I’ll be arriving in Las Vegas with my wife Sunday Sept. 13 and staying through Friday afternoon for AU 2026, and if you’re doing the same, you’ve got way more to work with this year than just the conference sessions. Vegas has been busy. There’s new stuff on the Strip worth seeing, good food worth knowing about, and if your timing works out, the weekend after AU might be the best possible reason to extend your stay.
If you haven’t read Part 1 of the AU 2026 Thrive Guide yet, start there for the conference-focused breakdown. This one is about everything happening around AU week – and a window that runs September 12-20 for those arriving early or staying after.
Here’s what I’m tracking.
My session – Tuesday September 16, 11:30 AM
If you want to talk about what AI is actually doing to the CAD manager role, not the vendor pitch version but the ground-level reality, come find me Tuesday morning. Session AS1411, “The Stack Inversion is Real: How AI Is Redefining the CAD Manager’s Role.”
I’m also running a Braindate session during the conference Tuesday at 5pm. If you haven’t done Braindates before, they’re small-group conversations, and they tend to be where the real talk happens. Look for that separately and come say hello if you’re up for it.
The Sphere – Wizard of Oz during AU
The Sphere is running The Wizard of Oz as a daytime experience, and this is genuinely worth two hours of your conference schedule. Showtimes run at 11 AM, 2 PM, and 5 PM during AU week, so you can slot it into a free afternoon without sacrificing an evening. The Sphere is at 255 Sands Ave – right next door to the Venetian.
It’s 75 minutes, fully immersive, 16K resolution wrapping the entire venue. Haptic seats, wind effects, the works. If you’ve never been inside the Sphere for anything, this is a lower-cost entry point, usually around $100 for matinee shows. Book it before you fly out. It will sell out during AU week.
The Eagles at the Sphere – the weekend after AU
If there was ever a reason to stay in Vegas through the weekend, this is it.
The Eagles kick off their Sphere residency on Friday September 18 and Saturday September 19. Shows start at 8:30 PM. Tickets run from around $145 up to $300-plus for prime sections – not cheap, but the Sphere is not a normal venue.
The band is Joe Walsh, Timothy B. Schmit, Vince Gill, and Deacon Frey, doing a full set. Hotel California, Desperado, Life in the Fast Lane. Inside a 17,000-seat venue wrapped in a 160,000 square foot LED display. I don’t know what else to tell you.
Arte Museum
Arte Museum is worth knowing about if you need a break from the Strip without leaving it. It’s a 30,000 square foot immersive digital experience at 63 CityCenter (3716 S Las Vegas Blvd, Suite 208), right next to the Cosmopolitan. The theme is Eternal Nature – waterfalls, aurora borealis, endless blooming flowers, ocean scenes – all rendered through floor-to-ceiling projection combined with custom soundscapes and actual curated scents. Born from a collaboration with the Musee d’Orsay in Paris, it also includes a reimagined digital presentation of works by Monet, Van Gogh, and other masters. Count on 60 to 90 minutes.
Open daily 10 AM to 10 PM, last entry at 9 PM. Buy tickets online to skip the line – prices run around $50-60 per adult. Tip: wear something light-colored. The projections essentially wear you, and the photos are dramatically better for it.
iHeartRadio Music Festival – also the weekend after AU
If classic rock isn’t your thing, the iHeartRadio Music Festival lands the same weekend at T-Mobile Arena (3780 S Las Vegas Blvd), September 18 and 19. Two full days hosted by Ryan Seacrest.
This year’s confirmed lineup: BTS, Cardi B, Kenny Chesney, Snoop Dogg, Muse, Weezer, Lainey Wilson, Benson Boone, Goo Goo Dolls, Zara Larsson, Major Lazer, and LE SSERAFIM, with more still to be announced. Tickets on AXS. Between the Eagles and this, the weekend of September 18 in Las Vegas is going to be stacked.
