Glittering Lights 2026 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway: A Family Guide

What's New at Glittering Lights Las Vegas This Year

The 2026 season leans patriotic. The new Avenue of Flags has a flag from each of the 50 states, and a new Tribute to America marks the country’s 250th anniversary. The Tribute to the Movies display, already a crowd favorite, has been expanded, and the organizers say other returning displays got upgrades along the route too.

The Avenue of Flags is going to turn into a car game in my house. My nine-year-old will be assigned to spot the home state of every cousin and aunt riding with us, which keeps him busy and lets the out-of-state relatives feel represented. If your crew is visiting from somewhere else, have the kids watch for your flag before you reach that stretch.

The rest of the route is the usual mix of animated displays, illuminated tunnels and holiday scenes. The tunnels are what my son talks about afterward.

Glittering Lights Tickets: The Carload Math

This is where Glittering Lights beats almost every other holiday outing in town. You pay per car, not per person.

• Standard carload, cash at the entrance: $39

• Standard carload, credit card: $44

For a family of four paying cash, that’s under $10 a head for 30 to 45 minutes of lights. Fit Grandma and Grandpa in the third row and it drops below $7 a head. Bring cash and you keep the $5 you’d otherwise lose to the card price. That’s a hot chocolate, or most of one.

Tickets are also sold online. The source doesn’t list prices for the add-ons (Fast Pass, Season Pass, Santa Tram and Date Night), so check the official Glittering Lights Las Vegas site for those before you plan around one.

Who It Suits, by Age

Babies and toddlers: Ideal. They stay buckled in their own car seats, you control the heat and the snacks, and if someone falls asleep halfway through, nothing is lost. No stroller, no crowds and no casino floor to cross.

Ages 3 to 8: The sweet spot. The route runs 30 to 45 minutes, which is about as long as most kids this age will stay amazed before they start asking how much longer. The animated displays and tunnels are made for them, and the Santa Tram nights are aimed squarely at this group.

Ages 9 to 12: Still a win, especially with a job. Put them in charge of the flag hunt or the movie displays. My son wants to name every film before anyone else in the car does.

Teens: They’ll roll their eyes and then post the tunnels. Let them pick the music.

Grandparents: This might be the best Vegas outing for grandparents with grandkids. There’s no walking, no standing and no ticket line to wait in on foot.

Santa Tram, Fast Pass and the Other Extras

The Santa Tram returns on select nights with photos with Santa, games, a kiddie train and holiday photo spots. If you have little ones who still write letters to the North Pole, look up the Santa Tram dates first and build your visit around one.

The other options:

• Fast Pass: Available on select nights. Organizers sell a way to skip ahead, which tells you the regular lane can back up. If your youngest has a short fuse, it may be worth the upgrade on a busy night.

• Season Pass: For families who want to go more than once. If you’re hosting relatives in waves all season, as I do, the math may work out after a couple of trips.

• Date Night package: For grown-ups. Book the sitter, then go.

Since these all run on select nights, confirm dates on the official site before promising anyone Santa.

The Catches

It’s a drive. The Speedway is up I-15 north of the city, so budget travel time on top of the 30 to 45 minutes on the route. Fill the gas tank and hit the bathroom before you leave the house.

Lines happen. A drive-through that sells Fast Passes on busy nights expects traffic. I’d aim for a weeknight early in the season over a Saturday close to Christmas, and expect to sit in the car a while on peak nights.

It gets dark and chilly. Gates open at 5 p.m., which in a Vegas winter means full dark right away. That’s good for the lights, but the desert gets cold after sunset. Bring jackets for anyone who’ll hang out a window or step out at the Santa Tram.

“Rain or shine” is a real promise here. It rarely rains in Vegas, but if it does, the show still runs. Wipers on, defroster on, and keep going.

Where Your Money Goes

Part of every Glittering Lights ticket goes to local charities and organizations, and concession sales benefit Southern Nevada Boy Scout troops. So a snack along the route counts as a donation.

“Glittering Lights has become a holiday tradition for families throughout Southern Nevada, and we’re excited to make this year’s experience bigger and brighter,” said Paulette Anderson, executive director of Speedway Children’s Charities – Las Vegas Chapter.

A Simple Plan for the Night

Eat dinner early at home or on the way out. Pack pajamas, blankets and a playlist. Bring $39 in cash. Leave so you reach the Speedway near the 5 p.m. opening, check whether it’s a Santa Tram night if you have little ones, and give the kids a job like counting flags or naming movies. You’ll be home, and they’ll be in bed, before anyone melts down.

For families visiting over the holidays, I’d put Glittering Lights near the top of the list. It’s cheap for a whole carload, easy on grandparents, works for every age and tires out nobody but the driver.

For more about the venue, visit Las Vegas Motor Speedway.