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Best Cirque du Soleil Shows in Vegas for Families in 2023

Kid-friendly Cirque du Soleil ranked for ultimate entertainment

It is fair to say that Cirque du Soleil has taken Las Vegas by storm over the last few decades. The first permanent Cirque show in Vegas was Mystere, which opened it’s doors at Treasure Island on Christmas Day of 1993.

And with that, Cirque was off and running.

Since that very first production, several more Cirque du Soleil shows have been added as permanent fixtures on the Las Vegas strip. In case you were curious, here is a timeline of currently running Las Vegas Cirque shows in chronological order:

Cirque Timeline

The history of Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas

January 1, 2019

Mystere

opened at Treasure Island

January 1, 2019
January 1, 2019

‘O’

opened at Bellagio

January 1, 2019
January 1, 2019

Zumanity

opened at NYNY

January 1, 2019
January 1, 2019

Ka

opened at MGM Grand

January 1, 2019

What is truly amazing is these shows occupy very large theatres that, all together, entertain up to 9,000 guests every single night.

This means that on any given night about 5% of ALL Las Vegas visitors can be found at a Cirque du Soleil show!

Cirque shows in Vegas are amazing and obviously popular with adults. But did you know that most of these shows are also considered to be kid-friendly? Yes, you read that right – kid-friendly – meaning you can book tickets for your kids of all ages!

However, (and this is a big however) there are certain things you need to know before taking your child to a Las Vegas Cirque du Soleil show. Here are a few pieces of advice from experience:

Some things to consider:

Cirque du Soleil Vegas shows are totally worth it, but they’re not cheap, so there’s a risk you’ll be super stressed if the kids are being disruptive to you or others around you.
Cirque du Soleil shows often incorporate intricate storytelling that children may not fully understand or appreciate.
For really young children, the show may be intense at times due to loud music, flashing lights, pyrotechnics, etc.

Some tips before you book:

Prepare your children for the show by being frank about what it’ll be like for them (we have ready-made reviews below to help the discussion along)
Consider sitting on an aisle seat and toward the back so you can sneak out like a ninja if your child becomes difficult during the show
Try to book an earlier showtime (7:30 instead of 9:00pm)

In this article, you will learn all about family-friendly Cirque du Soleil shows in Vegas. I will share just the right amount of detail so you know exactly what each show is about and you can decide whether it is appropriate for your kids.

To view this article as a web story: Kid-Friendly Las Vegas Cirque Du Soleil Shows

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Top 6 Cirque du Soleil shows for kids

1. Mystere

Treasure Island

{acrobats, live band, chinese poles, magical}

Mystere review for families with kids and teens

Recommended for all ages (no age limit)

It makes sense to start this list of the best Cirque shows in Vegas for kids with the one that started it all – Mystere. It is a high energy circus-themed show that has captivating performances from aerial artists, gymnasts, bungee jumpers, and (of course) clowns. What circus would be complete without clowns!? The clowns interact with the audience throughout the show and perform a bunch of riotous acts that will make the kids roar with laughter. You can expect a night of laughs, amazement, entertainment, and just plain old kid-friendly fun. Mystere Cirque du Soleil does not have an intricate storyline to follow like other shows on this list, which is good for younger children, and there is no age restriction. All-in-all, Mystere has something that every family, with kids of all ages, will thoroughly enjoy.

Check prices for Mystere on Vegas.com with their Best Rate Guarantee

2. Beatles LOVE

Mirage

{musical, ballet, aerials, dancing, acrobats}

Beatles LOVE review for families with kids and teens

Recommended for kids 5+ and for teens

If your family has any Beatles fans in it, then choosing the best family Cirque show in Vegas is a no-brainer. The Beatles LOVE is a musical that follows the legendary story of the Beatles and their rise to world fame. The soundtrack to this show is spectacular and is as much a part of the journey and storytelling as the acts on-stage. These acts include thrilling dance moves, risky acrobatics, and distinct visual characters. As you might expect, the show is very imaginative and, dare I say, psychedelic at times. The Beatles LOVE will take you on a thrilling journey to the past, a journey for which you and the kids can gleefully sing along including favorites like “Octopuses Garden”, “Hey Jude”, “Twist and show”, and dozens more.

