The question meeting planners most often ask when evaluating a destination is simple: "What's new there?" In Las Vegas, the answer is longer and more compelling than anywhere else in the world. In 2026, it runs the length of the Strip and well beyond it.
Here's what you need to know right now, plus what's on the horizon over the next 6 to 24 months.
More Space, Better Tech: The Renovated LVCC
The Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) officially completed its transformative $600 million renovation at the start of 2026, with CES serving as the first trade show to move through the fully reimagined 4.6-million-square-foot campus. That alone should tell you something: the world's most influential technology show chose to debut in this newly renovated space, drawing attendees from more than 150 countries. A new east entrance welcomes attendees with an indoor lobby and outdoor plaza featuring 500 plants and shrubs. The second-floor boardroom has been expanded to 4,000 square feet (nearly twice its original size) with a modern design, increased public seating, and a 32-foot-by-9-foot LED screen as its centerpiece.
What's new in Las Vegas for meeting planners? A lot. 👇
If your last site visit was more than 12 months ago, you're working with outdated information.
New and Upcoming Projects Worth Knowing
Downtown's only dual-branded, non-gaming hotel, AC Las Vegas Symphony Park, is open and delivering something genuinely distinctive for the meetings market: 18,000 square feet of event space, including the largest unobstructed ballroom in the Arts District and just steps from The Smith Center.
The $4 billion Hard Rock Hotel & Casino will open in 2027, bringing over 200,000 square feet of meeting space to the heart of the Strip. The property is currently accepting RFPs for group bookings in 2028 and beyond. At that scale, this will be one of the most significant new additions to Las Vegas's meetings inventory in years; planners working on programs two to three years out should be in conversation now.
Opening its largest location to date later this year, the Museum of Ice Cream will span nearly 30,000 square feet at AREA15 when it opens in 2026. Offering unlimited ice cream to satisfy any sweet tooth, interactive rooms designed to celebrate the joy of ice cream, on-site games and unique team-building opportunities.
Set to open its third location in the U.S. in 2027, Netflix House will be located at BLVD Las Vegas, in the heart of the Strip. Fans are invited to explore, play, shop, and immerse themselves in their favorite shows and movies. Entry will be free, with tickets available for access to additional experiences that will rotate and be refreshed throughout the year. On-site dining will be offered at Netflix Bites, featuring themed eats and drinks inspired by popular Netflix content.
The M Resort Spa & Casino has officially entered a new era with the completion of its massive $206 million expansion. The centerpiece of this growth is the newly opened East Tower, which debuted in December 2025 and doubled the property’s capacity to 765 guest rooms. The recently premiered 15,000-square-foot Montese Ballroom is a modern, tech-forward addition that brings the report’s total meeting and event footprint to over 100,000 square feet. The added incentive for planners: Meril, a contemporary American restaurant from celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse, will open later this year.
Major Resort Renovations: More Options for Your Program
The Venetian Resort is in the final stretch of a multi-year, $1.5 billion reimagination, and the meetings-specific upgrades are significant. The headline addition coming in Q4 2026 is Lusso Lounge: a 10,000-square-foot executive space on the convention center's third floor, designed for collaborative business gatherings and high-level executive retreats. According to Chief Sales Officer Tony Yousfi, the vision is to reimagine the spirit of the grand Venetian palazzos, where innovators gathered to shape the future, for today's business leaders.
Durango Casino & Resort has officially broken ground on its highly anticipated north expansion. This $385 million project is the latest milestone in the property’s master plan to become the ultimate entertainment hub. The 275,000-square-foot expansion will introduce a massive variety of amenities designed to elevate the guest experience by mid-2027, including approximately 400 additional slot machines added to the casino floor, a state-of-the-art 36-lane bowling facility and luxury movie theaters. There will also be the addition of Moonshine Flats, a two-story, 29,000-square-foot entertainment venue that will feature a massive dance floor, an outdoor patio with fireplace games and a large stage for live country acts.
