Elvis Week 2025 kicked off today at Elvis Presley’s Graceland in Memphis. The nine-day celebration (August 8th to 16th) welcomes thousands of fans from around the world that have made a pilgrimage to Memphis to celebrate the life, music, and legacy of Elvis Presley with live performances, panels, contests, new exhibit openings, the annual Candlelight Vigil, and more.
Elvis Week 2025 features an unforgettable lineup. Highlights include:
- Elvis: Live on Stage (August 16), a big-screen Elvis experience with a live band;
- A Night in Elvis’ Hollywood (August 13), celebrating his film career with co-stars and live music;
- an Elvis Music Salute (August 14), featuring artists who shared the stage and studio with Elvis;
- Conversations on Elvis (August 15), with intimate stories from his friends and colleagues.
- Plus, experience the excitement of the 2025 live tributes.
The cornerstone event of the week will be the annual Candlelight Vigil on August 15 at Graceland’s front gate. Elvis music sets the tone of the evening as fans walk up the driveway to Meditation Garden. This event lasts throughout the night as thousands of participants gather on Elvis Presley Boulevard to listen to music, share memories, and view memorials that are created by fans along the street. The Candlelight Vigil ceremony will also be streamed live online for free for fans around the world to watch.
Confirmed Elvis Week guests include:
- Elvis’ friend Jerry Schilling;
- Elvis’ girlfriend Linda Thompson;
- singer/songwriter Tony Orlando;
- Larry Gatlin, singer/songwriter for Elvis’ hits "Help Me" and "Bitter They Are, Harder They Fall";
- Charlie McCoy, Nashville studio legend; legendary bassist Norbert Putnam;
- Peter Guralnick, author of the new book release The Colonel and The King;
- Elvis co-stars Marlyn Mason (The Trouble with Girls) and Robin and Gavin Koon (Follow that Dream);
- former member of JD Sumner and the Stamps Quartet Larry Strickland;
- Sweet Inspiration Estelle Brown;
- singer Brenda Lee;
- …among many others.
Graceland will also honor Elvis’ Imperials at Conversations on Elvis on August 15 with their induction into Graceland Legends – celebrating their contribution to Elvis’ musical legacy. Appearing to accept their honor and share stories will be Terry Blackwood, Greg Gordon, Jim Murray and Roger Wiles.
Elvis Week 2025 kicks off tonight with the first of four nights of Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist shows! The Ultimate Return, happening tonight, features a high-energy tribute spanning Elvis' iconic decades. The Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest Semifinal and Final Round take place on August 9 and 10, where 20 Elvis tribute artists from around the globe will compete for the coveted title of Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist champion.
For fans who are unable to attend in person, Graceland offers a Virtual Elvis Week pass for fans to experience concerts, contests, and conversations streamed live from the Graceland Soundstage. Virtual pass-holders can also re-watch events for up to 10 days after they aired. The Superfan Package includes a virtual tour of Graceland and Show & Tell of our 90 for 90 Exhibit. Pass information is available at >>> VirtualElvisWeek.com.
Some highlights are:
- Ultimate Elvis Gospel Celebration: 11am Aug 10
- 'Blue Hawaii' Luau and Screening: 7pm Aug 12 at Guest House Back Lawn
- 'Sunset Boulevard' Listening Party: 12:30pm Aug 13 Guest House Theater
- A Night in Elvis' Hollywood: 7pm Aug 13, Graceland Soundstage. Relive the magic of Elvis’ Hollywood years with Tom Brown, for a celebration of his 31 feature films.
- Elvis Sessions: The Nashville Cats: 2pm Aug 14, Guest House Theater - A peek behind the scenes of Elvis' famed Nashville recordings with Charlie McCoy and bassist Norbert Putnam
- Conversations on Elvis: 10am Aug. 15, Graceland Soundstage With Tony Orlando, Brenda Lee, dancer Sandy Kawelo, Peter Guralnick and Milton Smith, former piano player for JD Sumner and the Stamps Quartet.
- Candlelight Vigil: 8.30pm Aug 15, Gates of Graceland
- Elvis: Live on Stage: 7pm Aug 16, Graceland Soundstage
Graceland also opened two exhibitions: 'Colonel Parker and His World of Showbusiness', telling the story behind the man who helped build Elvis' worldwide fame and 'Graceland in Red' which takes visitors back to the 1974 redecoration of the Graceland mansion.
Visitors of the Parker exhibition gain a unique insight into Parker's behind-the-scenes role and his influence on Elvis's worldwide success. The exhibition features original documents, rare photographs, personal belongings, and never-before-seen memorabilia. From his early days as a Dutch immigrant and show promoter to his strategic approach to merchandising and media, "The Colonel" paints a multifaceted and sometimes surprising picture of one of the most talked-about figures in music history.
For a full schedule more information and tickets see the >>> ElvisWeek.com website, you can also check the Memphis Commercial Appeal here for their >>> '12 events fans of the King won't want to miss' overview.
EPIC Preview
The Toronto International Film Festival has uploaded a preview picture for the listing of Baz Luhrmann's 'Elvis Presley in Concert' (EPiC). This shot is from the August 14th 1970 Dinner Show in the Metal Eye suit and it further confirms the use of completely unseen footage will be featured in this project. A great picture posted on the Toronto International Film Festival.
The information on the TIFF website states: Baz Luhrmann’s extraordinary documentary may be the most poignant account of Elvis Presley’s life and career to date, featuring long-lost footage from his epochal 1970s residency in Las Vegas.
The listed running time is 96 minutes.
Note: There is something wrong with the hand though.
Historical Marker
In downtown Tupelo, the 15th marker of the Tupelo Elvis Presley Driving Trail was unveiled today at a special place in the Presley family's history. This location was formerly the Tupelo Garment Company, where Gladys Presley worked in the 1930s.
Gladys sewed uniforms and garments there, a demanding job during the difficult years of the Great Depression. She continued working there until shortly before the birth of her twins on January 8, 1935: Jesse Garon Presley, who was stillborn, and Elvis Aaron Presley, who would become one of the greatest music icons of all time.
The marker honors Gladys's hard work and perseverance, and marks a place inextricably linked to Elvis's early life. Although the building has since been repurposed, thanks to the marker, this location remains a tangible reminder of the King of Rock 'n' Roll's simple and humble beginnings.
(Source: Elvis Information Network / Elvis Week / Toronto International Film Festival / ElvisMatters)