Cisco Live 2026 — Complete Attendee Guide
Cisco Live is one of the world's largest enterprise networking and cybersecurity conferences, drawing over 25,000 IT professionals, network engineers, and technology leaders to Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, June 7–11, 2026. Beyond the technical sessions and the legendary Customer Appreciation Event, Cisco Live's south Strip location puts you one free tram stop from Hakkasan at MGM Grand — one of the highest-grossing nightclubs in the country — and the full range of the Strip's nightlife is accessible by rideshare. This guide covers badge pickup, the World of Solutions exhibit hall, session tips, and free guest list access to the best Las Vegas nightclubs during conference week.
Quick Info
In This Guide
Registration
Cisco LiveBadge Pickup — Location & Hours
Registration and badge pickup is located in the Mandalay Bay Convention Center Bayside registration area. Pre-registered attendees can use self-service kiosks with their confirmation QR code. Registration opens the Saturday before the conference. Pick up your badge over the weekend to skip the Monday morning rush.
Schedule
Cisco Live Show Floor Hours
The opening keynote is typically Monday morning. The World of Solutions exhibit hall has specific hours within the conference day. Thursday is a half day — most attendees depart by afternoon.
Transportation
How to Get to Cisco Live
Parking
The LVCC has large surface lots and a parking garage surrounding the complex. Expect to pay $15–25 per day during major shows. Lots fill up fast — arrive before 9 AM or consider rideshare instead.
Public Transit / Monorail
The Las Vegas Monorail has a dedicated Convention Center station with direct service to Strip hotels from MGM Grand to the Sahara. A single ride is $5 and a full-day pass is $13. During peak convention hours the monorail is often faster than driving.
Rideshare (Uber / Lyft)
Uber and Lyft have a designated pickup and dropoff area on Convention Center Drive. Surge pricing is common during morning arrivals and evening departures — stagger your schedule to avoid the rush.
Walking from the Strip
The north end of the Las Vegas Strip is about a 15-minute walk from the LVCC. The monorail makes it easy to reach central and south Strip hotels in under 10 minutes.
Food & Drink
Where to Eat During Cisco Live
- In-N-Out Burger — directly across Paradise Rd, walkable in 3 minutes
- Peppermill Restaurant — classic 24-hour Vegas diner, 10-minute walk south on the Strip
- Resorts World — 10-minute walk north with dozens of restaurants including Carversteak and Genting Palace
- Wynn / Encore — 15-minute walk or one monorail stop with world-class dining
- Westgate Las Vegas — connected via skybridge from the LVCC North Hall
- Convention center food courts — available inside the West Hall and Central Hall during major shows
Insider Tips
Cisco Live Tips for First-Timers
- Cisco Live offers an overwhelming number of sessions. Use the Cisco Live app to build your schedule weeks before the conference. Popular sessions fill up fast — register for them early.
- The hands-on labs are one of the best parts of Cisco Live. If you want to get certified or test new technologies, block dedicated lab time in your schedule.
- Wear comfortable shoes and dress business casual. You will be walking between session rooms, the exhibit hall, and networking events all day.
- Bring a laptop. Many sessions involve live demos and labs where following along makes the learning stick.
- The DevNet Zone is a must-visit for developers and automation engineers. Even if you are not a coder, the demonstrations of programmability and APIs are eye-opening.
- Network beyond your usual circle. The Cisco Live Customer Appreciation Event and Cisco Social are excellent opportunities to meet peers from different industries.
- Charge everything the night before. Between sessions, labs, and networking, there is little downtime to charge devices. Bring a portable battery pack.
After the Show
Cisco LiveAfter Dark — Nightlife & After Parties
Cisco Live is famous for its Customer Appreciation Event — past headliners have included major musical acts. Beyond the official events, Las Vegas offers everything the tech crowd could want. From the south Strip's nightclubs and restaurants near Mandalay Bay to the full range of venues up and down Las Vegas Blvd, your evenings are covered.
Hakkasan
Nightclub
At MGM Grand, one free tram stop from Mandalay Bay. Five floors of nightlife with world-class DJs. A Cisco Live week favorite.
OMNIA Nightclub
Nightclub
At Caesars Palace, a quick rideshare north. The massive production and terrace views make OMNIA an experience worth the trip.
Drai's Nightclub
Nightclub
Underground multi-room club at The Cromwell with live hip-hop performances. A completely different vibe from the EDM mega-clubs.
Crazy Horse III
Gentlemen's Club
Free entry through our guest list. Modern, upscale venue popular with tech conference groups.
Cisco Live — FAQ
Where is Cisco Live 2026?
Cisco Live 2026 is held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89119, at the south end of the Las Vegas Strip. The Mandalay Bay Convention Center is one of the largest convention spaces in the city, directly connected to Mandalay Bay and the Four Seasons hotels. A free tram connects Mandalay Bay to Luxor and Excalibur, and from Excalibur you can walk or connect to the monorail at MGM Grand. The south Strip location provides direct access to Hakkasan at MGM Grand — one of the world's top nightclubs — in a single tram stop.
What are the Cisco Live 2026 dates?