Hall of Excellence Sports Museum
The Hall of Excellence at Fontainebleau Las Vegas (2777 S Las Vegas Blvd, Level 2) is worth a look even if you’re not a die-hard sports fan. Curated by Tom Brady and sportscasting legend Jim Gray, it houses over 300 artifacts from the most celebrated names in sports and entertainment – Jackie Robinson’s bat from when he broke baseball’s color barrier, Tiger Woods’ golf ball from his first Masters win, Muhammad Ali’s gloves, and all seven of Brady’s Super Bowl rings in a custom seven-sided case. Morgan Freeman narrates the self-guided audio tour, with other legends including Oprah, Bob Costas, Jim Nantz, and Snoop Dogg filling in around their respective exhibits. Open Thursday through Monday, 10 AM to 8 PM. Tickets are $35 for adults, $20 for ages 5-15.
Universal Horror Unleashed at AREA15
If Meow Wolf is the daytime option at AREA15, Universal Horror Unleashed is the night one. It’s a 110,000 square foot year-round haunted house complex in the AREA15 expansion at 3051 S Rancho Drive, built by the same team behind Halloween Horror Nights. Four cinematic haunted houses run the full gauntlet: Universal Monsters, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Scarecrow: The Reaping, and Blumhouse’s The Exorcist: Believer – plus immersive themed areas, live entertainment, and food and drinks throughout. General admission for single entry through each house starts at $49; unlimited access runs $79. Open Wednesday through Sunday, 4 PM to 11 PM. Not recommended for anyone under 13. Travel Nevada
The Friends Experience at MGM Grand
The Friends Experience: The One in Vegas</a> is inside The District at MGM Grand (3799 S Las Vegas Blvd, adjacent to the Grand Garden Arena). It’s a fully recreated walk-through of the show’s most iconic sets – Monica’s apartment, the Central Perk couch, the fountain from the opening credits, and a Vegas-only addition: Ross and Rachel’s wedding chapel. About 60-90 minutes at your own pace, lots of photo opportunities. Tickets start at $39 and are available at friendstheexperience.com/vegas. Open daily 11 AM to 8 PM. Worth flagging honestly: if you’re not a Friends fan this won’t convert you, but for anyone who grew up on the show it’s a genuinely fun hour. HoodlineHoodline
The Deck Rooftop Bar at Ellis Island
The Deck at Ellis Island Hotel and Casino (4178 Koval Lane) is a Strip view without Strip prices, and that’s the whole pitch. From the rooftop you can see from Mandalay Bay to Resorts World, and when the sun sets the view is genuinely impressive. Craft cocktails, local beers, shareable plates, live DJ on Fridays and Saturdays. Cabanas available for rent if you want a dedicated server and a private setup. One scheduling note for AU attendees: The Deck is open Thursday through Sunday only, 7 PM to midnight, so it works for the AU weekend but not the Monday-Wednesday conference days. Reservations recommended, capped at two hours per party. Las Vegas MagazineEllisislandcasino
Concerts and events in the September 12-20 AU window
If you’re arriving before AU or staying after, there’s more going on. Marc Anthony plays Fontainebleau’s BleauLive Theater September 11-13, right before AU starts. Five Finger Death Punch plays Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay on September 19. The band America plays Resorts World Theatre on September 18.
And if you’re in town Sunday September 13, the Las Vegas Raiders host the Miami Dolphins at Allegiant Stadium. NFL in Vegas is a different experience than most cities – the stadium is still relatively new, the crowd is loud, and the tailgate scene is Vegas level crazy.
Vegas shows worth booking in advance
Cirque du Soleil has five resident shows running through September. “O” at the Bellagio is the aquatic production in a purpose-built water stage that’s been running for 25+ years. If you’ve never seen it, this is the one to book. Michael Jackson ONE at Mandalay Bay is exactly what it sounds like, and it’s good.
KA at MGM Grand deserves its own mention. It’s the Cirque show with no floor – two enormous platforms, one weighing 75,000 pounds and one 80,000 pounds, rise out of a bottomless pit, tilt to 100 degrees, rotate, and move through the space while performers work on them. The whole stage system was engineered by TAIT Towers and designed in AutoCAD. If you’re at AU anyway, there’s something satisfying about seeing what Autodesk tools helped build at this scale. Genuinely one of the most remarkable stage productions I’ve seen anywhere.
