The 2026 Concert-City Combo: Best Destinations from The Points Guy’s List for Music Lovers

Beat the last-minute planning headache: music-first weekend trips tied to The Points Guy’s 2026 picks

Struggling to pull together a weekend getaway when a major tour or residency drops? You’re not alone. Last-minute tickets, confusing residency rules, and scattered festival info turn what should be a simple music escape into a logistics slog. This guide solves that: I cross-referenced The Points Guy’s “17 best places for 2026” with the biggest residencies, festivals and major tours of 2026 to build plug-and-play, music-first weekend plans—complete with booking tips for points and last-minute deals.

Why 2026 is the year to travel for live music

Live music travel in 2026 has three defining trends:

• Residencies and immersive venues scale up — venues like the Sphere have become magnet destinations, not just stages. (See Phish’s Spring 2026 Sphere run.) Micro-experience thinking is now applied to big immersive runs.
• Festival calendars normalize after pandemic disruptions, and promoters are banking on multi-weekend events and city-based satellite stages.
• Points-and-packages grow smarter — airlines, hotel groups and ticket partners increasingly bundle concert packages, so redeeming miles for a music weekend is easier than ever. See also playbooks about how short pop-ups and packages scale into revenue engines for hosts.

“Make 2026 the year you stop hoarding points for ‘someday’ and book that trip.” — The Points Guy travel team (Jan. 16, 2026)

Below are music-focused recommendations built around the Points Guy picks: each city includes the biggest live-music hooks for 2026, a practical 48-hour weekend itinerary, and point- and ticket-booking tactics tailored for commuters and last-minute weekend warriors.

How to use this guide

1. Scan the city list and pick a music hook (residency, festival, big tour).
2. Follow the 48-hour sketch and booking tips to lock flights, seats and a cheap last-minute stay.
3. Use the points strategies to offset flights or hotels and check the “insider” local tips for low-friction transit and food options.

Top concert-city combos from The Points Guy’s 17 picks (music-first travel plans for 2026)

Las Vegas — Why go now: Sphere residencies & immersive shows

What’s happening: The Sphere remains the leading immersive venue in 2026. Major residencies and limited-run productions (notably Phish’s multi-night spring residency) have made Vegas a must for music travelers who want tech-forward shows.

48-hour weekend plan:

• Friday night: Fly in early, check into a centrally located hotel on the Strip (opt for flexible cancellation). Dinner at a music-bar near the venue.
• Saturday: Daytime pool or quick show at a lounge; evening Sphere show (leave 90+ minutes buffer for Sphere security and ID-check lines).
• Sunday: Brunch, quick Neon Museum visit, redeye or late-afternoon flight home.

Booking & points tips:

• TPG-style points move: Use transferable points to book a refundable hotel room near the Sphere, then shop concert resale if primary tickets sell out.
• Residency tickets often release in waves; sign up for venue newsletters and verified fan registries ahead of drop days.
• Beat transit friction: book a hotel with free airport shuttles or use shared rides timed for pre- and post-show rush.

San Juan, Puerto Rico — Why go now: artist residencies and Super Bowl spotlight

What’s happening: Puerto Rico returned to the top of music travel lists after several high-profile residencies and the global spotlight around 2025–26 performances. Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime slot (2026) and continuing headline runs at Coliseo de Puerto Rico have strengthened San Juan’s pull.

48-hour weekend plan:

• Friday evening: Fly into SJU, stay in Santurce for nightlife access. Sample late-night salsa clubs.
• Saturday: Beach morning, afternoon museum or local record shop crawl; evening residency show at Coliseo or a pop-up beach concert.
• Sunday: Old San Juan walking tour, early dinner, head home.

Booking & points tips:

• Points hacks: direct flights to SJU can be crowded—use award alerts and midweek departures to lower the miles price.
• Residency tickets: check artist/venue presales and local promoter bundles; hotel + ticket packages often appear for residency runs. For ideas on how venues and retailers turn short events into sustainable offers, see playbooks on scaling pop-ups and packages.

