MJ Live, the long-running Michael Jackson tribute that has been sliding across Strip stages for more than a decade, is on the move again. The production is set to end its run at Harrah’s in early September and reopen later that month at the Saxe Theater inside the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood, keeping the show in an evening slot that has long been a dependable draw for tourists and locals.
As reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, MJ Live is scheduled to close at Harrah’s Showroom on Sept. 9, 2026, and begin performances at the Saxe Theater on Sept. 21, 2026. According to the Review-Journal, the production will play at 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and be dark on Sundays, with the move tied to a producing partnership involving Red Mercury, David Saxe Productions and Dick Feeney.
A Strip staple that keeps moving
Over roughly 13 years MJ Live has made its way through multiple Strip venues, starting at the Rio and later playing the STRAT, Tropicana, Sahara and most recently Harrah’s, tallying about 5,500 performances along the way. That steady turnover has kept the show in the mix as a reliable, midpriced concert option for visitors looking for Michael Jackson’s catalog staged with big choreography and live musicians. Casino.org documented the production’s history and its long run on the Strip.
Why the Saxe Theater?
The Saxe Theater sits inside the Miracle Mile Shops, placing the production in a high-traffic retail corridor that feeds directly into Planet Hollywood’s hotel and casino. In a statement reported by the Review-Journal, producer Dick Feeney said the partnership “enhances the guest experience, streamlines operations, and provides a strong foundation for future growth.” The move puts MJ Live into a venue that often runs a three-show evening rotation, a setup that could help the production catch more walk-up customers.
Who’s on stage
The show continues to center on veteran Jackson impressionists Jalles Franca and Santana Jackson, who alternate in the lead role, according to the production’s cast page. The set list leans on crowd favorites such as “Bad,” “Billie Jean” and “Beat It,” and the staging aims to reproduce Jackson’s choreography and concert energy with live band backing. MJ Live's official site lists the cast and describes the production format.
Tickets and what to expect
The Saxe Theater’s schedule is built for double-headers, with earlier shows like “Vegas! The Show” often playing before a 7 p.m. headliner, so audiences can stack an evening without leaving the building. Local coverage of the move notes that tickets for MJ Live at Harrah’s remain listed through mid-September while the producers transition dates, so prospective attendees should check venue listings for updates and seat availability. Spotlight.Vegas has additional context on the new Saxe Theater slot and nightly lineup.
For MJ Live, it is another chapter in a long Strip story about staying put by staying mobile. For now the key dates are set: last Harrah’s performance on Sept. 9 and opening night at Planet Hollywood on Sept. 21, 2026.
