iHeartRadio Music Festival 2026 | Las Vegas Concert Photographer

Portrait of Lainey Wilson gazing upward in a cream cowboy hat, lace-up sheer top, silver belt buckle and long blonde waves, round circles of light floating in the dark background.

As a Las Vegas concert photographer, I spent last weekend in the photo pit at T-Mobile Arena for the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Festival, my 15th time covering it for iHeartRadio. I’ve been part of this event since its first year, and only a handful of us can say that. Seeing those familiar faces every September, and comparing notes about the long nights, is one of my favorite parts of the weekend.

A Different Approach This Year

The pit here isn’t a straight line in front of a stage. With the thrust and all its angles, lens choice matters, and so does knowing what you want your images to say.

After this many years at this festival, I didn’t feel the pull to chase the standard frames every time, like centered straight down the thrust or the wide with the iHeart coin at the end of it. That freed me up to look for beauty images with a portrait lens.

Why I Chose the 135mm f/1.8

The Nikon Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena was the right tool. My main goal was catching each artist in that lens’s sweet spot: close enough to fill most of the frame, with the detail in their face, eyes and expression, while a million-dollar production happens all around them.

Close-up of Zara Larsson singing into a crystal microphone and pointing upward in a blue metallic glove, pink eyeshadow and glossy lips set against a bright yellow backdrop.

Snoop Dogg in dark sunglasses, a paisley bandana-print jacket and diamond chain smiles holding a gold microphone and wearing large rings, against a soft blurred pink and white screen.

The separation and bokeh in this setting are primed for it. I wanted a look and feel that went beyond the familiar 70-200mm f/2.8.

Rounding out the kit were a 24-70mm f/2.8 and an adapted F-mount 300mm f/4 for artists with a no-pit rule, when I had to work from further back.

The Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan sings into a microphone while playing a white electric guitar, dressed in a black leather jacket and turtleneck under cool blue stage light.

The Tradeoffs of a Fast Prime

A prime means you are the zoom, so I was moving constantly. Getting a moving performer tack sharp at f/1.8 also takes technique, a capable camera, and a bit of luck.

Benson Boone in a fringed leather vest looks past the camera while holding a microphone, a diagonal mic stand crossing the frame and soft circles of light glowing behind him.

The depth of field is so thin you can land a sharp nose with soft eyes. I’ll take it the other way around any day.

With the Z9 in 3D continuous focus with face and eye detection, in good light like this, nearly all of my frames came out tack sharp.

Cardi B with long black curls in a sparkling zebra-print bodysuit with red sequins and fringe, looking back over her shoulder against a deep blue background as a dancer blurs behind her.

Performances I Loved

I loved every set, as I always do. Benson Boone was new to my lens and a real standout. He opened Saturday night with nonstop energy, including his signature flip off a piano.

Benson Boone smiles while singing, fist clenched, in an open fringed black vest, brown belt with silver buckle and white button-front jeans against a dark purple background.

Lainey Wilson, who I really love, was another standout. She brought her usual warmth to the stage and paid tribute to Dolly Parton, calling her a hero and one of her dearest friends.

Zara Larsson was notable too. Her set was one of the brightest of the weekend, with dancers, flower confetti and a fan invited onstage to dance to “Lush Life.”

And it was amazing to see Snoop Dogg up on that stage, especially when Wiz Khalifa joined him for “Young, Wild & Free” and “See You Again.” The two nights also brought Kenny Chesney, Cardi B, Weezer, Goo Goo Dolls, Muse, The Smashing Pumpkins, Ciara, and a surprise appearance by Wiz Khalifa during Snoop’s set, with Ryan Seacrest hosting.

Zara Larsson seen from behind at the edge of the stage in metallic pink boots, facing a packed T-Mobile Arena crowd as flower-shaped confetti and green lasers fill the air.

Snoop Dogg laughs beside surprise guest Wiz Khalifa, who raps in a black cap and sunglasses, in front of a palm-lined record store backdrop on the video screens.

More From the Weekend

Here are more frames from both nights, in the order I photographed them. Friday brought Kenny Chesney, Weezer, Goo Goo Dolls, Cardi B and Zara Larsson, and Saturday ran from Benson Boone through Muse, The Smashing Pumpkins, Lainey Wilson, Ciara and Snoop Dogg.

Kenny Chesney in a straw cowboy hat and navy henley sings into a microphone and points toward fans, stage lights glowing orange and white behind him at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Goo Goo Dolls frontman John Rzeznik laughs mid-song in a black tank top, playing an acoustic guitar beside a rainbow-wrapped mic stand, warm amber stage light glowing behind him.

Zara Larsson in a pink top, denim shorts and metallic pink boots sings into a sparkly microphone while two dancers in bright pastel outfits pose beside her against a pale blue screen.

Zara Larsson in purple and denim sings at the front of a tight line of dancers in pastel outfits, a red backdrop behind them and their reflections on the glossy stage floor.

Zara Larsson and her dancers bend forward in a synchronized hair flip, blonde hair flying above them, wearing pastel crop tops, shorts and metallic gloves against a hot pink backdrop.

Zara Larsson stands still with a microphone at her side in a wrapped purple sequin top, denim shorts and blue metallic gloves, framed by a soft pink and orange gradient backdrop.

Benson Boone seen from behind in a fringed black leather vest, singing toward a blinding white stage light with soft blue and green circles of light scattered across the frame.

Benson Boone in a fringed black vest and white jeans gazes upward holding a microphone at his waist, a small purple light glowing above him in the dark arena.

Muse frontman Matt Bellamy seen from behind in a light-up jacket and red pants, arm raised with a microphone as confetti drifts through a beam of light over the T-Mobile Arena crowd.

Muse's Matt Bellamy grins with both arms spread wide, pointing upward in a black leather jacket over a graphic tee, set against a deep teal background.

Lainey Wilson in her signature wide-brim cowboy hat stands in near silhouette holding a black acoustic guitar, long hair and flowing fringe outlined against a soft pale backdrop.

Lainey Wilson in a cream cowboy hat and flowing sheer duster sings into a microphone at the left of the frame, a single spotlight shining through a dark purple haze over the arena.

Lainey Wilson smiles with arms extended and a microphone in hand, her sheer cream duster sleeves draping wide over black leather pants as a guitarist plays behind her in soft focus.

Ciara in a headset microphone, graphic tee and black fringe pants dances center stage with her crew in black leather and silver studs, glowing white stairs lit behind them.

Ciara in voluminous blonde curls, a jeweled graphic tee and laced leather pants sings into her headset microphone as tall columns of pyro flames erupt in orange behind her.

Ciara in her graphic tee and studded gloves hits a move beside a dancer in a sparkling corset, the dancer softly blurred in the foreground against a dark green background.

A close detail of dark pants with Snoop Dogg spelled in sparkling rhinestones down the leg, a dancer in blue shorts blurred in the background under cool blue stage light.

Snoop Dogg in black sunglasses and a rhinestone paisley jacket raps into a gold microphone, gesturing with his free hand as soft round circles of light and light beams fill the dark background.

Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa dance side by side in front of a sunny palm tree and vintage record store set, Snoop holding a gold microphone and Wiz in a black cap and cargo shorts.

Working With a Las Vegas Concert Photographer

If you’re planning a concert, festival or live event and need a Las Vegas concert photographer, I’d be glad to hear about it. You can see more of my work in my photo portfolio or get in touch here.