October 2026 Las Vegas Sports Calendar

Our can’t-miss Las Vegas sports events

Raiders vs. Chiefs: a rivalry Sunday at Allegiant Stadium

October 4 · 1:25 PM · Allegiant Stadium

If you are choosing one NFL game for an early-October visit, Raiders vs. Chiefs is our first pick. A division matchup gives the afternoon a clear identity, and Allegiant Stadium makes the game itself the centerpiece of the day. Leave room for the walk from your drop-off or parking area, entry and a look around before kickoff.

The Raiders also host the Buffalo Bills on October 18 and the Los Angeles Rams on October 25, both listed for 1:25 PM. Those dates give you two more football weekends to build around. The Raiders’ official schedule is the reference for any kickoff changes.

Golden Knights hockey: eight chances to catch Vegas at home

October 2, 8, 10, 15, 17, 20, 27 and 30 · T-Mobile Arena

For visitors staying on the Strip, a Golden Knights game is an easy anchor for an evening: dinner nearby, the pregame atmosphere and then hockey. Our shortlist starts with the Maple Leafs on October 8, the Kings on October 10 and the Penguins on October 17. Choose by the opponent you want to see, then compare the actual sections and rows on sale.

The month also includes Anaheim, Calgary, Tampa Bay, Ottawa and New Jersey. Most games begin at 7:00 PM, but Tampa Bay is listed for 7:30 PM and the Devils game on October 30 starts at 3:00 PM. That afternoon game deserves special attention when planning a Halloween weekend. Our Best Seats for Golden Knights Hockey guide explains the tradeoffs between center ice, the upper bowl and seats near the glass.

NASCAR weekend: the Focused Health 302 and South Point 400

October 3–4 · Las Vegas Motor Speedway

For a full motorsports weekend, pair the Focused Health 302 on Saturday at 4:30 PM with the South Point 400 on Sunday at 2:30 PM. The Sunday Cup Series race is our headline pick for fans who want a major event outside the Strip arena circuit.

Make the speedway the main outing for that day. Sunday’s race overlaps the Raiders–Chiefs game, so pick the experience that matters most to your group. Bring hearing protection and allow time for the journey north and the exit after the race. The speedway’s ticket guide explains the single-day and weekend options.

Fundora vs. Hadribeaj: the boxing date to circle

October 17 · 2:00 PM listed event time · The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan

Sebastian Fundora vs. Ermal Hadribeaj is our pick for a traditional Las Vegas boxing outing. Premier Boxing Champions has announced Fundora defending his WBC super welterweight title against Hadribeaj at The Chelsea. The theater setting makes this a different experience from a large stadium fight, with the rest of the card giving fans a reason to settle in well before the main event.

The 2:00 PM calendar listing is not a promised main-event start. Check the running order before arranging dinner afterward. See the Cosmopolitan’s official event page for the venue’s current details.

Lakers vs. Warriors: a midweek NBA outing

October 13 · 7:00 PM · T-Mobile Arena

Lakers vs. Warriors gives basketball fans a preseason night on the Strip. It is a good choice for a trip that misses the football weekends, or for a group that wants NBA basketball alongside the city’s hockey schedule. Buy for the matchup and the live experience; preseason rotations and individual player appearances can change.

UFC Fight Nights: October 10 and Halloween

October 10 and 31 · 2:00 PM preliminary-card start · Meta APEX

Allen vs. Duncan on October 10 and Moicano vs. Nolan on October 31 are the two UFC Fight Night dates in this month’s calendar. Both list a 2:00 PM start for the preliminary bouts, with the main card scheduled for 5:00 PM. Plan to enjoy the whole card rather than trying to predict exactly when the headliners will enter.

There is more variety for combat-sports fans: Dana White’s Contender Series on October 6 and 13, UFC BJJ 12 on October 8, Power Slap 24 on October 9, Real American Freestyle 14 on October 23 and Tuff-N-Uff 158 on October 24. These are different formats—MMA, submission grappling, slap fighting and freestyle wrestling—so choose the event that matches what you want to watch.

Lights vs. Lexington: a farewell to Cashman Field

October 17 · 7:30 PM · Cashman Field

The Lights have two October home matches: San Antonio on October 3 and Lexington on October 17. The club has announced the Lexington match as its farewell to Cashman Field, making that the date we would choose for a little local sporting history as well as USL Championship soccer.

