Spotlight Summary
ACM Next Wave: Country's Beach Bash is a reimagined outdoor concert experience set against the iconic Mandalay Bay Beach and Wave Pool, presented as part of ACM Awards Week leading up to the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards. The event is headlined by 14-time ACM Award-winning country superstar Keith Urban and hosted by Ashley Cooke and Dasha, with additional performances from Flatland Cavalry, Braxton Keith, Tucker Wetmore, and members of the Opry NextStage Class of 2026 — Willow Avalon, Graham Barham, Tyler Braden, Alexandra Kay, Vincent Mason, Emily Ann Roberts, and Hudson Westbrook. Attendees can expect dynamic live country music from both established names and rising stars in an all-ages outdoor beach setting.
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Spotlight Notes
About the Venue
Mandalay Bay Beach is an expansive indoor-outdoor beach and pool complex located within Mandalay Bay Resort, featuring a wave pool capable of generating body-surfing waves, a lazy river, and a sandy beach area. The space hosts both daytime recreation and evening concert events, with a stage and lawn area used for live performances. It functions as one of the larger resort pool attractions on the Las Vegas Strip.
Address
3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Phone
About Mandalay Bay Resort
Mandalay Bay is a 43-story luxury resort and casino at the south end of the Las Vegas Strip, spanning 120 acres with a tropical South Seas theme. Featuring a massive casino, over 3,200 rooms, and diverse entertainment options, it caters to both leisure travelers and convention-goers.
Established
1999
Scale
The resort's 1,800-seat theater has hosted long-running Broadway productions including Chicago (1999–2000), Mamma Mia! (2003–2009), and The Lion King (2009–2011), and since 2013 has been home to…
Getting to Mandalay Bay Resort
Mandalay Bay sits at the far south end of the Strip, so rideshare drop-off is straightforward, but driving visitors should note that the property has two self-parking garages — one behind the main towers and one dedicated to the Convention Center — and a free tram connects the resort to neighboring Luxor and Excalibur, which can be a handy alternative if the main garage is congested during a…
At Mandalay Bay Resort
Parking
Standard parking view. Switch modes if local, veteran, or rewards perks could change the best option.
Parking guidance has not been linked for this event yet.
Nearby
Nearby Experience
Mandalay Bay Resort
One of the cleaner south-Strip rooftop-view plays when the night should feel like more than one stop.
Strong move for Mandalay Bay and Allegiant-adjacent events when you want skyline energy without going full nightclub.
Best fit near this property
Nearby Experience
Strip
A stronger fit for central and south-Strip groups that want a deliberate side mission instead of another generic attraction.
Makes sense when the plan is already built around adventure energy, not when the night should stay on-property.
Best fit near this property
The resort features Shark Reef, a 1.3-million-gallon aquarium containing over 2,000 animals including sharks and a rare golden crocodile, as well as Mandalay Bay Beach — an 11-acre aquatic playground with a wave pool, lazy river, and real sand described as the only beach of its kind in Las Vegas. On-property dining options include Stripsteak by Michael Mina, Border Grill, and numerous other…
Insider Tips · Mandalay Bay Resort
If Mandalay Bay's parking garage fills up during a major event, a practical workaround is to park at the adjacent Excalibur — which often has lower parking rates — and take the free, climate-controlled Mandalay Bay Tram directly to the resort.
Aquarium
Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay
Walk through an underwater tunnel surrounded by sharks, rays, and tropical fish in one of Las Vegas's most immersive aquarium experiences.
