The winter months always see the region’s casinos throttle down on their headliner bookings. But the first quarter of 2026 will still bring some big names — including classic-rock deity Rod Stewart, country powerhouse Jason Aldean and a literal knockout act, ex-heavyweight boxing champ Mike Tyson, to gaming hall stages.
Also on tap are a slew of pop-chart heroes from the 1980s and a former member of a megastar duo now flying solo.
Below is a chronological look at some of the noteworthy bookings in store for the coming three months. Tickets for shows are available at ticketmaster.com.
Mike Tyson Presents The Return of Mike (Jan. 23; Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City).
This one-man show is the follow-up to Tyson’s acclaimed freshman effort, 2012’s “Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth.” It promises to be, according to the promotional material, “brutally honest and hilariously unfiltered as he delves into his battles with addiction, mental health, and the man in the mirror.”
Jason Aldean (Jan. 31; Hard Rock).
By any metric, the 48-year-old Macon, Ga. native is a country-music giant: According to his label, BBR Music, since the mid-2000s he’s sold 20 million albums worldwide and his tracks have streamed some 20 billion times. His upcoming Full Throttle Tour: 2026 is expected to include enough favorites to satisfy the most demanding fans.
Pat Benatar & Neil Gerardo (Feb. 6; Ocean Casino Resort).
Belter Benatar and her guitar-shredding husband Gerardo are the First Couple of classic rock and a popular Atlantic City attraction; they have been regular visitors for many years. Expect plenty of hits including “Heartbreaker,” “Love Is A Battlefield” and “Hit Me with Your Best Shot.”
Musiq Soulchild (Feb. 6; Tropicana).
The veteran singer-songwriter from Philadelphia (real name, Taalib Hassan Johnson) has carved out a singular piece of musical turf with his deft blending of generations’ worth of African-American musical modes including soul, blues, funk and hip-hop into something both contemporary and timeless.
Billy Gibbons & The BFG Band (Feb. 7; Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa).
The 2021 death of bassist Dusty Hill put a huge dent in the career of rock ’n’ boogie masters ZZ Top, but it freed up lead vocalist-guitar wizard Gibbons to strike out on his own. It’s a pretty safe bet there will be plenty of Top favorites included.
Trevor Noah (Feb. 13; Borgata).
Given current events, the former Daily Show host should have no problem filling 75 minutes or so with observations on politics and pop culture.
Diana Krall (Feb. 14; Ocean).
Jazz has historically been underrepresented in local gaming halls, but celebrated vocalist-pianist Krall will be carrying that flag this winter.
Black Violin (Feb. 20; Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City).
Arguably the season’s most interesting headliner, Black Violin consists of violinist Kevin Sylvester and viola player Wil Baptiste (a.k.a. respectively, Kev Marcus and Wil B.) who fuse their classically trained musicianship with hip-hop.
Boy George & Culture Club (Feb. 27; Borgata).
Few acts are more representative of the 1980s heyday of MTV than this British unit whose earworm tunes like “Karma Chameleon” and “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me,” and over-the-top visuals courtesy of lead singer Boy George (real name George Alan O’Dowd) resulted in global superstardom.
Rod Stewart (March 7; Hard Rock).
At this stage of the game, what’s left to say about “Rod the Mod?” Bottom line: The 80-year-old classic-rock legend is still going strong, and if you’ve never seen him in concert, please put doing so at the top of your “to-do” list!
Sheena Easton (March 8; Borgata).
And speaking of 1980s pop-music icons, while it’s been decades since she scaled the heights of stardom, the Scotland-born singer is still delighting fans with such signatures as “Morning Train” and “Sugar Walls.”
My Generation Tour (March 14; Caesars Atlantic City).
The passage of time continues to thin the ranks of 1960s hitmakers, so this package featuring Gary Lewis & The Playboys (“This Diamond Ring”), The Lovin’ Spoonful (“Do You Believe in Magic”) and a band billed as The Hollies Greatest Hits starring Terry Sylvester (not to be confused with The Hollies, which features two original members) is definitely a schedule highlight for the nostalgia-loving Baby Boomers out there.
John Oates (March 13; Borgata).
The surprisingly bitter and public business-based rift between Oates and his partner-for-decades Daryl Hall may have destroyed one of the most beloved pop acts of the past 50 years, but it has also allowed Oates to leave the shadow of his more-celebrated former partner and bring his particular talents to the forefront.
Chuck Darrow has spent more than 40 years writing about Atlantic City casinos.