The Cromwell Las Vegas is being transformed into The Vanderpump Hotel (opening May 2026), a chic boutique property on the Strip in partnership between Lisa Vanderpump and Caesars Entertainment. Redesigned guest rooms, a new lounge, and a revamped reception area define the transformation. Don't worry, the always-popular GIADA restaurant will remain open through the changeover. Located minutes from the LVCC, the property proves that a setting can be boutique in scale while remaining grand in quality.
Conveniently located near the Las Vegas Convention Center, Sonesta Simply Suites has completed a full-property renovation, offering meeting planners a polished, convenient lodging option steps from the LVCC. Redesigned guest rooms, a modern lobby, and an upgraded 24-hour fitness center elevate the attendee experience, while the refreshed meeting room — equipped with built-in AV, a 65" TV, projector screen, and upgraded Wi-Fi — accommodates up to 24 guests in classroom style. It's a practical, well-appointed choice for groups that need proximity to the convention center without sacrificing comfort.
For planners seeking a more intimate, off-Strip setting, Green Valley Ranch Resort & Spa in Henderson is nearing the finish line of a $200 million transformation. The revitalized meeting and convention space spans 69,000 square feet with modern finishes, natural tones, and flexible indoor-outdoor layouts that scale from intimate executive sessions to galas of 5,000. The renovation is expected to wrap by the resort's 25th anniversary in December 2026.
Your Badge Is Worth More Than You Think
Vegas Unlocked is a Show Your Badge & Save program that offers limited-access to deals at restaurants, entertainment venues, attractions, and tours across the city, available only to convention and meetings visitors. The setup is frictionless. Attendees sign up for their Vegas Unlocked pass online, receive instant access via text and email (no app download required). and simply show their badge. Current offers include 15% off Las Vegas Monorail unlimited-ride passes; up to 20% off tickets for KÀ by Cirque du Soleil; 20% off tickets for Awakening at Wynn Las Vegas; 20% off food and drinks at Flight Club Social Darts, and a free Passport Savings Book at Grand Canal Shoppes.
For meeting planners, this is a low-effort, high-impact attendee perk; the kind of value-add that shows up in post-event surveys. Show organizers can submit access request anytime.
Team-Building That's Actually Worth Their Time
Las Vegas's off-site activity options have reached a point where the harder editorial decision is what to leave out. A few additions worth building into programs:
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F1 Arcade at The Forum Shops – 21,000 square feet across two floors, the largest F1 Arcade in the U.S., featuring racing simulators and a 41-foot champagne bar.
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AREA15 – the immersive entertainment district's current lineup includes the John Wick Experience, Universal Horror Unleashed, Interstellar Arc, and more.
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Grand Prix Plaza – the world's first permanent F1 structure with four Formula 1-inspired private event spaces, a rooftop, F1 simulators, and an upgraded 4D theater experience.
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Play Playground at Luxor – physical games, interactive puzzles, and a new weekend Group Brunch Party Package for teams.
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Great Big Game Show at The Forum Shops – A live, hosted game show experience with rounds of different mini-games.
New Restaurants to Eat, Entertain, and Impress
Several new dining concepts directly relevant to client entertaining and team dinners have opened or will open in 2026. The standouts for groups with discerning palates:
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COTE at The Venetian – the first-ever Michelin-starred Korean BBQ experience, with private dining rooms and buyout options ideal for team dinners.
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Gymkhana at ARIA – London's only two-Michelin-starred Indian restaurant makes its first U.S. appearance.
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CARBONE Riviera at Bellagio – front-row Fountain views paired with the most coveted reservation on the Strip.
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Bazaar Meat by José Andrés at The Palazzo – Expect the same legendary tableside experience with noteworthy private dining rooms.
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Maroon by Chef Kwame Onwuachi at SAHARA Las Vegas – This highly anticipated restaurant opens in April and will feature Afro-Caribbean flavors with steakhouse traditions.
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Alinea Residency at Bellagio – The legendary Chicago restaurant, Alinea, by chef Grant Achatz, brings a multi-month pop-up to the resort in May.
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Cantina Contramar at Fontainebleau Las Vegas – Chef Gabriela Cámara and her iconic 27-year legacy bring Mexican coastal cuisine to Vegas.
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Sartiano’s Italian Steakhouse at Wynn Las Vegas – A sophisticated space for both intimate dinners and lively group celebrations.