Immersive experiences worth the trip
Meow Wolf Omega Mart is inside AREA15 at 3215 S Rancho Dr, about five minutes from the Strip. If you’ve never been, it’s legitimately hard to explain. It starts as a grocery store. Then you go through a freezer door. Then it stops making any sense in the best possible way. Fifty-two thousand square feet of immersive art built by over 300 artists. Count on 90 minutes minimum. Open daily 10 AM to 11 PM. Tickets around $59 per adult – book ahead for weekend evenings.
Get outside – September is the right time
September is when the desert becomes actually manageable. Highs drop into the mid-80s by mid-month, mornings are cool, and the light is better for photography than any other time of year. If you’ve never left the Strip during a Vegas trip, this is the window to do it.
Red Rock Canyon is about 20 minutes west of the Strip on NV-159. The 13-mile scenic drive runs through red and cream sandstone formations with pullouts for short walks and longer trailheads. In September the drive is open daily 6 AM to 8 PM with no timed entry reservation required. The Calico Hills overlooks are the go-to photography spot – candy-striped sandstone that catches incredible light in the first hour after sunrise. The Ice Box Canyon trail (2.6 miles round trip) gets you into a shaded slot canyon if you want a real hike. Entrance is $15 per vehicle. Go early.
Valley of Fire State Park is about an hour northeast near Overton. Forty-six thousand acres of red Aztec sandstone, ancient petroglyphs, and formations that genuinely look like they’re on fire in the right light. Filmmakers have been using it as a stand-in for Mars for decades. One important flag: the most popular trails including Fire Wave and White Domes are closed through September 30 due to extreme heat. The scenic drive and shorter viewpoint trails stay open and are worth the trip on their own. West entrance is also closed Monday-Thursday through end of 2026 for construction – use the east entrance via State Route 169. Entrance fee is $15 for out-of-state vehicles.
Hoover Dam is about 35 minutes southeast on US-93. Most people have seen photos. It still surprises you in person. The dam crest walk is free, open 5 AM to 9 PM, and standing 726 feet above the Colorado River looking at the full downstream face is the kind of thing that recalibrates your sense of scale. The Power Plant Tour takes you inside through tunnels and down to the generators – about 45 minutes, well worth it. Book in advance and arrive before 10 AM. Visitor Center open 9 AM to 5 PM daily.
Food worth knowing about
A few specific spots to have on your list.
Via Via Food Hall (Venetian) Famous food from around the world.
- Location: off the barrel-vaulted Grand Colonnade at The Venetian, opened Monday, June 9, 2025 NeonNeon
- Format: casual counter-service, Venice-alley theme, part of the resort’s $1.5 billion reinvestment project The Venetian Resort Las VegasFabulous Nevada
- Walkable lunch between sessions without leaving the building
| Vendor | Origin | Who is behind it | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| All’Antico Vinaio | Florence, Italy | Mazzanti family, founded 1991 | Schiacciata flatbread sandwiches layered with meats, cheeses, truffle cream or onion porcini cream |
| Howlin’ Ray’s | Los Angeles | Nashville hot chicken; The Sando | |
| Scarr’s Pizza | New York | Scarr Pimentel | Thin foldable slices and thick Sicilians; the Hotboi |
| Ivan Ramen | NYC via Tokyo | Chef Ivan Orkin | Tokyo Shio ramen |
| B.S. Taqueria | Los Angeles | Chef Ray Garcia | Chorizo, al pastor, carnitas tacos on heirloom corn tortillas |
| Turkey and the Wolf + Molly’s Rise and Shine | New Orleans | James Beard-nominated chef Mason Hereford | Bon Appetit Best New Restaurant 2017; braised collard green sandwich; fried bologna sandwich; biscuit breakfast sandwiches |
| Close Company | Bar | Creators of Death & Co | Mini martinis; espresso martini and tonic |
| Anita Gelato | Tel Aviv | Gelato |
Tacos El Gordo for tacos. The Strip location is at 3041 S Las Vegas Blvd. Nothing fancy, just good tacos. It’s the kind of place you end up going twice because the first visit convinces you.