Sources: Rolling Stone coverage of Bad Bunny’s high-profile appearances and local residencies (Jan. 2026).

Austin / Central Texas — Why go now: steady year-round scene + festival season

What’s happening: Austin continues as a festival and live-music incubator—beyond SXSW, smaller curated residency weekends and Americana tours use Austin as a launchpad in 2026.

48-hour weekend plan:

• Friday: Live music on Sixth Street or East Austin bars; pick a late-night local set.
• Saturday: Daytime vinyl shops and barbecue; catch an evening show at ACL Live or a neighborhood dive.
• Sunday: Chill brunch, outdoor mural walk, fly home.

Booking & points tips:

• Use hotel points for a downtown stay; book weekday nights with miles for cheaper award rates.
• Smaller club shows often release tickets closer to the date—follow venue socials and local promoters for pop-up announcements.

Nashville — Why go now: residencies, publishing showcases and Opry nights

What’s happening: Country and Americana residencies, plus industry showcases, make Nashville a reliable music weekend. Residency-style runs by established artists are increasing as labels invest in destination shows.

48-hour weekend plan:

• Friday: Honky-tonk crawl on Broadway, early rooftop dinner.
• Saturday: Songwriter breakfast + studio session tours; evening residency or Grand Ole Opry performance.
• Sunday: Brunch and museum; afternoon flight home.

Booking & points tips:

• Check artist club presales and Opry membership packages; both often include ticket and seating tiers you can use to plan.
• Redeem hotel points in the Gulch or Midtown for walkable access to venues and shorter rideshares after shows.

New Orleans — Why go now: Carnival season + Jazz and heritage residencies

What’s happening: New Orleans blends festival culture with nightly live music—2026 sees expanded heritage residencies and late-winter Carnival programming that pairs perfectly with a weekend escape.

48-hour weekend plan:

• Friday: Arrival and French Quarter jazz stroll; late-night music at an intimate club.
• Saturday: Daytime cultural tours, evening headline or residency show (many venues host special Carnival-adjacent performances).
• Sunday: Brunch and local cemetery/architecture tour before departure.

Booking & points tips:

• For festival-adjacent weekends, book flights 6–8 weeks out and use hotel points for flexibility; small hotels can spike in price for Carnival.
• Pack light—short strolls and rideshares are the fastest way to hop between clubs.

London — Why go now: West End residencies, festival runs and big tours

What’s happening: Post-2025 touring patterns show longer European residencies and city-based festival add-ons. London’s West End and arena residencies are attracting global fans who combine theatre and arena nights in one trip.

48-hour weekend plan:

• Friday: Evening arena or West End show.
• Saturday: Record-shop crawl in Camden, evening small-venue gig.
• Sunday: Market morning, late flight home.

Booking & points tips:

• Use transferable points to book premium economy for overnight flights and save energy for late shows.
• Book tickets as soon as presales open—UK dates sell quickly, especially for residency runs. If you’re worried about identity checks and local policy, check Ofcom and related guidance.

Barcelona / Primavera-style cities — Why go now: early-summer festival windows

What’s happening: Festivals in Southern Europe in 2026 continue to lean on city-based programming—more satellite stages and curated local artist showcases make these cities ideal for culture-and-concert weekends.

48-hour weekend plan:

• Friday: Late arrival, tapas and a small local show.
• Saturday: Full festival or curated daytime stages; evening headliner set.
• Sunday: Beach time and early flight home.

Booking & points tips:

• Festival weekends book months in advance. If you’re last-minute, target weekday showcases or the festival’s peripheral events; tools for local event organizing and planning can make these quick options manageable.
• Use flexible award dates to lock a midweek flight, then shift with the airline’s change policy if needed.

Mexico City — Why go now: arena tours + underground scenes

What’s happening: Mexico City remains a major tour stop for global artists and has an explosive local underground scene. In 2026, promoters stagger big tours to include extra arena dates, giving weekend travelers options.

