Calling all Blockheads! Dust off that old concert tee because Donnie, Joey, Jordan, Jonathan and Danny are bringing all the feels to Las Vegas with their first-ever residency.
For anyone who came of age in the late ’80s and early ’90s, New Kids on the Block wasn’t just a band—it was a musical phenomenon that defined an entire generation’s adolescence. These Boston teens created the modern boy band blueprint that every group from Backstreet Boys to BTS would follow.
When producer Maurice Starr assembled Jonathan Knight, Jordan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg and Danny Wood in the mid-’80s, he put together something truly special. The group’s breakthrough album, Hangin’ Tough, spawned hits like “Please Don’t Go Girl,” “You Got It (The Right Stuff),” “I’ll Be Loving You (Forever)” and “Hangin’ Tough.” But NKOTB’s real genius wasn’t just its infectious blend of pop and contemporary R&B; it was the innovative approach to fan engagement and merchandising that set new industry standards long before the advent of social media.
We bought the albums, collected the trading cards, and yes, absolutely knew every word to “Step by Step.” The passionate fan base—affectionately known as Blockheads—demonstrated the power of dedicated communities in ways the music industry had never seen before. At its peak, NKOTB’s fan club boasted over 200,000 members and operated a hotline that received more than 100,000 calls per week. This was fandom on a scale never been seen before, creating a template for artist-fan relationships that still influences the industry today. After selling over 80 million records worldwide, these Boston boys definitely earned their stripes as pop music royalty.
Now Vegas visitors get to experience one of music’s most enduring acts. After the massive success of its sold-out Magic Summer Tour in 2024 and the release of album Still Kids that same year, NKOTB has crafted something specifically for Vegas—a residency starting June 20 and running through February of next year.
“We cherish every opportunity that we get to perform for our fans, but a Las Vegas residency gives us an opportunity to take our performance, and interaction with our fans, to the next level,” said Donnie Wahlberg during The Right Stuff residency announcement. “We plan on maximizing everything that the amazing Dolby Live at Park MGM has to offer to create the most incredible NKOTB concert ever.”
The fan demand has been so overwhelming that eight additional shows were added for 2026, extending the run to 24 performances. Wahlberg talks about dedicated Blockheads going “above and beyond,” describing the kind of loyalty that spans generations: the original fans who’ve been there since the beginning, plus new converts discovering the magic along the way.
Whether you’re planning a trip to finally see the Kids you screamed about in junior high or introducing a new generation to the group that taught us all how to “Hang Tough,” NKOTB is about to remind us why, after all these decades, it’s still got the right stuff.
Park MGM. ticketmaster.com
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