The farewell shares an evening with Golden Knights–Penguins and Copa Las Vegas: USA vs. Mexico at Orleans Arena. Soccer and hockey fans traveling together will need to choose their priority rather than expect to see both games in full.

Aces playoff basketball opens the month

October 1 · 6:00 PM · Michelob ULTRA Arena

Aces vs. Fever, first-round Game 3 starts October with an elimination game. For anyone in town at the beginning of the month, this is the most immediate must-see option: one team advances and the other’s season ends. Some ticket listings call it “Round 1 Home Game 2,” because it is the Aces’ second home game of the series.

Later playoff home dates depend on results and a confirmed schedule. Check the live sports calendar for additions as the postseason develops.

More ways to make it a sports trip

Hockey in Henderson: the Silver Knights have six home games at Lee’s Family Forum, starting with Bakersfield on October 3 and 4. This is AHL hockey, with another setting and seating map to compare alongside a Golden Knights outing. Coachella Valley visits October 14, Tucson October 23 and 24, and Ontario October 28.

UNLV football and basketball: the Rebels host Cal, North Dakota State and Northern Illinois at Allegiant Stadium. Basketball fans also have three clearly marked exhibitions at the Thomas & Mack Center: Utah, BYU and Missouri. The BYU game’s 1:00 PM start on October 24 makes it an afternoon option.

Something different: Cosmic Takeover Tour brings black-light baseball to Las Vegas Ballpark for three nights, October 1–3. AMA EnduroCross is at Orleans Arena on October 3. Both offer a change of pace from the month’s stadium football and arena hockey.

Halloween at the drag strip: the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals run October 30–November 1 at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The two October dates are listed below. The calendar’s 7:30 AM listing is an early day-ticket time; consult the official NHRA event information for the session schedule rather than treating it as the start of every professional run.

October 1–4: playoffs, opening-weekend hockey and NASCAR

October 5–11: UFC, UNLV and a busy T-Mobile Arena

October 12–18: NBA, championship boxing and the Lights farewell

October 19–25: wrestling, MMA and Raiders–Rams

October 26–31: hockey, drag racing and Halloween football

How to plan a Las Vegas sports weekend

October 2–4: choose football or racing for Sunday

Start with Golden Knights–Ducks on Friday, then choose from UNLV football, Silver Knights hockey, the Lights, EnduroCross, Cosmic baseball or NASCAR on Saturday. Sunday forces the big decision: Raiders–Chiefs kicks off at 1:25 PM and the South Point 400 starts at 2:30 PM. Build around one of those instead of paying for two overlapping headline events.

October 16–18: pick your Saturday night before buying

The October 17 boxing card, Golden Knights–Penguins, Lights–Lexington and Copa Las Vegas make this a strong weekend for groups with different tastes. Fight-card running times are variable, so a 2:00 PM listing does not promise enough time to watch the main event and reach a 7:00 PM hockey game. Add Raiders–Bills on Sunday if football is part of your trip.

October 30–31: a different kind of Halloween

Friday offers an afternoon Golden Knights game and the opening day of the NHRA weekend. Saturday pairs another drag-racing day with UFC at Meta APEX and UNLV–Northern Illinois at 7:30 PM. Those are choices for different kinds of sports fans, not a suggested race across town to fit everything in.

Match your hotel and transport to the venue

T-Mobile Arena and Michelob ULTRA Arena work well with a south-Strip base. Allegiant Stadium is west of that resort corridor. Cashman Field is in the downtown area, Lee’s Family Forum is in Henderson, and Las Vegas Motor Speedway requires a separate trip north. Compare the journey to your actual venue before choosing a hotel solely for its Strip address.

For games at T-Mobile Arena, start with the Golden Knights seating guide. For broadcasts between live events, use our Best Sports Bars in Las Vegas guide and confirm that your chosen venue will show the game you want. Our Las Vegas hotel guide can help with the rest of the stay.

Compare tickets before choosing your seats

Open the event page first. Where a matching Ticketmaster resale listing is available, compare it with the official seller: you may find a different section, a better seat for your budget or a lower total price. Compare the same quantity of seats and include fees in the decision.

Some events sell through AXS, the Lights use SeatGeek, and UNLV has its own ticket channels. An event remains worth considering even when Ticketmaster has no resale inventory. The links on each event page keep the choices together.

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Ready to choose your date? Browse the Las Vegas sports calendar for current event details, or explore the full Las Vegas event calendar to add a show or concert to your trip.