48-hour weekend plan:

• Friday: Sample Condesa/ Roma nightlife and a late club set.
• Saturday: Museum morning and evening arena show or curated local showcase.
• Sunday: Food-focused morning, head to airport.

Booking & points tips:

• Use airline alliances for award availability—late-night redeye flights often have better award inventory.
• Buy tickets early for arena shows; for club shows, follow venue socials for instant drops.

Tokyo — Why go now: sold-out global acts + unique venue experiences

What’s happening: Japan’s live-music ecosystem in 2026 prioritizes multi-night runs with strong fan-club presales. Tokyo’s intimate venues and massive arenas both offer unique travel draws.

48-hour weekend plan:

• Friday: Arrive and visit an izakaya followed by a live house set in Shibuya.
• Saturday: Explore daytime neighborhoods; evening arena or club performance.
• Sunday: Quick market breakfast and depart.

Booking & points tips:

• Fan-club presales matter in Japan—join artist mailing lists months ahead for the best shot.
• Use flexible airline awards; Japan-bound international award space often opens around schedule changes in late spring.

Los Angeles / Coachella region — Why go now: festival season and residencies

What’s happening: Coachella-style festival weekends and L.A. residencies keep Southern California at the top for music travel. L.A. acts often add residency nights around festival dates.

48-hour weekend plan:

• Friday: Fly into LAX, quick gig in Hollywood.
• Saturday: Drive or shuttle to Indio for Coachella or attend a curated LA festival event; evening headliner set.
• Sunday: Recovery brunch, local open-mic or museum, fly home.

Booking & points tips:

• Festival bundles: hotels sell packages—compare points redemption vs. package pricing to see which saves money. See playbooks on turning short events and pop-ups into repeatable revenue engines for hosts.
• Reserve rental cars early if your weekend includes Indio or Palm Springs travel; shuttle services fill fast.

Berlin — Why go now: cutting-edge electronic residencies and synth-pop tours

What’s happening: Berlin’s club residencies and experimental music nights remain cultural pillars. 2026 saw more international artists arranging Berlin multiday residencies as European stopovers.

48-hour weekend plan:

• Friday: Late-night club set in Kreuzberg or Mitte.
• Saturday: Daytime street culture; evening multiday residency night.
• Sunday: Coffee, park time, depart.

Booking & points tips:

• Many Berlin clubs use limited-capacity queues; arrive early or book guest-list access if available.
• Use night trains or off-peak flights for cheaper award redemptions.

Advanced strategies for music travelers in 2026

These tactics reflect late-2025 and early-2026 shifts in ticketing, venue tech, and loyalty programs.

• Bundle tickets + stays: Many venues and hotels now offer verified packages—use transferable points to secure the hotel and pay for the ticket if the bundle is cheaper than award nights alone. See guides on how short pop-ups and experience bundles scale economically for hosts and partners.
• Use verified-fan and identity-verified presales: Residencies often use identity-verified platforms; have your mobile ID and payment method ready.
• Leverage dynamic award alerts: Set alerts for multiple origin airports—the best award space for weekend flights often comes from a nearby secondary airport.
• Plan for immersive shows: For venues like the Sphere, arrive early; these shows have longer pre- and post-show flows (immersion tech makes entry slower but the experience is next-level).
• Buy refundable travel insurance that covers ticket resale gaps: If your schedule changes and the ticket is nonrefundable, some travel insurance policies now cover concert cancellations for specific reasons—read policies closely.

Local-insider tips to lower friction

• Check public transit schedules around show end times—city buses and trains may run reduced services late at night. For connectivity and local plans, see the road-trip phone plan guide.
• Book a hotel within walking distance when possible; post-show rideshare surge pricing is the biggest hidden cost.
• Pack light and bring a portable power bank—digital tickets and venue apps are commonplace, and your phone is your boarding pass, ticket, wallet and map.
• Follow local promoters and venue socials for on-sale times and surprise pop-ups—many 2026 residencies added one-off guest nights announced only on socials. For how markets and stalls turned into micro-experience hubs, see playbooks on the topic.

