Rock in Rio began in 1985, and since then, more than 7 million people have seen the concerts live in person. That number swells to over 1 billion when you count the number of people who have watched simulcasts. Over the years, more than 1,200 artists have played these legendary shows, everyone from Queen and AC/DC to James Taylor and Yes. But Rock in Rio is just getting started—in honor of the events 30^th anniversary, Rock in Rio is heading west—to the Las Vegas Strip.

Rock in Rio Festival

Las Vegas is the first U.S. city to host Rock in Rio, joining three others who have hosted these major music festivals. As the name would suggest, Rio de Janerio was the the first, followed by Lisbon, Portugal, and Madrid Spain. The U.S. edition of the festival was launched with the support of iHeartRadio, which has put on many big-name musical festivals before, along with several Las Vegas developers. All of them are working together to create a premium musical festival unlike anyone has seen before in the United States.

Like in Brazil and Europe, Rock in Rio is more than just a concert. It brings with a permanent music venue dubbed the City of Rock. The 33-acre venue, which is being built just for Rock in Rio, is located close to Circus Circus Las Vegas, on Sahara Avenue. This open-air venue comes with five stages, plus amusement rides, a place for VIPs and streetscapes reflecting the culture of Brazil, the U.K. and the United States. The music, as well as the food and the air, will also reflect a global influence.

Rock in Rio Dates

The permanent festival venue in Las Vegas will host the 30^th celebration concert over four days in May—the 8^th, 9^th, 15^th, and 16^th. More than 100 big-name performers will bring their music to the Las Vegas Strip during these four fun-packed days, joining EDM masters, street performers, and artists.

Rock in Rio Lineup

With such a prominent event finally coming to the United States, it's no surprise that big-name artists were clamoring to join the line-up. Fans of all kind of music will find their favorite bands on stage at Rock in Rio. Like many other Las Vegas events, this festival has something for everyone—classic rock, pop, R&B, and hard rock. Even a year before the festival was due to arrive, festival organizers announced that Linkin Park and Metallica would take to the stage, along with the Deftones and No Doubt. The smooth-voiced John Legend will be there with his piano, as will Taylor Swift, platinum-selling artist that keeps making a splash wherever she goes. 

Rock in Rio Tickets

Just like the artists are clamoring to get to the City of Rock, so are the fans. You can expect nearby resorts and hotels to have special packages for these days in May. The festival has put together a number of VIP packages to those who buy tickets well in advance. The top level of tickets have special access to the VIP area, which means air-conditioned comfort and included beverages and food. The general admission daily ticket packages give ticket-holders access to 10 hours of fun a day, plus the rides and streetscapes. All ages are welcome, but anyone under the age of 16 needs to bring along their parent or a guardian to enjoy Rock in Rio.