Cisco Live 2026 runs Sunday, June 7 through Thursday, June 11, 2026. Sunday is a walk-in labs and registration day. The main conference sessions run Monday through Thursday, with Thursday ending as a half day (most tracks wrap by 2:00 PM). The opening keynote is Monday morning. The Customer Appreciation Event — one of the week's highlights — is typically held Wednesday evening. Most attendees plan flights Thursday afternoon or Friday morning. Early June weather in Las Vegas is hot (95–105°F) — plan your outdoor movement between sessions accordingly.
Where do I pick up my Cisco Live badge?
Registration and badge pickup is located in the Mandalay Bay Convention Center Bayside registration area. Pre-registered attendees should use the self-service kiosks — scan the QR code from your confirmation email and print your badge in under two minutes. On-site registration is available but Monday morning lines before the keynote can be significant. Registration opens Saturday before the conference. Picking up your badge on Saturday or Sunday is strongly recommended so you can walk directly into the keynote Monday morning and get a good seat in your preferred viewing area.
What should I wear to Cisco Live?
Business casual is the standard dress code for Cisco Live. Jeans, polos, button-downs, and company swag are all appropriate for sessions, the World of Solutions expo, and networking events. Comfortable shoes are essential — you will be on your feet all day covering serious ground between the exhibit hall and session rooms across the massive Mandalay Bay space. Bring layers, as session rooms are heavily air-conditioned regardless of the outdoor temperature. June in Las Vegas is extremely hot (100°F+) outdoors, so minimize time in direct sun during midday and stay hydrated for any walks between connected hotel properties.
Are there certification exams at Cisco Live?
Yes. Cisco Live offers discounted Cisco certification exams on-site throughout the conference, administered through Pearson VUE testing centers. All certification levels are available — from entry-level CCNA to professional and expert certifications including CCNP and CCIE written and practical exams. Exam slots fill up quickly, so book your exam slot through the Cisco Live registration portal several weeks before the conference. Cisco also offers free certification lab practice and study workshops as part of the official program. If you are working toward any Cisco certification, Cisco Live is one of the most cost-effective and exam-accessible times to test, with discounts not typically available at other testing windows.
Is the Customer Appreciation Event included?
Yes. The Cisco Live Customer Appreciation Event is included with a full conference registration pass at no additional charge. The event is held on Wednesday evening and is widely considered one of the best conference parties in the tech industry. Past headliners have included major musical acts across rock, pop, and hip-hop. The event features a main stage concert, food and beverage throughout the venue, interactive activities, and the full social energy of 25,000 networking professionals. It is held at a venue within or adjacent to the Mandalay Bay conference space. Attendance is strongly recommended — this is the networking event of the week.
How do I get from Mandalay Bay to the Strip?
A free tram runs between Mandalay Bay, Luxor, and Excalibur, operating throughout the day and into late evening. From Excalibur, MGM Grand is a short walk north and connects to the Las Vegas Monorail, which serves Park MGM, Bally's/Paris, Flamingo/Caesars, The LINQ, Harrah's, and the Sahara. Rideshare (Uber and Lyft) is available at the main Mandalay Bay porte-cochère at all hours — plan 15–20 minutes to reach central Strip venues. Hakkasan at MGM Grand is one tram stop plus a short walk — the most accessible nightclub from Cisco Live. OMNIA at Caesars, Marquee at The Cosmopolitan, and Drai's at The Cromwell are all under a 15-minute rideshare.
What is there to do after Cisco Live sessions?
Las Vegas nightlife is unmatched and Cisco Live's south Strip location gives you strong access. Hakkasan at MGM Grand is one free tram stop away and is consistently one of the world's top-grossing clubs — five floors with multiple rooms and world-class DJ residencies. OMNIA at Caesars and Drai's at The Cromwell are each a 15-minute rideshare. For strip clubs, Sapphire Las Vegas offers free guest list entry through NoCoverVegas with complimentary limo transportation. Sign up for a free guest list at the form on this page — no cover charge, no minimums — and use it any night during Cisco Live week.
What are the best nightclubs for Cisco Live attendees?
Cisco Live's Mandalay Bay location makes Hakkasan at MGM Grand the standout choice — it is one free tram stop away and delivers one of the world's top nightclub experiences across five floors and 80,000 sq ft. OMNIA Nightclub at Caesars Palace is 15 minutes by rideshare and features a massive kinetic chandelier installation with a rooftop terrace for an unforgettable visual experience. Drai's at The Cromwell offers a different vibe — underground multi-room club with live hip-hop performances, unique among the mega-clubs. XS at Wynn and Marquee at The Cosmopolitan round out the top five. All available with no cover through a free NoCoverVegas guest list.
How do I get free nightclub entry during Cisco Live?
Sign up for a free guest list through NoCoverVegas before your trip to Las Vegas. The NoCoverVegas guest list gets you no cover charge entry at top Las Vegas nightclubs during Cisco Live week — including Hakkasan at MGM Grand, OMNIA at Caesars, Drai's at The Cromwell, and others. NoCoverVegas also coordinates free limo transportation from your hotel to the club. Submit the guest list form on this page with your visit date, group size, and hotel name. You will receive a confirmation by text. Applies to groups of all sizes including bachelor parties, corporate groups, and couples. There are no minimums and no hidden fees.
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The Cosmopolitan
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Nightlife and hotel guide for Cisco Live attendees
All Hotels
Browse every Las Vegas hotel with nightlife access
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
The Cromwell
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.
See all pool parties →Las Vegas Nightlife — All Resources
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