In Sin City, the world never stops – new doors open every day, from new coffee shops to new day clubs and everything in between. However, it also means that doors shut – sometimes for a while, and sometimes for good. Here are just a couple of spots that Vegas locals (and visitors alike) can no longer see in 2026.
The Mirage and its iconic volcano
This one hurt. The iconic resort permanently closed its doors in July 2024. Throughout 2025, the property went through a massive transformation into the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – this will continue throughout 2026. When finished, the hotel will feature a new guitar-shaped hotel tower.
Mirage’s closure also means the famous Mirage Volcano and the Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat are no longer there. Hard Rock actually hosted an auction for Mirage memorabilia, featuring 300 pieces of art from the legendary hotel & casino. It included design elements, over 50 statues, and even 4 iconic elements that greeted guests: 2 bronze mermaids and 2 brass dolphins.
The new resort is not expected to open until 2027.
Mr. Chow at Caesars Palace
Another hard goodbye was Mr. Chow. This high-end dining institution, known for its Beijing cuisine and celebrity clientele, closed in May 2025. It was open for almost a decade at Caesars. Dishes here were served family-style, and the Beijing duck was the star. Besides, the table-side pulled noodles were both a show and a delicious choice. The restaurant was also famous for its dramatic, beautiful decor, including an iconic moon-inspired sculpture.
It was never really clear why Mr. Chow closed, or what would replace it.
Maybe the one that affects local the most is the “almost closure” of DLVEC. While this space isn’t technically going away for good, it’s changing in a significant way. A big part of it will become a self-parking lot. While it looks like a portion of the space remains for events, it’s unclear how much of it – and it’s pretty clear that it won’t be able to hold the massive events it once hosted. From beer fests to reggae festivals and iconic raves, DLVEC was home to many amazing moments in the past years.
It’s future is a bit unclear at the moment – but we know that classics like Best Friends Festival already cancelled this year’s edition.
Museum of Collecting and Design
This quirky museum dedicated to miniature collectibles lost its physical space when the strip mall that was housing it was demolished. Now, the collection is touring around the US and does various pop-ups, but there is no permanent brick-and-mortar location to visit in Las Vegas (or anywhere else) in 2026. The hosts are traveling the West Coast in a 42-foot trailer!
The collection did return home for a brief period, in October 22 – 26, 2025, hosted by The Las Vegas Science & Natural History Museum. We don’t currently know dates or destinations for 2026.
Akhob By James Turrell
This art exhibition was a local hidden gem, and it simply felt like a best-kept-secret. Here, art once appeared in an unlikely place: the 4th floor of a Louis Vuitton store. Akhob was a conceptual, immersive, installation by James Turrell. It would place you in a state in which depth perception dissolves. Visitors were surrounded with shifting bands of luminous color inside a cylindrical chamber. The experience felt like stepping into nothingness itself.