Check prices for Beatles LOVE on Vegas.com with their Best Price Guarantee

3. Ka

MGM Grand

{martial arts, folklore, fire, puppetry, flying}

Ka review for families with kids and teens

Recommended for kids 7+ and especially for teens

Ka by Cirque du Soleil at MGM Grand is a captivating kid-friendly Cirque du Soleil show that involves exquisite storytelling on a dynamic stage that changes throughout the show. You can expect intense, but beautiful scenes of martial arts and hand-to-hand combat interwoven with puppetry and pyrotechnics. The storylines are derived from Asian folklore and tap in quintessential issues of good versus evil, love, war and family. The kids will be mesmerized by the life-like shadow puppets that bring an ancient art to life on stage. There are dangerous stunts and incredible special effects that will carry through the epic journey together as a family.

Check prices for Ka on Vegas.com with their Best Price Guarantee

4. Michael Jackson: ONE

Mandalay Bay

{dance, acrobatics, story, pyrotechnics}

Michael Jackson ONE review for families with kids and teens

Recommended for kids 5+ and for all teens

Does your family like the music of Michael Jackson? What about dancing, acrobatics, aerialists, and trampoline artists? Oh yeah, and pyrotechnics! Who doesn’t, right!? You can expect to see all that and more at one of the best Cirque du Soleil shows in Vegas, Michael Jackson ONE at Mandalay Bay. Tap your toe to classics like “Thriller”, “Smooth Criminal”, and “Billie Jean” while dozens of professional artists on stage dazzle you with visually compelling performances. This is the newest Cirque du Soleil show on the Vegas Strip (that is currently running), and it is definitely one of the hottest tickets in town for guests of all ages.

Check prices for Michael Jackson ONE on Vegas.com with their Best Price Guarantee

5. ‘O’

Bellagio

{synchronized swimming, acrobatics, diving, contortion}

‘O’ review for families with kids and teens

Recommended for kids 9+ and especially teens

Despite the short name, “O” is perhaps the most extravagant family-friendly Cirque du Soleil show in Vegas. The theatre has an ancient European style and it has a million galloon pool for some amazing aquatic performances from synchronized swimmers (how do they do that!?) and professional divers. That is what makes this show so unique – you have probably never seen anything like it. Not even close. There are intriguing costumes, sets and characters. There are crazy trapeze acts, a pulse-pounding fire dance, and acts by contortionists that will bend your mind! “O” is creative, inventive and oddly delightful. Just be careful not to sit too close to the stage (unless you want to get a little wet)! This is an epic show (but probably the most expensive on our list) that runs 105 minutes (the longest on our list), so we highly recommend for families with kids that are a little bit older like 9+.

Check prices for O on Vegas.com with their Best Price Guarantee

6. MAD Apple

New York New York

{Cirque du Soleil, Comedy, Dance}

MAD Apple review for families with kids and teens

Recommended for teens 16+

MAD Apple is one of the newest Cirque du Soleil shows in Las Vegas. If you are looking for a wild night out with the family, this is the show for you! Starring comedian Brad Williams, get ready for high-flying acrobatics, music, dance, comedy, and magic celebrating the city that never sleeps. This show is a cocktail of live entertainment, thrilling acts and New York City nightlife. This show is nonstop excitement from start to finish and the best part is that it is kid-friendly. MAD Apple can be enjoyed by all guests 16 years and over.

Check prices for MAD Apple on Vegas.com with their Best Price Guarantee

That’s a Wrap!

Vegas has a ton of kid-friendly shows, but a lot of people don’t seem to realize that you can also take kids to Cirque du Soleil shows. In this article we reviewed and ranked the best Cirque du Soleil show in Vegas for kids. Next time you are in Vegas with kids, don’t be afraid to check out a Cirque show and book it like it’s hot! We prefer to use Vegas.com because they have a Best Price Guarantee and their site is easy to use.

For more details of planning the perfect Las Vegas family vacation see our other posts:

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Author

I am a busy mama with 3 delicious babies and a serious itch for travel and writing (when I am not bartending, that is)! After graduating from Cal State San Marcos with a B.A. in Communications, I decided to start a family and pursue a career in freelance writing. I created HotMamaTravel as an outlet to do what I love while sharing useful travel tips and inspiration with others. Our mission is to show parents how to master travel with kids, while keeping your Saturday-night selves. We call it "Family travel...with a twist".

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