Pool party season begins again in Las Vegas this weekend, with Encore Beach Club and LIV Beach Club leading the early wave of dayclub openings. (Photo: Encore Beach Club / Facebook)
LAS VEGAS – March has arrived in Las Vegas, which means pool season is officially here. As the temperatures rise, casino-resorts across the Strip begin reopening their dayclubs this week, welcoming crowds in bikinis and swim trunks alike.
A dayclub is exactly what it sounds like: a nightclub during the day. These venues are built around DJ performances, bottle service, and high-energy crowds. Champagne showers aren’t uncommon on a busy, packed Saturday.
Many consider it a rite of passage to visit a dayclub in your twenties on a Vegas trip, but it’s certainly not limited to that age group. At its core, it’s music and a pool on a bigger level.
Still, it’s a must-do Vegas experience during the warmer months. And this season, new openings, closures, and upgrades are shaping the 2026 dayclub landscape.
Dayclub 101
Dayclubs typically charge an entry fee depending on the artist and demand. Cover can range from $20 to over $100 on peak weekends and holidays. I’ve frequented many of the Strip’s dayclubs like LIV Beach, Encore Beach Club, and Marquee Dayclub, so I like to think I know a thing or two.
If you’re planning to visit, it’s always best to connect with a legitimate promoter or host through social media. They can point you in the right direction and offer recommendations on where to go, depending on the day and the vibe at each one.
“My favorite dayclubs are LIV and Encore Beach Club,” said Kyle Hancock, a VIP host who is familiar with the pool scene on the Strip. “I love the energy and the atmosphere at both of them. This season, I’m excited for Prospa’s new residency at LIV. He’ll bring some amazing sets to the pool scene.”
They can also offer you access via a guest list, which gives you free entry, reduced cover charge, or perks like open bar access once you arrive. The only caveat is that guest list entry is capacity-dependent. If the venue fills up before you arrive, you may still have to pay at the door (so be there earlier than you think!)
Once you’re in, general admission only guarantees you the right to stand around. If you want a dedicated place to sit and store your belongings, you’ll need to purchase a table with bottle service. Minimums can start around $500 and climb much higher depending on the date and DJ.
But don’t let that scare you; people have fun no matter how much they spend. There are a lot of locations to party, no matter what part of the Strip you’re on.
Encore Beach Club
Opening first for the season is Encore Beach Club, widely considered one of the most luxurious dayclubs on the Strip. The venue at Wynn/Encore officially opens on Saturday, March 7, and typically operates Friday through Sunday. It’s occasionally open on Thursdays during major weekends like EDC.
With its luxury reputation comes higher minimums for bottle service. However, the experience matches the price point. Wynn does an exquisite job of maintaining its pools across its property, especially compared to the viral videos warning people not to swim at certain dayclubs.
Encore Beach Club is known for its strong EDM lineup and regularly packs the house with artists like The Chainsmokers, Marshmello, and Diplo. This year, many people are excited to see some of the newer DJs like Kaskade and Loud Luxury who recently moved over from other clubs.
People (including myself) look forward to the beach club’s “EBC at Night” pool party concept. Later in the spring and summer, the venue transforms into a nighttime swim experience on Wednesdays and Saturdays, where guests can either wear swimwear or traditional club attire.
LIV Beach
Wynn’s neighbor up north, Fontainebleau, also opens its dayclub this weekend. LIV Beach is one of the newest additions to the Strip’s daylife lineup, following Fontainebleau’s 2023 opening.
Their opening celebration on March 7 kicks off with “Après Beach,” an après-ski-themed beach party. According to the website, guests are encouraged to arrive in their best ski-inspired looks. It makes me wonder how many people will ACTUALLY show up at a beach club in this kind of attire (tourists often miss the theme memo).
The dayclub is quite upscale, as evidenced by its high-priced bottle service. Fontainebleau’s Miami Beach roots carry over into the aesthetics of the venue. While both cities host Fontainebleau resorts, Las Vegas is the sole location with a dedicated beach club and casino.
The pool itself is smaller than some competitors, and it can fill quickly on peak weekends. Fridays and earlier arrival times are your best bet for more space.
LIV Beach hosts EDM and hip-hop artists such as John Summit, Metro Boomin, Tiësto, David Guetta, and Dom Dolla. You may not recognize some like John Summit or Dom Dolla, but if you do a quick TikTok search, you'll see that they're all the rage right now. LIV hosts many artists who sell out shows and perform at festivals such as the Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC).
The walk inside Fontainebleau can feel long, considering how massive the property is. That being said, it’s worth budgeting extra time so you’re not late, especially if you’re on a guest list.
Ayu Dayclub
Located across from Fontainebleau, Ayu Dayclub at Resorts World brings a Southeast Asian island design to the north Strip. It’s also a newcomer compared to other dayclubs, as Resorts World has only been open since 2021.
The venue is large and spread out with an aesthetic that makes you feel like you’re in Bali for a few hours. It frequently books artists who don’t rotate through every other Strip venue, attracting ravers and fans of newer EDM styles. Past performers have included Kaskade, Illenium, and T-Pain.
