By admin 
INTRODUCTION
The International Theater at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino possesses an atmospheric weight that few modern arenas can replicate; its walls are saturated with the echoes of high-stakes showmanship and the ghosts of entertainment royalty. Within this hallowed space, the air is thick with the scent of nostalgia and expensive cologne, yet the energy radiating from the stage is decidedly contemporary. On January 14, 2026, the industry recalibrated its perception of the Las Vegas residency as USA TODAY officially confirmed that Barry Manilow has secured the title of “#1 Best Las Vegas Show” for the 2025/2026 season. This is not merely an accolade of popularity, but a definitive validation of an artist who has successfully transitioned from a legacy act into the city’s most formidable architectural fixture.
THE DETAILED STORY
The paradigm of the Las Vegas residency has shifted dramatically in the last decade, moving away from the “sunset years” of a career toward a high-production battleground for global superstars. Yet, amidst the influx of digital avatars and multi-million-dollar spectacle, Manilow’s “The Hits Come Home!” has emerged as the apex of the desert’s entertainment hierarchy. The USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Award carries a specific cultural weight because it is fan-driven, reflecting a visceral connection that transcends corporate marketing. For Manilow, who recently navigated a meticulous recovery from pulmonary surgery, this victory serves as a poignant testament to his indomitable professional standards. At 82, he is not merely participating in the Vegas landscape; he is defining its structural integrity.
To understand the magnitude of this achievement, one must look at the archival significance of the International Theater. This is the very stage where Elvis Presley once defined the residency model, a record of 636 shows that stood as an insurmountable benchmark for nearly half a century. In late 2023, Manilow surpassed that figure, and as of early 2026, he continues to extend a lead that may never be eclipsed. This award recognizes that his show is more than a sequence of hits like “Mandy” or “Copacabana”; it is a masterclass in the nuance of the American pop ballad, delivered with a vocal range that has been surgically and artistically restored to its peak.
The inevitable question for the industry now centers on the future of the residency model. While younger acts cycle through the city in transient bursts, Manilow’s “Lifetime Residency” contract—the first of its kind—suggests that the true currency of Las Vegas is not novelty, but consistency. His meticulous attention to the orchestral arrangements and his refusal to rely on the hollow artifice of lip-syncing provide a stark contrast to the modern pop landscape. As he prepares for his next block of February dates, the USA TODAY honor acts as a beacon for the “Fanilow” community and a warning to his peers: in the kingdom of the desert, the crown belongs to the man who treats every performance as a definitive statement of legacy.