You haven’t really done Vegas until you’ve eaten a roasted Cornish game hen with your bare hands while shouting “Huzzah!” at a knight in chainmail.
Welcome to Tournament of Kings, the gloriously over-the-top dinner show at Excalibur that’s been battling it out for an impressive 35 years. Long before bottle service, giant LED orbs and EDM residencies took over the Strip, Kings was serving up galloping horses, clashing swords and medieval mayhem in a dirt-filled arena. And guess what? It’s still absolutely crushing it.
What began in 1990 as a throwback fantasy experience based on the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table is now a true Vegas institution—part Renaissance faire, part live-action video game and 100% committed to its bit. Audiences are divided into color-coded sections representing a specific country (Austria, France, Hungary, Ireland, Romania, Spain and Sweden), handed a hearty feast and plunged into a world of noble steeds, fire-breathing villains and battle cries that’ll get your fist pumping in the air (while clutching that game hen leg, of course).
This is no run-of-the-mill cosplay. Whether they’re jousting on real horses at full speed or dramatically throwing goblets to the ground, the performers have a (real) axe to grind. And that’s not the only battle prop you’ll see this evening: There are swords swung, flails flailed, and lance tips sheared as the drama unfolds. If this is your first time in the arena, expect a story that’s equal parts noble quest and crowd-pleasing chaos, all set to a booming score. There’s fire, there’s betrayal, there’s cheering and booing and cheering again, because you can’t be mad for long at those Lancelot look-alikes with their killer locks. It’s pure spectacle, built to thrill both kids and adults, powered by pyrotechnics, slapstick swordplay and just the right amount of chivalric smack talk.
Crowd participation is highly encouraged. After all, you’re not just watching a Middle Ages battle—you’re part of the round table (er, arena). And this is a show that takes authenticity to the hilt: That aforementioned Cornish game hen? Dinner comes straight to the table, served medieval-style with no utensils. That’s right. Dig into that fowl—along with the potatoes, corn, biscuit and dessert—with your bare hands like a true lord or lady of the realm. It’s messy and fun in the best way possible. You might even leave with gravy on your sleeve. (Vegetarian and gluten-free options, requested in advance, are available.)
In a city that constantly reinvents itself, Tournament of Kings is the rare show that’s lasted, not because it changed, but because it didn’t. It stayed true to its sword-swinging, fire-spewing, horse-galloping roots, betting everything on real stunts, real steeds and real audience energy. For families looking for all-ages entertainment, couples craving something quirky or nostalgia-hungry tourists who just want to yell “Long live the king!” with gusto—this show delivers.
Pro Tip: Take the show’s tagline to heart (“Eat. Drink. Be Rowdy”) and you’re guaranteed maximum enjoyment.
Excalibur, 702.597.7600. excalibur.mgmresorts.com
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