Best Sporting Events in Las Vegas for July 2026

^{NBA Summer League is one of the best family-friendly bargains in Las Vegas this July. (Photo courtesy of NBA)} 

This is a special July for America, and Las Vegas is already celebrating. Festivities for America 250 started in June with the first of eight consecutive Saturdays of fireworks.

Vegas will continue to celebrate 250 years of independence in July, when there will be even more fireworks on the Vegas Strip. The Plaza Hotel & Casino downtown will have fireworks shows on July 3 and 4.

If you prefer celebrating elsewhere, Station Casinos will have fireworks at six casinos throughout the Las Vegas Valley on July 4. The local casino operator will also celebrate its 50th anniversary beginning July 1 with fireworks at Palace Station.

The Las Vegas sports calendar is packed this month with annual events and a slew of WNBA games.

UFC also started celebrating America 250 in June with a fight card outside the White House. UFC 329 in Las Vegas will anchor the 14th International Fight Week event. 

The sports and entertainment schedules are back on track after a slow June. In addition to MMA, there's plenty of basketball with the NBA Summer League and Las Vegas Aces.

Finally, football gets underway in late July, and Raiders fans should be able to catch a glimpse of players practicing for free in nearby Henderson.

A complete breakdown of the best Sin City sports follows below...

NBA Summer League Tips Off July 9

The NBA Summer League runs from July 9 through 19 at the Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion, about 10 minutes east of the Vegas Strip on the campus of UNLV. All 30 NBA teams will participate so they can evaluate rookies, develop young players, and scout free agents.

The summer series is most known for teams showcasing new NBA draft picks that will debut for their teams next season. Summer League is where fans got their first chance to see players such as Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Nikola Jokic, and the recently traded Giannis Antetokounmpo and many more play pro basketball for the first time.

The NBA Summer League is one of the best family values in Las Vegas. Single-day general admission tickets start at $50 for adults and $40 for children. Each ticket allows guests to watch multiple games per session in both the main arena and the smaller pavilion.

UFC International Fight Week Slated for Second Weekend

The 14th UFC International Fight Week, running from July 9-12, will take on a new look this year. The event will expand from just MMA to include other combat sports.

One thing that won't change is that the week of events will feature a big MMA card. This year, Conor McGregor returns to the octagon after nearly five years at T-Mobile Arena for UFC 329.

• July 9: UFC Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at T-Mobile Arena
• July 10: Power Slap at The Cosmopolitan
• July 11: UFC 329 at T-Mobile Arena
• July 12: Zuffa Boxing at The Cosmopolitan 

Power Slap and Zuffa Boxing are new to fight week and offer different takes on combat sports. While boxing has a long history, Power Slap is just a few years old.

UFC 329 will feature 11 other matches in addition to the main event between McGregor and Max Holloway. Crowd favorite Paddy "The Baddy" Pimblett will fight Benoit Saint Denis in the co-main. The Baddy will be hosting the UFC afterparty featuring a performance by Meek Mill at Zouk Nightclub inside Resorts World after the fight.

Aces Continue Run Toward Fourth WNBA Championship

The Aces regular season reaches its midpoint this month when the team plays six home games in Las Vegas. The team starts the month with two big games at T-Mobile Arena:

• July 3 vs. Chicago Sky 
• July 5 vs. Indiana Fever

They’ll return to their regular home arena at the Michelob Ultra Arena inside Mandalay Bay later in the month for four more matchups:

• July 11 vs. Phoenix 
• July 12 vs. Indiana 
• July 28 vs. Portland
• July 30 vs. New York

NFL Training Camps Open for 2026 Season

The NFL season never really ends. It just takes breaks, so players and league employees don’t get burnt out. 

Raiders fans and players will ease into the season with the beginning of training camp at the Intermountain Health Performance Center in Henderson. Rookies report to camp on July 23, while veterans will follow on July 28. 

Training camp leads to the preseason games that begin mid-August and then the regular season a month later. 

In the past, fans could attend training camp for free but had to have a ticket. Sign up for the training camp mailing list to be the first to receive ticket information.