iLuminate: Best Seats & Seating Guide For The Las Vegas Show

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Hello there! Welcome to my seating guide for iLuminate at the Strat.

I recently saw the production and toured the entire theater, taking lots of notes and snapping photos from every section.

I’ve included all my tips and recommendations below to help you find the best possible seat for your budget.

So, let’s get this party started, shall we?

About the iLuminate Theater

Iluminate is at the Strat Theater inside the Strat Hotel & Casino. It has 620 seats and is a mid-size theater as far as Vegas goes.

One of the best things about this venue is the ample space between the rows, which ensures you won’t feel like you’re on top of the people in front of you.

However, this spacing makes the seating very spread out. For instance, if you sit just six or seven rows back, you’ll already be in the middle of the theater.

That doesn’t mean sitting as close as possible is better here, though. The front rows are lower than the stage, sometimes making it harder to get a big-picture view.

So, I suggest checking out my pictures below before deciding where to sit. Each section has pros and cons, and the tickets have a pretty hefty price difference, too!

Seating Chart

Iluminate has four seating areas at different cost levels: VIP Booths, VIP, Preferred, and Gallery. Each section offers various types of seats, including booths, tables, and stand-alone chairs. 

Tickets for iLuminate are priced based on comfort, proximity to the stage, and view.

• VIP Booths: $$$$
• VIP: $$$
• Preferred: $$
• Gallery: $

Places To Sit

Below is a quick overview of my observations of each seating section. I’ve also included some pictures showing the views of the stage.

Gallery

The Gallery features individual chairs in the last five rows of the theater. They’re well-cushioned but don’t come with a table, so you won’t have a place to put a beverage.

Although this section is higher than the one in front of it, there’s no height difference between the rows in the Gallery.

So, if you want to sit here, I’d get tickets in the first two rows to limit the number of heads in your sightline.

Another critical thing to know: The center section of the Gallery is next to the sound booth. 

So, I’d avoid chairs 1-5 in A-C and AA-CC as any movement or sounds in the booth may be distracting during the show.

Here’s what the chairs in the Gallery section look like:

This picture shows the stage view from the Gallery in row AA at seat number 9:

Preferred

Preferred is the largest area, with over 295 seats. Again, this section tends to be the most popular because it’s at a lower price point and is (mostly) in the center.

I like this location because you can choose from every available seat type. For instance, you can reserve a booth, table, half-circle table, or stand-alone chair.

But it’s important to know that Preferred is divided into two parts, separated by a floor level change, i.e., a few steps.

The first part is in the middle of the room, while the second is towards the back. (I think it’s better to sit in the front part if possible.)

Here’s a picture showing iLuminate’s tables and booths in the Preferred section:

Preferred: First Level

This image is the line of sight from Preferred booth 3:

The following photo is again from the first level of Preferred but just off to the side. I took this from Preferred row B, seat 1:

Preferred: Second Level

Here’s a picture from the second Preferred level, showing the view from table 13:

I snapped the next photo from Preferred table 21. This is one row behind the picture above:

VIP

Most VIP seats are in the first three rows of the theater. But there is one VIP row of half-circle tables behind the VIP booths.

The VIP tables closest to the performers are about four or five feet lower than the stage. Some of these wrap around the sides of the stage, too.

So, if you get tickets for 1-26, you’ll have to look up at the dancers somewhat. And unless you’re right in the middle, it may be harder to get a full view of all the effects.

On the positive side, you’ll see the performers up close sitting here and may even get to interact with them.

VIP: Lower Level

I sat at table 23, chair number 4, and this was the view from my seat:

VIP: Upper Level

The following photo shows the view from the upper section at a half-circle table. Here, you’ll have a broader view than the lower level, but you’ll be further back.

This is the sightline from VIP 34:

VIP Booth

VIP booths are the most expensive ticket option at the iLuminate show.

They cost more because they’re the most comfortable. And because they provide an excellent view of everything happening on stage.

These booths are also higher than the tables in front of them, so you shouldn’t have any heads in your sightline.

But I’d steer clear of a booth’s side seats (1 & 5) to avoid having to reposition yourself to watch the dancers.

Here’s a picture of booths 3-5:

My next photo shows the line of sight from VIP booth 5:

Best Seats

At many other Las Vegas shows, the front row is often the best, but I didn’t find that to be the case at iLuminate.

(I thought the front row was a tad too close to get the full effect of the lights.)

So, if budget isn’t a constraint, I think the best seats are the VIP booths.

My first choice is for booth #4, followed by #3 and #5. However, again, I’d sit in the middle if possible so you’re not on the sides of a booth.

Excellent Value

After walking around the theater, I think the best value seating is on the first Preferred level in the middle.

Specifically, Preferred tables 5-10 and Preferred booths 3-8.

If I go again at some point, I’ll try to sit here to save some money over VIP.

Here’s what the view is like from Preferred tbl 5:

Locations I Don’t Recommend

I’m not fond of the show’s semi-circle tables, including the ones in the VIP section.

They look (and feel) tight as they seat four people at half the size of the regular ones.

You can see how the semi-circle tables are up against the wall in my photo here:

Also, chairs 1 and 4 are so close to the half-wall that there is hardly any legroom.

That said, you may be able to scoot over some or move the chair back a little. But overall, I think these are not as ideal, especially if you have more than two people in your group.

So, I’d skip the following locations:

• Preferred: Tbl 3, 4, 11, 12 and 13-19
• VIP: 29-35

My Final Thoughts

I sat at VIP 23 and thought it was a great spot.

But if I go again, I think I’d like to try sitting a bit further back. That way, I’ll have a more expansive view of the dancers and lighting illusions.

However, I still recommend buying VIP tickets if you want the best chance of dancing with a performer.

At the show I attended, a gentleman sitting at a VIP table got to go on stage and have a dance-off with one of the dancers. He had a great time up there, and the crowd loved it.

I also noticed that guests at the VIP tables and in the front section of Preferred got to interact a lot with the cast.

So, if you want to participate, you may want to keep those two things in mind when picking out your location. 🙂