If you thought Las Vegas had reached its limit on over-the-top moments, last night proved there is always room for one more spectacle on the Strip. In a collaboration that felt as unexpected as it was perfectly theatrical, Disney dropped Mickey Mouse into the center of Formula 1 race week and let him conduct the Bellagio fountains in a production that stopped pedestrians, stunned viewers tuning in through ESPN, and immediately began circulating across social platforms within minutes.
The performance took place directly in front of the Bellagio, where Mickey, dressed in his Maestro-style attire, stepped into the spotlight and raised a baton as the fountains exploded into action. The water jets followed his cues with surprising precision. Fireworks erupted above the Strip. Projection mapping transformed the Bellagio tower into a shimmering backdrop that pulsed in time with the music. Even the Sphere joined the show, swapping its usual rotation of visual effects for a full takeover of Mickey faces that glowed, blinked, and shifted across the enormous LED dome. People who caught it live described it as a Disney show layered on top of Vegas energy, with a bit of Fantasmic’s theatrical DNA sprinkled throughout.
Reporter Scott Gustin shared “Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse at the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix.”
Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse at the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix.
📸 Disney / Bennett Stoops pic.twitter.com/SVaup6Chc1
— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) November 22, 2025
It was all done as part of the build-up to this year’s Las Vegas Grand Prix, marking one of the loudest signals yet that Disney is weaving itself directly into Formula 1’s global entertainment strategy.
The Show Itself: Bellagio’s Fountains Get the Full Disney Treatment
While Las Vegas has seen numerous special fountain sequences over the years, what happened last night was on another level. Disney Live Entertainment developed a standalone production specifically for Formula 1 race week—something tailored to the city, the event, and the character leading it.
EPSN shared a video of the performance on X stating, “UNREAL 🤩
Mickey Mouse led the Bellagio Fountain Show 🔥”
UNREAL 🤩
Mickey Mouse led the Bellagio Fountain Show 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Fu2nizwoiD
— ESPN (@espn) November 23, 2025
The performance included:
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A custom musical arrangement mixing orchestral swells with race-inspired beats
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High-intensity fountain patterns choreographed to Mickey’s gestures
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Projection mapping that burst into color and motion across the Bellagio tower
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Fireworks that surrounded the area in coordinated bursts
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A finale that brought the show to a sharp and dramatic close
The Maestro Mickey role was central to the entire production, echoing his appearances in Fantasia and nighttime spectaculars found in Disney parks, but the styling was louder, brighter, and more in line with the sensory overload Las Vegas is known for. For a few minutes, the Strip became its own version of a Disney lagoon show—without water screens or characters sailing across boats, but with enough theatrical punch to feel like something Disney could announce as a traveling live event.
Disney’s Collaboration with Formula 1 Becomes Impossible to Ignore
Last night’s show was not a one-off stunt. It tied directly into Disney and Formula 1’s ongoing collaboration under the “Fuel the Magic” initiative—a partnership set to run through 2027. The goal is to blend the creative reach of Disney with the global footprint of Formula 1, and last night’s fountain display served as one of the first large-scale demonstrations of what this partnership can look like when both companies bring their best teams to the table.
Beginning in 2026, the collaboration expands worldwide. Mickey, Minnie, and other classic Disney characters are expected to appear at select races across the F1 calendar, bringing themed activations, entertainment offerings, and creative integrations to various international locations. While details for those future events haven’t been fully detailed publicly, the Bellagio moment made it clear that this partnership is not about subtle branding. It is about high-visibility, high-impact entertainment that blends Disney spectacle with F1’s momentum.
Disney’s Presence Across Las Vegas Grand Prix Weekend
Disney extended far beyond the Bellagio spectacle throughout the race weekend. Several activations took place earlier in the day, building anticipation long before the fountains came to life.
Disneyland Band Brings Anniversary Celebration to the Track
The Disneyland Band, which is currently celebrating its seventieth anniversary, performed the National Anthem on race day. Their appearance brought a classic piece of Disneyland heritage straight into an arena known for roaring engines and global competition.
Mickey and Minnie’s Local Outreach
Earlier in the morning, Mickey and Minnie attended a community event for children in Las Vegas, offering a grounded, family-friendly moment amid an otherwise high-intensity weekend.
Characters Visit the Pitlane
During the customary pitlane walk ahead of qualifying, Mickey and Friends made an appearance, greeting fans and touring the area as teams performed their final preparations. Guests holding main grandstand tickets had the chance to see the characters interact with the uniquely technical environment of F1 race prep.
ESPN Captures the Entire Disney Takeover
ESPN carried the fountain performance and other Disney activations throughout its coverage yesterday, broadcasting the collaboration to viewers across the United States.
Disney x Formula 1 Collection Debuts in Las Vegas
Another major highlight tied to the festivities was the release of the Disney x Formula 1 Collection, a limited-edition merchandise line themed to the Las Vegas Grand Prix and classic Disney characters. The collection premiered at the F1 Las Vegas Hub presented by American Express inside The Venetian Resort and became available online through DisneyStore.com in North America.
The line features apparel and accessories designed to appeal to both Disney collectors and racing fans, creating a crossover product that blends character-driven design with sleek Formula 1 aesthetics.
What Last Night Means for Future Disney x F1 Collaborations
The Bellagio performance sets a new standard for how Formula 1 incorporates entertainment into race weekends. While concerts and light shows have long been part of the international race circuit, this was the first time Disney produced something on this scale directly for an F1 event—and it immediately reframed expectations for what these partnerships can become.
Live spectators described the moment as something they hadn’t seen in Vegas before. Disney fans recognized the technical sophistication that typically goes into the company’s park-based nighttime spectaculars. Formula 1 followers saw how the race experience could expand beyond the track without losing focus on the main event. And casual tourists simply stood on the sidewalks, phones raised, trying to capture a moment that felt too surreal to miss.
Disney and Formula 1 appear to be gearing up for years of increasingly ambitious entertainment offerings. If last night is only the start, it suggests there may be more groundbreaking live moments to come—possibly even at other race locations around the world.
