Former One Direction member lands major Las Vegas Strip residency
Las Vegas' economy is struggling, but music residencies are thriving.
Las Vegas continues to face economic challenges in 2025, with visitor numbers down steeply so far into 2025 — 7%, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
Lower consumer confidence and fewer large conventions have contributed to the slowdown, but broader economic pressures are also impacting travel and tourism.
The city's events calendar is nevertheless jam-packed for the rest of this year and into 2026; there are plenty of reasons to visit Las Vegas, even if you're not a gambler.
The city boasts multiple professional sports teams — NFL, NHL, WNBA, and soon MLB — and other sporting events like Formula 1 racing.
But music is a major draw, and no other city hosts residencies the way that Las Vegas does.
Residencies are considered reliable revenue generators. They offer elaborate productions and extended runs that draw local audiences and travelers. Analysts note that they are a key factor in keeping Las Vegas’ entertainment economy resilient.
The music entertainment sector remains strong for high-profile music residencies with shows by artists such as Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, the Eagles, and Illenium attracting tourists of all ages, generating revenue for hotels, casinos, and local businesses. Image source: NBC/Getty Images
Welcome news for One Direction fans
Earlier this year, the rumor mill was abuzz with reports that Harry Styles had signed a 35-show residency at Sphere Las Vegas.
It’s safe to say fans were losing their minds.
Related: Las Vegas Strip Sphere signs music superstar to residency
However, the rumors turned out to be just that, and a spokesperson for the Sphere told Billboard, “To set the record straight, there has [sic] never been plans for Harry Styles to perform at Sphere.”
Now, however, one of Styles’ former bandmates will get a seven-show residency of his own, and he has plenty of fans to pack the theater.
Zayn Malik joins Las Vegas residency lineup in January 2026
The latest headline-making Las Vegas residency belongs to Zayn Malik, the former One Direction member, who will perform at Dolby Live at Park MGM.
Zayn residency dates:
- January 20, 2026
- January 21, 2026
- January 24, 2026
- January 25, 2026
- January 28, 2026
- January 30, 2026
- January 31, 2026
What to expect from the Zayn Malik shows
The upcoming performances will reportedly span all four of Zayn’s solo albums: "Mind of Mine" (2016), "Icarus Falls" (2018), "Nobody Is Listening" (2021), and "Room Under the Stairs" (2024).
The residency follows his Stairway to the Sky tour (2024-2025) and marks Zayn’s first Las Vegas series.
Related: 'America's Got Talent' winner's Las Vegas Strip show closing
“This is an exciting chapter in my career,” Zayn said in a statement. “I’m looking forward to bringing my music to Las Vegas fans and creating a show that feels intimate but spectacular at the same time.”
Zayn ticket presale information
Tickets for the 2026 Zayn shows at Dolby Live at Park MGM go on sale:
- Presale: Wednesday, September 24, 2025, at 12 p.m. PST
- General Sale: Friday, September 26, 2025, at 12 p.m. PST
- Available via Ticketmaster and Vivid Seats
Why music residencies are important to Las Vegas
Music residencies are economic engines for Las Vegas because they fill hotel rooms and increase restaurant business.
They maintain food traffic along the Strip, since major venues like Sphere and Dolby Live are on the Las Vegas Strip. They also draw fans from across the U.S. and internationally.
Zayn’s residency highlights a trend: pop artists leveraging Las Vegas for immersive performances. Residencies offer a concentrated showcase of talent, combining fan interaction with spectacle in one location.
"Artists like to perform residencies because it's really easy on them, they don't have to tour around ... Vegas is America's playground, so the saying is they don't have to tour around to the fans, the fans tour around to see them," Fedor Banuchi, Senior VP of Entertainment at Fontainebleau Las Vegas, told the Las Vegas ABC station.
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