Real-world example: Pulling the trip together in 72 hours

Scenario: You see that Phish announced a short Sphere run (Spring 2026) and The Points Guy flagged Las Vegas as a top travel pick. Here’s a quick plan:

1. Hour 1: Sign up for the Sphere’s newsletter and the artist’s verified-fan list.
2. Hour 2–6: Check award availability; use transferable points to hold a refundable hotel room near the Sphere.
3. Day 1: Grab a ticket on primary sale or trusted resale (use verified platforms); schedule flights that arrive a few hours before doors to avoid security bottlenecks.
4. Day 2: Confirm transport from hotel; arrive 90–120 minutes before curtain to clear immersive-venue entry protocols.
5. After-show: Use hotel concierge to book a nearby late-night spot or a quiet lounge—many residencies finish late.

What to watch in late 2026 and future predictions

Based on early-2026 developments, expect these shifts:

• More multi-weekend residencies: Artists and promoters prefer residency runs that reduce international travel strain and give fans more booking windows.
• Ticket-identity integration grows: Venues increasingly tie tickets to IDs to reduce fraud; plan for extra time during entry.
• Packages will mature: Hotel + ticket + transport deals will become cleaner and more widely available across loyalty programs, making music travel via points more frictionless.

Quick-reference checklist before you book

• Confirm show dates, venue entry rules and ID requirements.
• Compare hotel-point redemptions vs. paid bundle pricing.
• Check for presales and verified-fan registration deadlines.
• Set award alerts for multiple airports and midweek options.
• Bundle rideshares or local transit passes to avoid surge pricing.

Final takeaways

Use The Points Guy’s 2026 picks as your destination spark, then layer live-music calendars to build a focused weekend trip. In 2026, residencies and immersive venues—backed by smarter ticketing and evolving points packages—make music travel easier to book and more rewarding to experience.

Actionable first step: pick one residency or festival date, set a ticket presale alert, and lock a flexible hotel award—then read the 48-hour plan above for your city and go. The music is waiting.

Resources & further reading

• The Points Guy, "Where to go in 2026: The 17 best places to travel" (Jan. 16, 2026).
• Rolling Stone coverage of Phish’s 2026 Sphere residency announcement (Jan. 15, 2026).
• Rolling Stone coverage of Bad Bunny’s high-profile 2026 appearances and residency context (Jan. 16, 2026).

Ready to book your next music weekend?

Don’t let uncertainty steal a great weekend. Use the checklist above, pick a residency or festival date from this guide, and start a points alert now—then grab your ticket the moment presales hit. If you want a tailored plan, tell us the city and your points balance and we’ll map a weekend that maximizes music, minimizes friction and saves money.

Related Reading

• Traveler’s Guide 2026: Best Compact Console Carry Cases & Travel Kits — Field Tests and Packing Strategies
• The Road-Trip Phone Plan: How to Choose Connectivity When Renting a Car Abroad
• Cuktech 10,000mAh Wireless Charger Deep Dive: Throughput, Heat, and Everyday Use Cases
• From Stall to Studio: How Fresh Markets Became Micro‑Experience Hubs in 2026
• Turning Short Pop‑Ups into Sustainable Revenue Engines: An Advanced Playbook for Small Businesses (2026)
• Automated Campaign Dashboard for Transmedia Launches: Monitor Clues, Mentions, Backlinks and SERPs
• Technical SEO Audit Template for Marketplaces: Prioritizing Fixes that Increase Domain Listing Views
• Make Your Fundraiser Feel Personal at Scale: Six Automation Tactics That Still Sound Human
• Trend Watch: Why Cosiness Is Driving a Resurgence in Handmade Ceramics
• How 3D Printing Can Customize Your Baby's Nursery — Safe DIY Projects and What to Avoid