Surprisingly enough, it won’t reopen until May. This dayclub has the latest opening date this season. But it will be a prime time to kick off their pool season during EDC Week. DJ Alison Wonderland will headline their Bassrush Pool Party on May 14 to kick off the busy weekend.
Tao Beach
If you’re familiar with TAO Asian Bistro or its nightclub downstairs, this name should look familiar.
TAO Beach at The Venetian is one of the smaller dayclubs on the Strip with a similar Asian-inspired aesthetic to Ayu.
This dayclub officially reopens on March 14, but its “real” season kick-off party will be on March 28. The date was officially proclaimed by the city last year as “Day of the Fish” in honor of the legendary DJ Fisher.
The club can definitely boast about hosting Fisher there, but there are many other popular headliners that will return. TAO Beach often features a mix of EDM and hip-hop artists, with returning DJs such as Steve Aoki, Tiësto, Wiz Khalifa, and Tyga.
It’s frequently open on Thursdays, which its competitors in the North part of the Strip can't boast about. It’s also often one of the more affordable options for table seating, as many of the dayclubs owned by TAO Group Hospitality are.
Marquee Dayclub
Marquee Dayclub at The Cosmopolitan recently underwent a full remodel following updates to its nightclub last summer. Expect a new sound system, redesigned stage, upgraded VIP cabanas, and refreshed amenities. Fingers crossed they didn’t gut the pool’s waterfall!
The club returns with its upgraded amenities on March 13, with its official season celebration on March 21 featuring Martin Garrix.
Unlike some venues that center the entire experience around the DJ booth, Marquee allows the music to act more as a backdrop to socializing. It’s still a lively party, but doesn’t necessarily feel like a daytime concert.
The venue has announced that daily pool access will begin on March 25, but don’t expect the same energy on weekdays as on weekends. Their Monday party, “Mondays on my Mind”, has a much milder atmosphere than their weekend parties.
Palm Tree Beach Club
If this name doesn’t sound familiar, Palm Tree Beach Club at MGM Grand opened last year after rebranding from Wet Republic. The venue sits on one of the Strip’s longest-standing dayclub footprints, which is something few competitors can claim. Wet Republic opened all the way back in 2008 and didn’t change its name until last year.
The club opens on March 13, but the first major headliner will be Martin Garrix on March 28. TAO Group must really love Garrix nowadays, right? Palm Tree often hosts other popular EDM and pop performers like Zedd, Chris Lake, Alesso, and Steve Aoki.
The refresh introduced a pastel-toned, beachy aesthetic to the club after DJ Kygo’s Palm Tree Crew gutted the blue theming that Wet Republic had. Similar to LIV Beach, Palm Tree is modeled after the Miami beachfront hotel of the same name.
One Club Closes, Another Opens on the Strip
While many of the major dayclubs above are returning as normal for another season, there are a few notable changes for this season to some others on the Strip.
An industry source familiar with Tao Group Hospitality’s operations told me that Palm Tree Beach Club is expected to transition away from Tao Group management after its current lease expires next year, with Palm Tree Crew planning to take over operations.
The same source said that when Hard Rock Hotel & Casino opens in 2027, it will feature a nightclub and dayclub that Tao Group is also expected to manage.
Over at Mandalay Bay, Daylight Beach Club has not yet announced an opening date for the 2026 season. The venue is currently listed as temporarily closed, with no confirmed reopening timeline for this summer.
Some closures, however, are not temporary.
Drai's Beachclub officially closed in October as part of changes for the upcoming Vanderpump Hotel concept, which will replace The Cromwell later this year. While formal renovation details have not been released, room bookings are currently unavailable beyond March, suggesting construction will begin soon.
Drai’s continues to operate solely as an after-hours club in the basement, but many will have to mourn the hip-hop artists the rooftop beach club once delivered.
“It’s definitely a bummer that Drai’s Beachclub is closing, but it’s not the most surprising, I guess,” said Hector Gonsalves, a former busser at AYU Dayclub. “But clubs in Vegas are always changing, so people will probably just go to places like LIV Beach or TAO when they have hip hop artists.”
Whether the future Vanderpump Hotel will introduce a similar concept in that space remains unknown. But Vegas often closes one door and opens another in its place.
Right across the Strip, Caesars Palace is working to open OMNIA Dayclub. The venue previously indicated it would be open in time for pool season, but construction is still well underway. Progress is visible, but there’s no telling exactly when the club will be open.
Meet The Author
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Vanessa is a news writer who brings hospitality industry insight and sharp storytelling to her editorial work for Casinos.com. She graduated from UNLV with a degree in journalism, and has experience working in the Las Vegas gaming and entertainment industry with Station Casinos and Wynn Resorts. She is passionate about staying informed on what’s happening in the world and finds story ideas not only scouring the web, but also by hitting the pavement and exploring the city she loves. When not living the casino high-life, you might find her in a quiet corner somewhere reading a good manga.
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