25 Ways Las Vegas Will Look Different in 2025

Las Vegas had a pretty big year in 2024. We saw the closure of the iconic Mirage and the implosion of the legendary Tropicana, while brand-new resorts like the Fontainebleau and Durango drew renewed attention and major crowds. By comparison, 2025 may look quiet on the surface—but Las Vegas doesn’t sit still for long. Here, we preview some of the biggest changes and most exciting new things coming to Las Vegas in 2025.

Park MGM
Las Vegas almost feels like a second home for Sammy Hagar, who opened the Cabo Wabo Cantina on the Strip, played a residency at the Strat, and launched his own pool party at the Palms in 2024. His latest tour, the Best of All Worlds, already played the MGM Grand Garden Arena but returns in the form of a residency at Dolby Live inside the Park MGM April 30–May 17. The same venue welcomes a new extended run by fellow hard-rockers Motley Crue March 28–April 19, and if you prefer your classic hits with fewer guitars, the first-ever Vegas residency by New Kids on the Block is June 20–Nov. 15.

The LINQ
If you’re Wayne Newton or Terry Fator, it’s nothing new to switch venues in Las Vegas, but the Chippendales have performed at the Rio for 22 years. So it feels historic that after more than 9,000 performances, the infamous all-male revue is moving to the Mat Franco Theater inside The LINQ in January. To note the significance of the occasion, the show was given the key to the city by Carolyn Goodman as her final official act as Las Vegas mayor.

The Strip
It’s a sign of the times when the biggest new opening of the year is a shopping mall–but also, this is no ordinary mall. The Blvd Las Vegas takes over the wasted space once devoted to Hawaiian Marketplace, a glorified food court across from CityCenter on the Strip. The 400,000-square-foot development was built quickly, even by Vegas standards, and looks fancy with outdoor escalators, multi-level shops facing the Strip, and rooftop patios overlooking Vegas landmarks. The first tenant, a huge Puma sneaker store, is already open with more set to arrive soon, including the largest In-N-Out Burger in history. And I don’t care what anyone says: you can’t get enough In-N-Out in Las Vegas.

Off the Strip
AREA15 is expanding in dramatic fashion, kicking off new attractions to anchor a second 20-acre phase that’s collectively becoming known as the Vegas Immersive District. The new year brings Universal Horror Unleashed, a year-round haunted experience based on Universal Studios’ classics like The Exorcistand The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Visitors can also check out Interstellar Arc, a space-themed attraction inside its own custom-designed 20,000-square-foot venue.

Mandalay Bay
The pickleball boom continues apace—and that suits Vegas fine. Just look at the recent opening of Chicken N Pickle in Henderson, followed by The Picklr (opening in January, also in Henderson) and the long-awaited Electric Pickle (at the Bend in the Southwest Valley, promised by the end of 2025). If that’s not enough, the Pickleball Slam makes its Vegas debut at Mandalay Bay on February 16. In a battle of tennis icons, Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf take on Andy Roddick and Eugenie Bouchard with a million-dollar prize at stake.

MGM Grand
Friends will continue on in reruns—and as part of a new attraction in Las Vegas. The ‘90s sitcom returns to life in the District at the MGM Grand as The Friends Experience; The One in Las Vegas. Roam set replicas of Central Perk and oversized New York apartments while recreating your favorite scenes in Instagram-worthy photo stations.

The Strip
The Vegas Loop already has three stations at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Now, it’s getting ready to connect to the Westgate and Encore in 2025. We'll see how it goes. Elon Musk’s underground tunnel is a dubious transportation system, opting for Tesla taxis when a subway suited for mass transit would be much more efficient.

Allegiant Stadium
If plans pan out, pro-wrestling fans will see WWE champion Cody Rhodes square off against Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson at Wrestlemania 41. The biggest annual spectacle in sports entertainment is now a two-night attraction from April 19–20 at Allegiant Stadium. Expect Vegas to roll out the red carpet for the WWE with affiliated pop-up activations and events throughout the Strip. Sure, you can watch it all on TV, but wouldn’t you rather scream along with 50,000 fellow rasslin’ fans in person?

