Some Las Vegas shows require advance reservations, assigned seats and a ticket that costs more than your hotel room.
The Dueling Pianos show at Harrah’s is the opposite.
Every night, two talented piano players take over the Piano Bar and turn it into a loud, unpredictable sing-along driven almost entirely by requests from the crowd. One minute, the room may be singing an Elton John classic. A few songs later, everyone is shouting along to AC/DC, Bruno Mars or whatever unexpected request lands on the piano next.
There is no formal theater atmosphere and no reason to sit quietly. The entire point is to sing, laugh, make requests and become part of the show.
Current Harrah’s Dueling Pianos Showtimes
Dueling Pianos currently begins at:
Nightly at 9:00 p.m.
The show takes place inside the Piano Bar at Harrah’s Las Vegas. Current entertainment calendars list performances every night, although the performers appearing on a particular evening may vary. Schedules can also change for holidays, private events and special occasions, so check with Harrah’s before planning an entire night around the show.
Admission is generally free and no traditional show ticket is required. Drinks, performer tips, casino parking and other expenses are separate. Venue policies can change during especially busy nights or special events.
Where Is the Piano Bar at Harrah’s?
The show is located at:
The Piano Bar at Harrah’s Las Vegas
3475 South Las Vegas Boulevard
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
Harrah’s sits in the center of the Las Vegas Strip between The LINQ and The Venetian. The Piano Bar is near the front of the property, only steps from the outdoor Carnaval Court entertainment area.
Its central location makes the show easy to add to a night of walking around the Strip. You can stop in after dinner, catch part of the performance and continue toward The LINQ Promenade, Caesars Palace, The Venetian or the Flamingo without needing another ride.
What Happens at a Dueling Piano Show?
Despite the name, the musicians are not seriously battling each other to determine who is the better piano player.
The “duel” comes from the performers trading songs, jokes and musical challenges while competing for the crowd’s attention. One performer may begin a classic-rock song, only for the other to answer with a completely different request from the opposite side of the room.
The show is built around audience participation. Guests request songs, sing along, clap, shout and occasionally become part of the comedy. Birthdays, anniversaries, bachelor parties and bachelorette groups are likely to be called out during the night.
There is no fixed setlist. The crowd determines where the show goes, which means no two nights are exactly the same.
Meet The Twins Dueling Pianos
Harrah’s best-known dueling piano performers are identical twins Kimberley and Tamara Pinegar, known simply as The Twins.
Their show combines live music, comedy, sibling rivalry and constant interaction with the audience. They describe themselves as the only all-female identical-twin dueling piano act of their kind. Their Harrah’s residency has lasted more than 20 years, making them a longtime part of the Strip’s live entertainment scene.
The Twins have received multiple Best Piano Bar and Best Lounge Act honors and have also performed at resorts including Bellagio, Wynn, ARIA and Caesars Palace. Outside Las Vegas, they have appeared at private events and corporate programs for organizations including Disney Cruise Line, Intuit and Caterpillar.
Although The Twins remain closely associated with the Harrah’s show, other musicians may appear on different nights. The basic format remains the same: requests, comedy, crowd participation and a room full of people singing songs they did not expect to hear when they walked in.
What Kind of Music Do They Play?
Almost anything is fair game.
The performers work from audience requests rather than following a planned concert set. Their repertoire can jump between classic rock, pop, country, oldies, disco, television themes, current hits and songs that everyone somehow knows after hearing the first three notes.
The Twins specifically list artists ranging from Elton John and AC/DC to Bruno Mars and Chappell Roan. Earlier versions of the show included everything from the Andrews Sisters to modern pop music.
During a typical night, you might hear music from:
Billy Joel
Elton John
Journey
Queen
Neil Diamond
Bon Jovi
AC/DC
Garth Brooks
The Eagles
Britney Spears
Bruno Mars
Taylor Swift
You may also hear television themes, novelty songs, fight songs or deliberately ridiculous requests submitted by someone trying to embarrass a friend.
A good dueling piano performer needs to know far more than how to play piano. They must remember hundreds of songs, read the room, improvise jokes and keep the performance moving when two completely different requests arrive at the same time.
How to Request a Song
Song requests are a major part of the show.
Write down the song and artist as clearly as possible and send it to the piano. Including a cash tip is customary and usually gives the request a better chance of being played. A larger tip may move a song closer to the front, particularly when the room is busy and dozens of people are submitting requests.
That does not guarantee the musicians will play every request. They may not know the song, it may not fit the room at that moment or someone else may pay to replace it with something completely different.
That competition is part of the fun.
Groups sometimes attempt to take control of the show by requesting competing songs or paying to stop a song they hate. The performers use those rivalries to create jokes, challenges and sing-alongs between different parts of the room.
Is the Harrah’s Dueling Piano Show Really Free?
Yes, the show is generally presented without a traditional admission charge.
You can walk into the Piano Bar and watch without purchasing a show ticket. Seating is first come, first served, and the venue can become crowded as the night goes on. Free admission also does not mean it will necessarily be a completely free night. Drinks, tips, parking and transportation still cost money.
The Piano Bar operates as an active casino lounge rather than a seated theater. Bring a valid photo ID and check directly with Harrah’s regarding current age and entry policies, particularly when traveling with anyone under 21.
When Should You Arrive?
Arrive before 9:00 p.m. when possible.
The best seats are close to the pianos, where you can see the performers and have a better chance of interacting with them. Guests who arrive after the show has built momentum may find themselves standing behind the seated crowd or watching from farther back.
Friday and Saturday nights are generally louder and more crowded. A weeknight may provide a better chance of finding a seat and submitting requests without competing against a packed weekend room.
There is nothing wrong with standing near the back and watching for 20 minutes, but the show becomes more entertaining when you stay long enough to understand the personalities in the room and see the request battles begin.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of the Show
Bring some cash if you plan to request songs or tip the performers. Choose something the entire room can sing rather than an obscure album track that only three people recognize.
Do not expect a quiet cocktail lounge. The room gets loud, the crowd sings and the performers regularly talk directly to audience members.
Groups celebrating birthdays, weddings or other occasions should expect attention. Mentioning the celebration on a request slip makes it much more likely the performers will call it out.
Most importantly, participate. Dueling pianos are not designed to be watched like a formal concert. The experience works because the audience gives the musicians material to work with.
Other Entertainment at the Harrah’s Piano Bar
The Piano Bar hosts live entertainment throughout the day and evening, not just dueling pianos.
Its lineup has included Pete “Big Elvis” Vallee, karaoke, DJ-hosted entertainment and the Saxman Duo. The exact schedule varies by day, making the bar one of the Strip’s more reliable places to find casual live entertainment without purchasing an expensive ticket.
Visitors can sometimes see an afternoon performance, leave for dinner and return later for the dueling piano show.
Is Dueling Pianos at Harrah’s Worth Seeing?
Yes, especially for visitors who want something spontaneous rather than another heavily produced Las Vegas attraction.
The show is talented without taking itself too seriously. It is interactive without requiring anyone to get dragged onto a giant theater stage. You can stay for a few songs or spend most of the night requesting music and singing with strangers.
There are bigger shows in Las Vegas. There are certainly more expensive shows.
But there are not many places left on the Strip where you can walk into a casino lounge, watch veteran musicians play almost anything the crowd throws at them and become part of a free nightly show.
That is what makes Dueling Pianos at Harrah’s one of the better late-night entertainment values in Las Vegas.
