The Vegas Rocks Magazine Awards brings top rock artists and special guests back to the Orleans Showroom on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets remain available for this high-energy Las Vegas music event.
When a crystal trophy shatters on stage in the middle of an awards show, you know it’s not going to be a typical night. The Vegas Rocks! Magazine Awards, known for its unpredictable energy and lineup of rock veterans, returns to the Orleans Showroom this Sunday at 7:30 p.m. The official Las Vegas Weekly event guide lists it as a highlight for the week of September 17–23, 2026.
Founder Sally Steele has never tried to make this a polished, annual tradition. The show only comes back when she’s ready to take it on again, which has helped keep its reputation as one of the city’s most genuine rock gatherings. After a break following its 2016 run at the now-demolished Eastside Cannery, the awards returned at Sam’s Town Live in 2024, skipped 2025, and now land at the Orleans with new momentum. This is the eighth time the Vegas Rocks! Music Magazine Awards has been held, as recent coverage confirms.
Who’s taking the stage
This year’s lineup is packed with familiar names. Sammy Hagar will appear by video, and Steve Vai, Billy Sheehan (Mr. Big), Michael Anthony (Van Halen), Tracii Guns (LA Guns), Mitch Malloy, DJ Ashba (Sixx: A.M., Guns N’ Roses), Chris Kael (Five Finger Death Punch), Craig Gass (The Howard Stern Show), SiriusXM’s Eddie Trunk, Franky Perez (Treasure Island), Gilby Clarke (Guns N’ Roses), Zowie Bowie, Blas Elias (Slaughter), Armored Saint, Heroine Honey, and Pure Sport are all set to be honored or perform.
Special guests include Bruce Kulick (Kiss), Lizzy Borden, George Pajon Jr. (Black Eyed Peas), Jeff Scott Soto (Yngwie Malmsteen, Journey), Les Warner (The Cult), Frank Dimino (Angel), and Martin Motnik (Accept). The mix of honorees and guests means the night is more than just handing out trophies—it’s a jam session and a reunion for the Las Vegas rock crowd. Jeff Scott Soto’s own performance calendar lists the event at The Orleans Showroom on September 20, 2026, confirming the date and venue.
Inside the Vegas Rocks experience
The Vegas Rocks! Magazine Awards isn’t a slick, industry-scripted show. Two years ago, a trophy was knocked off the table and smashed on stage—a moment that’s now part of the event’s story. The awards started in 2010, but its irregular schedule and off-Strip venues have only added to its underground reputation. Steele’s magazine has been online-only for seven years, but she still manages to bring in big names.
Past shows have featured Billy F. Gibbons, Rick Nielsen (Cheap Trick), Eric Bloom and Buck Dharma (Blue Oyster Cult), Orianthi, Raiders owner Mark Davis, and Vegas favorite Frankie Moreno. In 2024, Chris Kattan from Saturday Night Live revived the “more cowbell” bit while introducing Bloom and Dharma, a nod to the show’s irreverent style. This year, the tradition continues with a new group of rock icons and local regulars.
What to expect and how to attend
Tickets for Sunday’s event at the Orleans Showroom are still available through ticketmaster.com. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. and mixes awards, live performances, and the kind of unscripted moments that have become the Vegas Rocks! Magazine Awards’ signature. Expect a night where the line between audience and stage disappears, and the city’s rock scene gets a proper celebration. No official numbers on ticket sales, artist fees, attendance, or budget have been released in public announcements.
Las Vegas has seen a wave of music festivals and live events in recent years, as reported earlier, and the return of Vegas Rocks! Magazine Awards shows the city is still a draw for rock’s biggest personalities. The Orleans Showroom’s off-Strip location gives the event a local feel, away from the Strip’s corporate resorts.
With Sally Steele running the show, the Vegas Rocks! Magazine Awards stays unpredictable, independent, and closely tied to the city’s music scene. For fans and musicians, it’s proof that Las Vegas still knows how to throw a real rock party.
