Cisco Live 2026 — Complete Attendee Guide
Cisco Live is Cisco's premier annual conference, bringing together 28,000 IT professionals, network engineers, security specialists, and Cisco partners at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas for five days of keynotes, breakout sessions, hands-on labs, and the World of Solutions exhibit. From next-generation networking and cloud infrastructure to cybersecurity, collaboration, and AI-driven IT operations, Cisco Live is where the networking industry learns what is coming and builds the skills to implement it. Whether you are a network engineer studying for your CCIE, a CTO evaluating infrastructure strategy, or a Cisco partner looking to grow your practice, this guide covers everything you need for your trip.
Quick Info
In This Guide
Registration
Cisco LiveBadge Pickup — Location & Hours
Registration and badge pickup is in the Mandalay Bay Convention Center Bayside registration area. Pre-registered attendees can use express kiosks with their confirmation QR code. Badge pickup opens the day before the conference. The Cisco Live registration process is smooth — expect to have your badge in hand within a few minutes.
Schedule
Cisco Live Show Floor Hours
Sunday features registration and the Partner Summit. The main conference runs Monday through Thursday. Keynotes begin at 8:00 AM. The World of Solutions exhibit hall has separate hours. Thursday is a shortened day. The Cisco Live Celebration — featuring Maroon 5 and The Chainsmokers at Allegiant Stadium — is included with all full conference passes and is the social highlight of the week.
Official After-Party
Cisco Live Celebration 2026
Headliners
Maroon 5 · The Chainsmokers
Venue
Allegiant Stadium
Included With
Full conference pass (no extra ticket required)
The Cisco Live Celebration is the official conference after-party — a private concert included with every full conference pass at no additional cost. Maroon 5 headlines the main stage and The Chainsmokers close the night at Allegiant Stadium, the 65,000-seat home of the Las Vegas Raiders, located about 1.5 miles from Mandalay Bay. Food stations and premium beverages are spread throughout the venue. Cisco provides complimentary shuttle buses between the Mandalay Bay Convention Center and Allegiant Stadium. Bring your conference badge — the event is exclusive to registered Cisco Live 2026 badge holders. Check the Cisco Live mobile app for the confirmed date within the May 31–June 4 schedule.
Transportation
How to Get to Cisco Live
Parking
Use the Mandalay Bay parking garage. Self-parking is available on a first-come basis. During major shows, arrive early as the garage fills by mid-morning.
Public Transit / Monorail
A free tram connects Mandalay Bay to Luxor and Excalibur. From Excalibur you can walk to the MGM Grand monorail station for service up the Strip. The tram runs every 3–7 minutes.
Rideshare (Uber / Lyft)
Uber and Lyft have a designated area at the Mandalay Bay main entrance on Las Vegas Blvd.
Walking from the Strip
Mandalay Bay sits at the south end of the Strip. It is a 20–25 minute walk to central Strip hotels. The free tram to Luxor and Excalibur helps, and from there you can connect to the monorail.
Food & Drink
Where to Eat During Cisco Live
- Mandalay Bay restaurants — Aureole, Border Grill, Rivea, Citizens Kitchen
- Delano Las Vegas — connected to Mandalay Bay with Della's Kitchen and Skyfall Lounge
- Luxor restaurants — 5-minute walk via the free tram
- Excalibur food court — budget-friendly, accessible via free tram
Insider Tips
Cisco Live Tips for First-Timers
- Register for sessions early through the Cisco Live scheduler. Technical sessions, Walk-in Self-Paced Labs (WISP), and DevNet workshops fill up fast.
- The hands-on labs are the most valuable part of Cisco Live. Block dedicated lab time in your schedule — you will learn more hands-on than in any lecture.
- Wear comfortable shoes. The Mandalay Bay Convention Center is massive and Cisco Live spreads across multiple halls. You will walk thousands of steps daily between sessions, labs, and the exhibit.
- Bring your laptop. Many sessions include live coding exercises, lab environments, and configuration walkthroughs.
- Visit the DevNet Zone if you are interested in programmability, APIs, and automation. It is a highlight for engineers moving into infrastructure-as-code.
- The Cisco Live Celebration at Allegiant Stadium is a private concert for all conference badge holders — Maroon 5 headlines and The Chainsmokers close the night, with food stations and an open bar included. Do not miss it.
- Network aggressively. The hallway conversations and session Q&A are where you meet the Cisco engineers and fellow practitioners who can solve your real-world problems.
After the Show
Cisco LiveAfter Dark — Nightlife & After Parties
Cisco Live 2026 raises the bar on conference after-parties: the official Cisco Live Celebration features Maroon 5 headlining and The Chainsmokers closing the night at Allegiant Stadium — a private concert included with every full conference pass. Beyond the Celebration, the IT community takes over the Strip with vendor dinners, partner events, and late-night networking. Cisco Live week also overlaps with JCK Las Vegas (the jewelry trade show) through June 1, which doubles the convention crowd in the city and drives extra headliner programming during the overlap window. During the conference itself, Hakkasan at MGM Grand runs DJ Franzen's R&Bae Wednesdays on June 3 and Timmy Trumpet performs live on June 4 — the final conference night — both about 10 minutes and $12 by rideshare from Mandalay Bay. The Mandalay Bay Convention Center's south Strip location puts you a rideshare away from every major venue — Hakkasan is 10 minutes, and the central Strip clubs (OMNIA, XS, Zouk) are 15–20 minutes.
Hakkasan
Nightclub
At MGM Grand, about 10 minutes by rideshare from Mandalay Bay. Five floors of nightlife with world-class DJs. Timmy Trumpet performs Thursday June 4 (the final conference night); DJ Franzen runs R&Bae Wednesdays on June 3.
