The Neon Museum’s ‘Duck Duck Shed’ returns Oct. 23-26, offering unprecedented access into the stories of Las Vegas

Duck Duck Shed – The Neon Museum’s acclaimed cultural event revealing more in-depth understanding of the city’s architecture, design and identity – returns October 23-26 for its fourth year with an extraordinary lineup of exclusive experiences, inviting attendees into some of Las Vegas’ most historic spaces and stories.

Tickets on sale July 20. Click here for more information.

“Duck Duck Shed is the only museum-curated offering that provides an annual dive into the past, present and future of a city – and there is no city like Las Vegas,” said Aaron Berger, executive director and CEO of The Neon Museum.” Las Vegas is a living cultural artifact. Through Duck Duck Shed, it’s examined, debated and told by the people who know it best. The variety of offerings from tours of historic sites to curator-led views of limited run exhibitions, to on-stage experiences, each year offers the Las Vegas enthusiast new perspectives on this iconic city.” ​

Duck Duck Shed is a cultural experience that behaves like a conference. However, unlike a traditional conference held in a single venue, over Oct. 23-26, attendees will explore multiple Las Vegas locations turning the city itself into the classroom.

Named after the influential book “Learning from Las Vegas,” the Duck Duck Shed 2026 lineup will feature:

• Friday, Oct. 23
  • Elvis: Dressed to Rock – The Hidden History of the King’s Closet – Costume historian Karan Feder will share newly uncovered stories from the Graceland archives, revealing how Elvis Presley’s legendary stage wardrobe helped transform his Las Vegas comeback into an entertainment phenomenon. Admission also includes an exclusive backstage tour of the International Theater at Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino where Elvis performed for over seven years.
  • NEON DREAMS: The Story of Las Vegas Magic – Magician, author and captivating speaker Lance Rich traces how Las Vegas became the world’s magic capital through rare photographs, archival footage and stories spanning decades of legendary illusionists and headline productions.
  • From The Mirage to Sphere: The Evolution of the Las Vegas Strip and What’s Next – With renowned author, speaker and international authority Stefan Al, PhD RA LEED AP, trace seven decades of architectural innovation along the Las Vegas Strip, from the opening of The Mirage Hotel and Casino through today’s entertainment icons like Sphere. The presentation examines how each era reshaped the visitor experience and what the city’s next chapter may look like.
  • Surprises and Secrets: A Downtown Walking Tour of Iconic Casinos – Attendees will stand on the spot where Las Vegas began and walk the legendary casinos and glittering neon signs that have uniquely placed this city in the public imagination. The curated tour will examine hidden, often overlooked places, where obscure objects and curious artifacts have contributed to the storied past of this city for the past 100 years.
  • UNLV Architectural Collage Competition – Peruse 10 original collages created by students from the UNLV School of Architecture, who were challenged to reinterpret Las Vegas landmarks through the themes of historic preservation, water conservation and diversity in the profession. Visitors can vote for the People’s Choice Award throughout Duck Duck Shed before the winner is announced during Monday’s closing program.
  • Duck Duck Shed Kick-Off Party – Gather with other Duck Duck Shed attendees in an intimate event venue meticulously designed to mimic the opulence and craftsmanship of the turn-of-the-century Victorian era in the Pullman Room at California Hotel. This room is not otherwise open to the public.
  • Curating the City: A Walking Tour of the ARIA Resort & Casino Fine Art Collection – Join curator Michele Quinn – who personally commissioned and assembled the renowned ARIA Resort & Casino Fine Art Collection – for a guided tour featuring unknown stories about the artists, acquisitions and curatorial vision of Las Vegas’ most significant public art collections.
  • Movie Night at The Neon Museum – Discover the city’s starring role in Hollywood through a guided walking tour highlighting nearly two dozen historic neon signs featured in classic films and modern blockbusters. Guests will learn how Las Vegas became one of cinema’s most recognizable settings.
• Saturday, Oct. 24
  • From Concept to Combat: Inside the Making of Cirque du Soleil’s KÀ – Go inside the KÀ Theatre at MGM Grand for an exclusive conversation with members of the show’s cast, artistic team, technical team and show leadership from one of the Strip’s most technically ambitious productions. Learn how movement, storytelling, costume design and engineering come together to create an epic Cirque du Soleil production, then experience the show with a special offer exclusive to Duck Duck Shed attendees.
  • How Design Makes Us Think: Las Vegas – Author, authority and internationally recognized designer Sean Adams will examine how architecture, lighting, color and graphic design influence the way people think, behave and experience space, using Las Vegas as one of the world’s most compelling examples.
  • STEAM Family Fest: Signs and Skylines – Duck Duck Shed and The Neon Museum welcome all ages to STEAM Family Fest – Signs and Skylines! Designed for attendees of all ages, the event is a hands-on exploration of how architects and designers contribute to the city’s unique look, through expressive building shapes, design styles, bold carpet patterns, interiors and exteriors – built for 40 million visitors a year.
  • The “Glow Deeper” Tour at The Neon Museum – Led by one of the Museum’s trained guides, this immersive history, entertainment, and cultural tour brings Las Vegas to life through unforgettable stories, rare recordings, and exclusive digital content. Designed for the curious visitor who wants a deeper connection to Las Vegas, this tour offers rare access to the inaccessible.

• Surprises and Secrets: A Downtown Walking Tour of Iconic Casinos – Second Offering
• UNLV Architectural Collage Competition – Continued

• Sunday, Oct. 25
  • Curating Rhythm & Resilience: History, Art, and Legacy in Black Las Vegas – Curator Carmen Beals will present the vision, research and storytelling of her latest exhibition, a powerful portrayal of African American Las Vegas history through photographs, artifacts and contemporary art, tracing the community’s journey from the city’s first Black settler to the cultural milestones of the Historic Westside.
  • Redefining the Strip: The Las Vegas Madam in Conversation – Author Jami Rodman will discuss her extraordinary journey to become the operator of Las Vegas’ premier escort agency, offering an unfiltered look at ambition, entrepreneurship and an often-overlooked chapter of the city’s social history: companionship in Las Vegas.
  • Experience How Neon Comes to Life – Step close as skilled neon benders heat slender glass tubes over dancing blue flames, turning rigid rods into molten ribbons that curve, twist and take shape by hand.
  • UNLV Architectural Collage Competition – Continued
  • Surprises and Secrets: A Downtown Walking Tour of Iconic Casinos – Third Offering
  • Curating the City: A Walking Tour of the ARIA Fine Art Collection – Second Offering
• Monday, Oct. 26
  • Behind the Feathers and Lights: Seven Showgirls Share Their Stories – Seven legendary Las Vegas showgirls from Lido de Paris, Jubilee! and Folies Bergère will come together to share personal stories of life on the Strip, offering a rare firsthand look at the glamour, discipline and enduring legacy of the classic production show era.
  • Surprises and Secrets: A Downtown Walking Tour of Iconic Casinos – Fourth Offering
  • F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix Sign Unveiling – Closing Duck Duck Shed 2026 – The unveiling of the new addition to The Neon Museum’s public collection: the inaugural 2023 FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX sign. This step into contemporary history, accompanied by a champagne toast and exciting countdown, will expand the stories of Las Vegas as a sports capital.

Additional programs will be announced throughout the summer. For full details on event programming and to sign up for any of the tours, exhibits or lectures, visit duckduckshed.com and follow @theneonmuseumlasvegas on Instagram and Facebook.