ticket holders, while single day tickets for Wednesday can be purchased in our Las Vegas Grand Prix ticket shop.
Party at the Amber Lounge Afterparty
Few parties are more exclusive than the Amber Lounge on a Formula 1 race weekend. A favoured spot for the F1 drivers to unwind after a hectic race weekend, the Amber Lounge is a popular addition for VIPs at many other races on the Formula 1 calendar, including similar street races in Singapore and Monaco.
Billed as “the world’s most exclusive afterparty”, the ultimate in hospitality will be making its debut at casino resort The Venetian over the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend. Amidst her residency at Voltaire at The Venetian, Kylie Minogue will be giving an exclusive performance at the Amber Lounge party.
Tickets and VIP table packages are available via the Amber Lounge website.
Trackside Entertainment at the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix
Las Vegas Grand Prix organisers have put together a special entertainment line-up for the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix. All headline performances will take place in the T-Mobile Zone at Sphere, which – as the name suggests – is located near the MSG Sphere.
Mark Ronson, Major Lazer and J Balvin are among the acts performing across the event weekend, with organisers recently adding Nile Rodgers and Kylie Minogue to the line-up. Further performances from the likes of legendary acts such as Cirque du Soleil and Blue Man Group will give the entertainment offering a quintessential Las Vegas feel.
On track at the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix
Of course, aside from all the best that Las Vegas has to offer and the trackside entertainment, there’s all of the on-track action to look forward to at the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix!
It all kicks off at 20:30 on Thursday November 16 with Free Practice 1 – the first official F1 session on the brand new street circuit. Expect the eyes of the world to be on Las Vegas for this session!
Qualifying follows on Friday November 17 (although qualifying itself does not begin until midnight!), before the main event – the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix – on Saturday November 18. Lights out at the first Saturday night race in F1’s history is scheduled for 22:00. A drivers’ parade featuring all 20 drivers will take place before the Grand Prix.
Further information about attending the Las Vegas Grand Prix, including the full on-track schedule plus access and entry information, can be found in our fully updated trackside guide.