OMNIA Nightclub
Nightclub
At Caesars Palace, 15 minutes by rideshare. Massive kinetic chandelier, rooftop terrace, and top-tier DJ residencies.
XS Nightclub
Nightclub
At Wynn Las Vegas, consistently ranked among the world's best nightclubs. The Chainsmokers hold three consecutive Saturday residencies at XS in June — the first is June 6, the Saturday right after Cisco Live ends.
OMNIA Dayclub
Dayclub
New for 2026 at Caesars Palace. Afrojack performs Sunday May 31 — the first day of Cisco Live. Beat the conference energy with an afternoon pool session.
Drai's Nightclub
Nightclub
Underground multi-room club at The Vanderpump Hotel with live hip-hop performances. A completely different vibe from the EDM mega-clubs — great for Cisco Live groups.
Sapphire Las Vegas
Gentlemen's Club
Free entry with our guest list. A popular after-conference destination for groups.
Cisco Live — FAQ
Where is Cisco Live 2026?
Cisco Live 2026 is at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89119, at the south end of the Strip. The venue spans over two million square feet across multiple halls and exhibit spaces. A free tram connects Mandalay Bay to Luxor and Excalibur; from Excalibur it is a 5-minute walk to MGM Grand and Hakkasan via pedestrian bridges. For nightlife travel (after 10:30 PM when the tram closes), rideshare from Mandalay Bay to the central Strip takes 10–15 minutes.
What are the Cisco Live 2026 dates?
Cisco Live 2026 runs Sunday, May 31 through Thursday, June 4, 2026. Sunday is dedicated to registration and the Cisco Partner Summit. Main conference sessions run Monday June 1 through Thursday June 4. Thursday is a shortened day ending at 2 PM. Plan for five days on-site. Register for technical sessions and DevNet labs in advance through the Cisco Live scheduler — popular hands-on sessions fill up fast.
How much does Cisco Live cost?
Cisco Live offers several pass tiers including full conference, IT Management, and exhibit-only options. Check the Cisco Live website for current pricing.
Where do I pick up my badge?
Badge pickup is in the Mandalay Bay Convention Center Bayside registration area. Express kiosks are available for pre-registered attendees — have your confirmation QR code ready on your phone. Pickup opens the Sunday before the conference. Picking up your badge Sunday is strongly recommended to avoid the Monday morning rush before the opening keynote. Walk-in registration is also available on-site throughout the conference.
Do I need to bring a laptop?
Strongly recommended. Hands-on labs, DevNet workshops, and many technical sessions include live exercises.
How do I get to Cisco Live from the Strip?
A free tram runs between Mandalay Bay, Luxor, and Excalibur — useful for getting between those three south Strip properties during tram hours (11:30 AM – 10:30 PM on weekdays). The tram does not run to MGM Grand; from Excalibur you can walk to MGM Grand via pedestrian bridges in about 5 minutes. For nightclub travel after sessions (10:30 PM or later), rideshare is the practical choice — Hakkasan at MGM Grand is about $12 and 10 minutes, and central Strip venues (OMNIA, XS, Zouk) run $15–25 and 15–20 minutes. From central Strip hotels near Caesars, The Cosmopolitan, or Wynn, plan 10–15 minutes and expect $15–25 to reach Cisco Live by rideshare.
What should I wear?
Tech casual. Polo shirts, jeans, and sneakers are common. Comfortable shoes are essential for the large venue.
What is the Cisco Live Celebration?
The 2026 Cisco Live Celebration features Maroon 5 headlining and The Chainsmokers closing the night at Allegiant Stadium — the 65,000-seat home of the Las Vegas Raiders. Food stations and premium beverages are included. Attendance is included with every full conference pass at no additional cost. The event is exclusive to Cisco Live badge holders. Cisco provides complimentary shuttle buses between the Mandalay Bay Convention Center and Allegiant Stadium. The Celebration is widely regarded as one of the best after-parties at any enterprise technology conference.
What is the Customer Appreciation Event?
The Customer Appreciation Event is the official Cisco Live after-party, rebranded as the Cisco Live Celebration in 2026. It features Maroon 5 as the headline act and The Chainsmokers closing the night at Allegiant Stadium, with an open bar and food stations included. Attendance is part of every full conference pass with no additional ticket required. Check the Cisco Live mobile app for the confirmed date and shuttle pickup location.
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All Hotels
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Pool Parties & Dayclubs
Free guest list to every Vegas pool party and dayclub
After the Show
Top Las Vegas Nightclubs for Cisco Live Attendees
XS Nightclub
Wynn Las Vegas
OMNIA Nightclub
Caesars Palace
Hakkasan
MGM Grand
Marquee Nightclub
The Cosmopolitan
TAO Nightclub
The Venetian
Zouk Nightclub
Resorts World
Drai's Nightclub
Vanderpump Hotel
LIV Nightclub
Fontainebleau
Gentlemen's Clubs
Las Vegas Strip Clubs During Cisco Live
All options below offer free guest list entry and complimentary transportation from your hotel — no cover, no minimums.
Sapphire Las Vegas
Crazy Horse III
Treasures
Hustler Club
Spearmint Rhino
Peppermint Hippo
Kings of Hustler
Palomino Club
Little Darlings
Deja Vu Showgirls
Dayclubs & Pool Parties
Pool Parties During Cisco Live
Convention sessions typically wrap by 5 PM — the perfect window for a pool party. Dayclubs operate March through October with free guest list entry.
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Nightclubs
Pool Parties
Free Guest List for Cisco Live Attendees
Get On The List
Free nightclub entry + free guest list entry at your hotel during Cisco Live