The Strip
The Sphere continues to draw worldwide attention, experimenting with sports and threatening to (gasp!) actually become profitable at some point. The high-tech venue is currently hosting the Eagles with shows scheduled well into spring, followed by a return engagement by Dead & Company. Fine, fine… but what’s new? Well, the Sphere will be involved in CES for the first time with a keynote address from Delta Airlines executives, and there are new announcements on the way.

Forum Shops at Caesars
Yes, Formula 1 is returning to Las Vegas in 2025, further locking the racing series into the Strip with the fall opening of the largest F1 Arcade in the world. The fan-friendly experience will cover two floors inside the Forum Shops at Caesars, including racing simulators, a 41-foot-long bar, and views of the Strip for watching the Las Vegas Grand Prix, which comes back Nov. 19–22.

Bellagio
The Bellagio is planning to put the relatively quiet walkway between its front and entrance to good use. Although no official announcements have been made, plans were filed with Clark County for what’s now known as “Project Mojave” alongside the Bellagio fountains. The 400,000-square-foot plaza will include shops, restaurants, and some kind of rooftop terrace, along with a new LED marquee for the resort. With eternal approval delays (and possible design revisions), plans could change, but something big seems inevitable.

Fontainebleau
Las Vegas continues to lock in its new image as a sports community with the arrival of the Hall of Excellence at the Fontainebleau this summer. Think of it as a museum for rare sports memorabilia in partnership with former sportscaster Jim Gray and football legend Tom Brady, who’s already committed to exhibiting his seven Super Bowl rings at the attraction. You’ll also see items from Muhammad Ali, Babe Ruth, and many more.

Caesars Palace
It's a world of possibilities for the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, which just saw Adele wrap up her residency while bidding farewell to runs by Garth Brooks and Rod Stewart. Could that leave the door open for the return of Britney Spears on the Strip? Some seem to think so. If not, another big name or two will come along. It’s one of those years when anything can happen.

The Strip
The Delano, the bonus tower at Mandalay Bay, has been rebranded the W Las Vegas. But don’t worry about extensive renovations—the hotel is already one of the best in Vegas with an all-suites format that gives each unit at least two rooms. The biggest change? That “W” logo at the top of the tower.

Henderson
In another sign that West Henderson is booming, construction is underway on a second tower for The M Resort. The new addition won’t be done until 2026, but should emerge in the skyline well before then, making an impression on Californians driving into the Las Vegas Valley on Interstate 15. The new tower will have 384 rooms, doubling the occupancy for the property with 15,000-square-feet of convention space and a multiplex theater. Just like in the original hotel, rooms facing north will have incredible views of the Strip.

Downtown Arts District
Midtown is an ambitious plan to create a residential hub that will effectively bridge the fast-growing Downtown Arts District to the Symphony Park and the Fremont Street areas. The four-acre site already includes the English Hotel, and if all goes according to plan, two condo towers (including one with a Marriott affiliation) by the end of 2025. There’s been little in the way of construction so far, but keep in mind, developer Z Life Corporation built the English Hotel in just eight months. When it’s done, there will be pools, fitness areas, micro-retail concepts for local businesses and a first-of-its-kind Tesla sharing program for residents. Deposits are now being taken for the first 1,000 condos in phase one with 2,000 more units to follow.

Southwest
The Durango casino and hotel has been such a hit since opening a year ago that Station Casinos is moving forward with expansion plans. Construction was set to begin by the end of 2024, but the lot next to the Southwest Valley resort remains quiet. Once work gets underway, Durango will add a new parking garage and dramatically expand its casino space, which should be complete near the end of 2025. The door is also open for new attractions like a fitness center, movie theater, restaurants, and other possibilities. A second hotel tower is also likely down the line.

Symphony Park
If you pay attention to what city politicians say, you already know that Symphony Park is a major priority for Las Vegas. The development, which already includes the Smith Center and Discovery Children’s Museum, is welcoming Bria (a five-story mid-rise) and Capella (a 22-story high-rise) by summer, giving the neighborhood luxury leasing units that will no doubt inspire further dining, shopping, and entertainment destinations in the area. The two complexes are under construction by the Southern Land Company.

