Some artists tour the world. Others set up camp and let the world come to them. These 10 residencies were musical landmarks. They changed careers, cities, and sometimes even entire genres.
1. Elvis Presley – Las Vegas Hilton (1969–1976)
When Elvis returned to live performance in 1969, he chose Vegas—and never looked back. With over 600 shows at the Las Vegas Hilton, he brought glitz, jumpsuits, and charisma to the desert like no one else. This residency redefined his career and laid the blueprint for what a Vegas residency could be.
2. Prince – The Forum, Los Angeles (2011)
In a whirlwind of 21 shows at The Forum, Prince turned a classic L.A. venue into his personal playground. No two nights were the same, with rotating setlists, surprise guests, and jaw-dropping performances. It felt like the Purple One opened a portal to another world—and invited the whole city inside.
3. Billy Joel – Madison Square Garden (2014–present)
Since 2014, Billy Joel has been playing one show a month at Madison Square Garden, a love letter to the city that made him. With each sold-out performance, he’s proven that a hometown hero can keep packing the house with nothing but a piano, a voice, and a back catalog of classics.
4. Céline Dion – Caesars Palace, Las Vegas (2003–2007; 2011–2019)
Céline Dion didn’t just move to Vegas—she helped reinvent it. Her first residency was so successful that Caesars built a $95 million theater just for her. With powerhouse vocals and elegant staging, she elevated the concept of a residency into something majestic.
5. The Beatles – Hamburg, Germany (1960–1962)
Before Beatlemania took over the world, The Beatles were grinding it out in Hamburg clubs, playing hours every night for rowdy crowds. These early residencies shaped their sound, chemistry, and confidence. Hamburg is where The Beatles became a band.
6. Lady Gaga – Park MGM, Las Vegas (2018–present)
Lady Gaga’s residency offered fans two sides of the same star: the avant-garde energy of her pop show Enigma, and the classy, old-Hollywood vibe of Jazz & Piano. It was a bold and brilliant way to showcase her range—and prove that Vegas is about reinvention and celebration.
7. Frank Sinatra – Sands Hotel, Las Vegas (1953–1967)
Sinatra owned the room at the Sands—he. With the Rat Pack often dropping by and a cigarette never far away, these shows defined Vegas cool in the ’50s and ’60s. The residency helped turn Las Vegas into a global entertainment capital.
8. Adele – Caesars Palace, Las Vegas (2022–2023)
After a bumpy start and a delayed launch, Adele’s Weekends With Adele proved worth the wait. Raw, emotional, and often hilarious, the residency showcased her powerhouse vocals and down-to-earth charm. Fans were sitting in on something deeply personal.
9. Bruce Springsteen – Broadway (2017–2018; 2021)
Springsteen’s Broadway run was a revelation. Alone on stage with a guitar or piano, he told stories of his childhood, fame, and dreams with poetic detail. It stripped away the stadium roar and offered something rare: an intimate portrait of the man behind the myth.
10. Phish – Madison Square Garden (2011–present)
Phish’s annual New Year’s runs at Madison Square Garden have become a rite of passage for jam band fans. With no two setlists ever the same, elaborate stage antics, and marathon performances, the band has transformed MSG into their home turf. These residencies are immersive, communal celebrations of spontaneity and sound.
These residencies were cultural landmarks. Night after night, they turned venues into temples, cities into legends, and performers into icons.