You’re sitting in a dark, dirt-filled arena. It smells like sawdust and horse sweat. Suddenly, a man in full plate armor charges past your face at twenty miles per hour, screaming about honor. This is Tournament of Kings. If you’re looking for a medieval dinner Las Vegas experience, this is the only name that actually matters. It’s been a staple at the Excalibur Hotel & Casino since the place opened its drawbridge in 1990, though it’s gone through several iterations to become the high-production stunt show it is today.
Most people think these shows are just for kids. They aren't. Honestly, watching a grown man get "unhorsed" by a wooden lance while you’re tearing apart a Cornish game hen with your bare hands is a primal kind of fun that transcends age. There’s no silverware. None. You get a bowl of "Dragon’s Blood" (tomato soup) and a whole bird. If you want a fork, you’re in the wrong century.
Why Tournament of Kings is the Only Medieval Dinner Las Vegas Game in Town
Vegas is a graveyard of dinner shows. Over the decades, we’ve seen everything from pirate battles to jousting tournaments come and go. But the Tournament of Kings at Excalibur has outlasted them all because it leans into the absurdity of the "medieval" theme while keeping the stunts surprisingly high-stakes.
The arena is a 900-seat theater-in-the-round. This is key. It means there isn't a bad seat in the house, but it also means the horses are literally feet away from your dinner plate. The show is loosely based on the legend of King Arthur. You’re seated in sections named after different countries—Ireland, Spain, France, Austria—and you’re expected to cheer for your specific knight. It gets loud. Really loud. If you have sensory issues or don't like shouting, this might be a nightmare, but for everyone else, the tribalism is half the fun.
The Real Cost of Being a Knight
Being a performer in this medieval dinner Las Vegas staple isn't just about looking good in a tunic. These actors are legitimate athletes. They have to manage heavy armor while performing choreographed stage combat and high-speed equestrian stunts.
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- Training takes months.
- The lances are designed to shatter (for safety and effect), but the impact is still real.
- Performers often rotate roles to prevent burnout.
The horses are the real stars, though. They use various breeds, mostly Andalusians and Quarter Horses, chosen for their temperament. In a room full of pyrotechnics and screaming tourists, you need a horse that doesn't lose its mind. The animal husbandry team at Excalibur is actually quite renowned in the industry for how they maintain the health and stress levels of these animals in a basement-level arena.
Forget the Silverware: The Food Situation
Let's talk about the meal. It’s fixed. You don't get a menu. The standard fare includes that famous "Dragon’s Blood" soup, a piece of broccoli (the "tree"), a potato wedge, and the centerpiece: a whole roasted Cornish game hen.
People complain about the lack of forks. Get over it. It’s part of the immersion. The soup is served in a bowl with a handle, so you drink it like coffee. The hen is usually tender enough that you can pull it apart with your fingers without looking like a total barbarian, though by the end of the night, the floor is usually covered in crumbs and the napkins are doing heavy lifting.
They do offer vegetarian and vegan options, usually a pasta or a vegetable-heavy dish, but you have to request these in advance or right when you sit down. Gluten-free options are also available. Don't expect a five-star culinary experience. You're paying for the "dinner and a show" bundle, and the "show" part of that equation is where the budget went. The food is salty, warm, and filling. It’s "Vegas Medieval," which is to say, it’s basically upscale rotisserie chicken.
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The Physics of the Joust
The jousting is the main event. It’s not just guys riding past each other. The lances used in the medieval dinner Las Vegas show are made of lightweight wood, specifically designed to splinter upon impact. This creates that dramatic "explosion" of wood chips you see under the spotlights.
However, the timing is incredibly precise. If a rider is off by a fraction of a second, the lance won't hit the shield correctly, and the "fall" won't look believable. The riders use a specialized saddle that allows them to "fall" backward off the horse safely while making it look like they’ve been blasted into the dirt.
Pyrotechnics and Special Effects
The show underwent a major refresh a few years back. They added more sophisticated lighting and modern pyrotechnics. There’s a villain, of course—Mordred—who shows up with fire and shadow to ruin King Arthur’s party. The use of fire in an indoor arena requires massive ventilation systems. If you look up, you’ll see the industrial-grade HVAC units working overtime to keep the air breathable while the knights are duking it out below.
How to Actually Get Tickets Without Overpaying
Vegas is the land of the "convenience fee." If you walk up to the box office at Excalibur thirty minutes before showtime, you’re going to pay top dollar.
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- Check the MGM Rewards App: If you’re staying at an MGM property, there are often discounts buried in the app.
- Locals Discounts: If you have a Nevada ID, you can almost always get a break on the price at the physical box office.
- Avoid the Front Row? Actually, in this theater, the front row is awesome but expect to get a little "arena dust" on your food. If you’re a clean freak, sit three rows back.
The show runs twice nightly most days, usually at 6:00 PM and 8:30 PM. The early show is packed with families. The late show tends to have a slightly more "rowdy" adult crowd, especially because the bar is open throughout the performance.
Beyond the Arena: The Medieval Vibe in Vegas
Excalibur itself is a bit of a relic. It’s a giant white castle with neon blue and red turrets. While the rest of the Strip is moving toward "ultra-modern luxury" (think Fontainbleau or Resorts World), Excalibur stays firmly planted in the 90s kitsch.
This works in your favor. It’s one of the few places where you can still find a relatively affordable medieval dinner Las Vegas experience without needing a mortgage. The "Fun Dungeon" downstairs is a massive arcade that keeps the theme going, and even the gift shops are leaned heavily into the swords-and-sorcery aesthetic.
Is it historically accurate? Absolutely not. Real medieval dinners involved a lot more cabbage, much less salt, and significantly more political tension. But as a piece of theater, it’s a masterclass in "Vegas Spectacle." You come here to cheer, to hiss at the villain, and to eat a bird with your hands.
Actionable Steps for Your Visit
To get the most out of the experience, don't just show up and sit down. Follow these steps to ensure you aren't disappointed:
- Arrive 30 minutes early. The seating process is a bit chaotic because they have to fill the "kingdoms" in a specific order. If you’re late, you might end up in a corner seat with a slightly obscured view of the king’s table.
- Wash your hands. Since you’re eating with your fingers, hit the restroom before the show starts. The wet-naps they provide are tiny and barely stand a chance against greasy chicken skin.
- Engage with your Knight. The performers feed off the energy. If your section is silent, the "Knight of Ireland" isn't going to go as hard during the crowd-work segments. Scream, bang on the tables, and fully commit to the bit.
- Skip the "Souvenir" Drink. They’ll try to sell you a light-up souvenir mug. It’s expensive and most people leave them in their hotel room because they’re bulky to pack. Stick to the standard beverage included with the meal unless you really want a plastic chalice.
- Check the Schedule. Tournament of Kings usually takes Tuesdays or Wednesdays off, depending on the season. Always check the official MGM calendar before planning your night around it.
Ultimately, the draw of a medieval dinner Las Vegas is the permission to be loud and messy in a city that usually demands you be "cool." It’s the antithesis of a fancy lounge at the Wynn. It’s loud, it’s greasy, and it’s one of the few things in Vegas that feels exactly the same as it did thirty years ago—in a good way.