Park MGM
After six years, one of the most underrated dining destinations on the Strip is mixing things up. Eataly introduced two new concepts on December 27, which is close enough to 2025 to count. The Eataly Bar replaces the retail wine area, giving guests a U-shaped countertop with a mix of indoor and outdoor seats for enjoying wine and craft cocktails, including more than 10 variations on a spritz. The neighboring Pizza al Padellino will serve takeaway orders of Torino-style pizza—soft in the center with crispy edges.

The Strip
There are so many new restaurants coming to Las Vegas, it’s almost hard to keep track of them all. Stubborn Seed is opening soon at Resorts World, featuring an ambitious menu by Top Chef winner Jeremy Ford. Cote is promising a fine-dining take on Korean barbecue at the Venetian, living up to the Michelin star earned at the original New York location. Caramella takes over the space formerly home to Koi at Planet Hollywood, serving Italian cuisine and steaks in a ‘70s-inspired space. The multi-level Bottle Blonde is gearing up for a Strip-side opening at the Grand Bazaar Shops in front of the Horseshoe. Meanwhile, the debut of Gordon Ramsay Burger at the Flamingo gives the celebrity chef his seventh Vegas restaurant atop the wave of a renewed dining portfolio for the historic resort, which includes the stylish Pinky’s by Lisa Vanderpump and Havana 1957. Amaya will open at The Cosmopolitan with modern Mexican cuisine, replacing the Holstein’s burger joint with a whole new look.

The Strip
Here’s another unique way to experience Las Vegas. Tea on the Strip launched on January 2, giving participants a tour and a tea party in one. Guests board a double decker bus to sit at pink tables, sip on English-style tea, and munch bite-size snacks while soaking in the most famous sights and landmarks in Las Vegas. The concept was founded by Yolanda Drai, wife of Victor Drai (the nightlife mogul behind Drai's nightclub), and tours begin and end at the Sahara.

The Strip
José Andrés already has a strong presence in Las Vegas—especially at the Cosmopolitan, where the celebrity chef has China Poblano, Jaleo, and é—but the landscape continues to evolve. Andrés’ Bazaar Mar (and Bar Centro companion piece) inside the Shops at Crystals was one of the best Strip openings of 2024 and his long-running Bazaar Meat steakhouse is moving from the Sahara to the Palazzo in 2025. The new year also promises a new concept, Zaytinya, for Turkish, Greek, and Lebanese cuisine inside the Forum Shops at Caesars.

MGM Grand
Netflix now has a pop-up restaurant in Las Vegas that debuts in 2025. Netflix Bites takes over the old Avenue Cafe space at the MGM Grand for a one-year residency, featuring food and drinks that reflect the streaming service’s biggest hits. Eggo waffles inspired by Stranger Things have to be a lock, right?

Harrah’s
Sometimes you can spot a long-term plan a mile away: Caesars Entertainment is combining the food hall trend with an affection for celebrity chefs. The blueprint was established at Caesars Palace, where the newly renamed Celebrity Food Hall now has Bobby's Burgers (by Bobby Flay), Tortazo (Mexican by Rick Bayless), Buddy V’s Pizzeria (by the Cake Boss, Buddy Valestro), Mokbar (my favorite of the bunch, featuring South Korean street food by Esther Choi), and Chicken Guy! by Vegas native Guy Fieri, which opens its second Strip location at Harrah’s this spring. The budding chain serves gourmet chicken wings with lots of crazy sauces, loaded mac ’n cheese, and milkshakes blended with your favorite childhood cereals, and it will arrive at the Fulton Food Hall alongside another Bobby’s Burgers. You can’t help but think that a version of the Celebrity Food Hall will end up at every Caesars property in Vegas.

Venetian
Yes, another food hall. But the Venetian held back and made sure to get things right before unleashing one of its own. Via Via, opening in mid-2025, has an impressive lineup with All’Antico Vinaio (Italian sandwiches from Florence), Howlin’ Ray’s (Nashville Hot Chicken from LA), Scarr’s Pizza (out of New York), B.S. Taqueria (a Los Angeles Mexican concept that was criminally overlooked during its first stab in Vegas at the now-closed Sundry), Close Company (craft cocktails by the team behind New York’s Death & Co.), Ivan Ramen (another New York favorite), Molly’s Rise & Shine (breakfast comfort food from New Orleans), and Turkey and the Wolf (a sandwich specialist from NOLA).

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