There’s a new Five Guys in the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian (3377 Las Vegas Blvd S). This location is different from every other Five Guys in the world – it has a full walk-up bar with beer, wine, frozen cocktails, and alcoholic milkshakes. Open until 4 AM. Convenient doesn’t quite cover it.
The world’s largest In-N-Out Burger just opened at BLVD Las Vegas, 3747 S Las Vegas Blvd. Two stories, over 200 seats, rooftop views of the Strip. Get the Double-Double, animal style.
If you want a serious sit-down meal, Bazaar Meat inside the Venetian is a Jose Andres steakhouse concept with a menu that runs from classic cuts to more experimental fare. Expensive and worth it once. And Javier’s at ARIA is one of the better upscale Mexican restaurants on the Strip if you want something beyond tacos.
ALL You Can Eat Buffets
3 buffets worth the walk if you want one big meal instead of five small ones.
The biggest is Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace, the largest in Vegas with 250 menu items, running $65 to $95 depending on the day and meal.
The most popular is The Buffet at Wynn, $65 for brunch and $89 for dinner, and the line tells you why.
The odd one out is Anthony’s Prime, a steakhouse that runs an all-you-can-eat night on Sundays for $99 per person, reservations required. None of these are in the Venetian, so budget the walk or the rideshare and go with a group. If you only have one open evening, Sunday at Anthony’s Prime is the one people will still be talking about at the next AU.
Fun things to do after hours
Swingers Crazy Golf is a solid pick after 10 PM. It’s inside Mandalay Bay at 3950 S Las Vegas Blvd – indoor mini golf with a full bar, and slightly unhinged course design. If you’re looking for something to do with a group that isn’t just another bar, this works.
The Big Apple Roller Coaster at New York-New York (3790 S Las Vegas Blvd) is $25 and wraps around the outside of the building. Quick, fun, not a huge time commitment.
For views: the Strat Observation Deck (2000 Las Vegas Blvd S) is $28 and puts you at 1,149 feet – the highest point on the Strip. The city looks completely different from up there, especially at night.
If you want a view with a drink and an actual vibe, head downtown to Legacy Club at Circa (8 Fremont St). It’s on the 60th floor with panoramic views of the Strip, Downtown, and the mountain ranges. Fire pits on the outdoor terrace, and 500 solid gold bars on display behind glass with a live ticker showing their current value – only in Vegas. Dress code applies, so don’t show up in AU conference swag. Open from 4 PM nightly.
Before you buy anything inside the Venetian, walk outside first
This one saves you real money every year and somehow people still don’t know about it.
There is a Walgreens at 3339 Las Vegas Blvd S, open 24 hours, right across the street from the Venetian’s main Strip entrance. About a 3-minute walk out the front doors. Water, energy drinks, chips, ibuprofen, a charging cable, snacks for the session room – all at normal prices. The difference adds up fast over a week.
Head out the main Strip-facing entrance of the Venetian, cross Las Vegas Blvd, and look slightly left. Open all night, every night. Stock up Sunday when you arrive and you’ll thank yourself by Wednesday.
The thing you cannot miss, across the street.
Even if you don’t stop, keep your eyes on the former Mirage site as you come down the Strip.
The old volcano is gone. In its place is a 42-story guitar-shaped tower wrapped in blue-tinted glass, 660 feet tall, rising straight into the desert sky. It’s the new Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, a $4 billion project pacing toward a 2027 opening. The full build will eventually include nearly 3,700 rooms, a 175,000 square foot casino floor, and a 5,000-seat live venue called Hard Rock Live. When it’s done, six beams of light will shoot 20,000 feet into the sky to resemble guitar strings.
Right now it’s still under construction, covered in glass panels with cranes still working the upper sections. It looks like nothing else on the Strip. You won’t need anyone to point it out to you.
See you soon in Las Vegas September 15-17. Stop by AS1411 on Tuesday morning.
Cheers,
Shaan.
