If you’re a music fan, there’s no doubt you’ll be in Las Vegas for the weekend of September 22 – 24, 2023! The biggest names in the music industry are hitting the stage for two epic festivals: the iHeartRadio Music Festival at the T-Mobile Arena and the Life is Beautiful Music and Art Festival in downtown Las Vegas.
Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s hottest music weekend.
It’s a vibe
There are some clear differences between the iHeartRadio and Life is Beautiful festivals. One of those differences is the vibe. iHeartRadio features today’s biggest names across genres and formats, while Life is Beautiful showcases music, art and culinary experiences to celebrate the best things in life, such as your friends and family.
We’ll break down each music event so you can have this quick guide on what to expect at either.
Life is Beautiful Music Festival
Dates:
September 22 – September 24, 2023
Location:
Downtown Las Vegas
(Covering 18 city blocks extending from 7th to 11th Street and from Mesquite to Carson Ave.)
Additional details:
- The festival entrance is located at Fremont and 7th Street
- Festival hours are from 3:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. daily
- This is an all-ages event
- This is a cashless event
- There is no street parking available. Your best options are rideshare, taxi, public transportation or their Park & Ride Shuttle services.
iHeartRadio Music Festival
Dates: September 22 – September 23, 2023
Location:
T-Mobile Arena
3780 Las Vegas Blvd. S
Las Vegas, NV 89158
Additional details:
- Two nights of chart-topping hits
- Features the world’s most iconic and hottest artists
- No backpacks or bags are allowed inside the event
- You can park at the arena or use options such as the Las Vegas Monorail
- Per Outdoorsy, “While most vendors accept debit and credit cards, there are still some who only deal in cash”
Headliner roll call
Life is Beautiful is a larger event, offering more musicians for a longer period and showcasing more than just music. LIB also offers culinary delights, art exhibits and experiences like Market in the Alley. iHeartRadio is solely a music festival featuring mainstream names you’ll surely recognize. Here are both of their lineups:
Life is Beautiful
iHeartRadio
Location, location, location
For those familiar with Las Vegas, you’ll know there’s a difference between the Las Vegas Strip and downtown Las Vegas. This could be a significant deciding factor for you, depending on where you’re staying and what you’d like to do before and after the festival. However, if you’re unfamiliar with Neon City, let’s break down the location.
Life is Beautiful
The LIB festival will take place over 18 square blocks in downtown Las Vegas, just adjacent to everything Fremont Street Experience, Fremont East District and the Las Vegas Arts District have to offer. Downtown is where Las Vegas locals choose to hang out.
Downtown Las Vegas casinos, bars and restaurants are more intimate, with many being locally owned. Also, bar hopping and exploring is fun and easy without having to navigate long pedestrian bridges as you would on the Strip.
If you’re in this area, be sure to check out the SlotZilla zipline. We guarantee it’s unlike anything you’ve ever done and are unlikely to forget! While there, you can experience the Viva Vision Light Show, the world’s largest LED canopy screen.
iHeartRadio
T-Mobile Arena is conveniently located close to all things Strip-related on the south end of Las Vegas Blvd. Just outside of New York-New York and across the street from MGM Grand, you’re surrounded by mega-resorts and casinos that offer plenty to do. However, you can expect big weekend crowds (unrelated to the festival) and long walks to get from one casino to the next.
It’s also likely you’ll burn through your budget more quickly on the Strip because tourist prices are often inflated.
Festival sponsorships
Another element that could give you some insight into what you can expect from these two festivals is their sponsors. Here’s a look at the biggest sponsorships for iHeart and LIB.
Life is Beautiful
LIB has partnered with Amazon Music, Dolby, Pringles, Tito’s, WhiteClaw, Bacardi and more. Find their complete list of partners here.
iHeartRadio
iHeart also boasts an impressive list of national sponsors, including Audible, Bose, CapitalOne, Hyundai, M&Ms, MGM Resorts, T-Mobile and more. Find their complete list of partners here.
Take your pick
With a better idea of what to expect at each festival, your decision might be a little easier. Each music event has its perks! And who’s to say you can’t attend both? Whatever your choice, downtown Las Vegas will be prepped, primed and ready to keep the party going all weekend.
Check out things to do in downtown Las Vegas, and we’ll see you September 22 – 24!