Sphere Las Vegas tips: 2025 shows, tickets, and more

USA Today

3 days ago

Sphere Las Vegas looks out over Sin City – Photo courtesy of Sphere Entertainment
For a city that's constantly reinventing itself, Las Vegas is never without a new attraction. From the Bellagio dancing fountains to a replica of the Eiffel Tower and incredible live shows and performances up and down the Strip, the place has a lock on entertainment. Sphere Las Vegas, one of the newest must-see sights and concert venues, encapsulates all that in one giant orb.
Attached to The Venetian Resort Las Vegas, everything about Sphere Las Vegas is mind-blowing. Touted as the world's largest spherical structure, the electrified ball measures 516 feet wide and 366 feet tall. Covered in a wraparound, high-resolution screen, the exterior transforms into everything from a massive yellow emoji to a giant jack-o'-lantern, basketball, or blinking eyeball, thanks to 1.2 million LEDs.
It's incredible to see from various points around the Strip (though not really from the Strip; more on that later) or when you fly into Harry Reid International Airport. Inside Sphere Las Vegas is just as astonishing. It's like a Disneyland ride meets the greatest show on Earth — a spectacle for concerts like Dead & Company, or high-def films like "Postcard From Earth" and "V-U2: An Immersive Concert Film," based on U2's concerts there.
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New for 2025: a Backstreet Boys residency; a live production, "The Wizard of Oz at Sphere"; the return of The Eagles; and the Insomniac x Tomorrowland: UNITY festival experience.
If you're considering a visit — and you should — here's everything you need to know about the attraction, from getting Sphere Las Vegas tickets to where to find the best seats and other concert tips. It's definitely one of the trippiest Las Vegas experiences ever. Where is Sphere located?
It's fun to see what Sphere Las Vegas turns into next from many vantage points – Photo courtesy of Sphere Entertainment
Sphere Las Vegas is located behind The Venetian Resort, one long block off the Strip. You can access Sphere via a pedestrian bridge from The Venetian or by entering through Sands Avenue, Westchester Drive, or the Plaza Entry on the east side of the building.
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There is a parking lot, but you'll need to purchase parking tickets through Ticketmaster. The lot also has designated ride-share areas.
No matter how you get to it, plan on doing a lot of walking. Like everything in Las Vegas, it might look close on a map or even out your window. But once you start walking, it's exponentially farther than you thought. If you're staying at one of the resorts, ask hotel staff for the best way to get there.
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What's it like inside Sphere Las Vegas?
These robots hold conversations with guests in Sphere's atrium – Photo courtesy of Sphere Entertainment
Watching the screen morph and change outside Sphere is one thing; seeing a show inside is another.
There are nine levels to Sphere, including a basement with a VIP lounge. In addition to the venue bowl, there's a very cool atrium with holographic art installations, interactive robots to chat with, and a 360-degree avatar capture for the ultimate Las Vegas keepsake. Escalators carry you up to different levels, so you get perfect bird's-eye views of all the action.
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The main venue features four levels of seating, a general admission floor for concerts, and high-dollar suites for groups. It seats 17,500 people and holds even more with standing room on the floor. What makes this a concert or movie venue like no other is Sphere's fully immersive environment and the 16K resolution LED screen — reportedly the largest in the world — that wraps around and up to the audience. That equates to incredible backdrops and visuals for anything you see there.
The sound is impeccable from every seat — like wearing headphones without wearing headphones. For some events, seats have movement sensations to really 'feel' the experience. You may also experience flashing lights, intense lighting, visual effects, and atmospheric simulations, such as fog, scent, and wind. If any of that's a problem, this might not be the experience for you.
How much does it cost to go to Sphere Las Vegas?
A view from "Postcards from Earth" inside Sphere Las Vegas – Photo courtesy of Sphere Entertainment
You need tickets to enter the Sphere, and prices vary. The Sphere Experience, which offers 50 minutes of access to the atrium and a 60-minute immersive film, Darren Aronofsky's 'Postcard from Earth,' is the best way to experience what it's all about. Tickets start at $69 per person and go up to $249 for the 'Director's Seats,' a package that includes the best seats in the house (section 306), expedited entry, a pre-show drink and snacks, and a T-shirt.
Concert tickets, like most these days, are set by the band and promoter, and they aren't cheap. Most concert tickets range from $100 to $500 or more. All Sphere tickets are available via Ticketmaster. You can also try resale sites like StubHub, VividSeats, and SeatGeek for the big concerts that sell out faster than you can say, 'Achtung Baby.'
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What are the best seats inside Sphere Las Vegas?
The best seats are in the middle of the venue, not too high up – Photo courtesy of Lesley Balla
Almost every seat is excellent at Sphere Las Vegas. However, some have obstructed views of the screen. To get the whole experience of the movie or band, along with the towering high-def screen, avoid specific seats in the very far right and far left sections of the 100 level. In these sections, there's an overhang that obstructs some seats. Starting from row 22 and above, you'll see the stage and a large portion of the screen in front of you, but the screen directly above, towards the roof, will be obstructed. The overhang completely obstructs rows 30 and higher; you'll see the stage and only a small sliver of the screen.
Seats in the 200, 300, and 400 levels are the best, and even better if you stick with the middle sections that end in 5, 6, or 7 (for instance, section 206 or 306). I sat in 206 for Dead & Company, and it offered the best views of the screen in every direction. Plus, the seats weren't too high up. It gets pretty steep in the upper levels, so if you're prone to vertigo or uncomfortable walking along steep stairs, consider getting seats in the lower levels. Can you eat and drink in Sphere Las Vegas?
Lots of food and drink options around the futuristic bars in Sphere – Photo courtesy of ICRAVE via Sphere Entertainment
Like any other concert or sports venue, you can't bring in outside food or beverages to Sphere. Once inside, a variety of beverage options are available, including non-alcoholic drinks, beer, wine, and cocktails. Prices range from $7 for bottled water to $20 for wine and $30 for specialty cocktails.
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If you're on a budget, do a little pre-show gambling and get free drinks at The Venetian. Not interested in buying water? Bring a clear, soft-plastic empty bottle with you and fill it up at the water fountains inside Sphere.
Food options at Sphere include typical concert fare, like chicken strips, burgers, pizza, and poke bowls. But this is Vegas — there are so many excellent restaurants to enjoy before or after the show. I had two exceptional meals before shows at The Venetian: Estiatorio Milos and Matteo's Ristorante Italiano are located right on the walkway from the resort to Sphere.
Where can you find the best views of Sphere Las Vegas?
Someone's always watching Sphere Las Vegas – Photo courtesy of Sphere Entertainment
Because Sphere is east of the Strip, it's become almost a sport to find the best and most unique views of the orb. You get great views upon landing at the airport. If you're driving in, you can see it from 1-215. You'll also get a good view of Sphere Las Vegas from the Las Vegas Monorail and the High Roller Observation Wheel at The LINQ.
Anyone playing through at the Wynn Golf Club has prime spotting. The upper level of the Wynn's parking structure is said to be one of the best places to see it, too. You can even see it from the McDonald's drive-thru on Paradise Road.
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If you're walking on the Strip, the towering resort buildings obstruct your view. However, if you're staying at The Venetian or The Palazzo, you can book rooms that have stunning views of Sphere. Just remember: Like Vegas itself, Sphere never turns off. Make sure to bring those sleep eye masks!
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