Prince Jackson marked what would have been his father Michael Jackson’s 68th birthday by joining fans for the annual celebration surrounding Michael Jackson ONE in Las Vegas.
The 29-year-old appeared at Cirque du Soleil’s long-running Mandalay Bay production on Aug. 29, where video showed him greeting attendees, signing autographs and exchanging hugs before taking part in a coordinated birthday salute.
Prince raised one hand with the crowd before joining the call of “Happy birthday, Michael!” The appearance came 17 years after Jackson’s death and several months after the release of Michael, the hit biopic on which Prince served as an executive producer.
Speaking after the birthday event, Prince said it had been meaningful to watch a younger generation discover his father’s music and message through the movie. He said he hopes that renewed exposure to Michael’s work can have an impact beyond nostalgia.
Prince Jackson Joined Fans at ‘Michael Jackson ONE’
Prince’s appearance formed part of the annual Michael Jackson birthday celebration at the ONE theater. PEOPLE reported that he attended the Aug. 29 gathering and spent time with fans and members of the Cirque du Soleil cast.
Footage from the event shows Prince descending a staircase into the crowd before stopping for conversations, photographs and autographs. He later stood among attendees as they raised their arms for the birthday countdown and shouted the message to his father together.
Prince was 12 when Michael died in June 2009. Although he did not follow his father into a career as a recording artist, he has remained involved in projects connected to Michael’s legacy while also working through his Heal Los Angeles Foundation.
The Annual Celebration Included a Special ‘ONE’ Performance
The Las Vegas gathering was part of a birthday tradition that has grown around Michael Jackson ONE. The 2026 schedule included a ticket-holder fan reception, a public question-and-answer session with special guests, longtime Jackson costume designer Michael Bush’s annual book signing and a one-time performance created by members of the ONE cast specifically for the birthday celebration.
The regular production continued that evening with its scheduled performances at Mandalay Bay. Cirque du Soleil describes ONE as a 90-minute combination of acrobatics, dance and visual production built around Jackson’s music and creative legacy.
The show opened at Mandalay Bay in 2013 and has now spent 13 years turning Jackson’s catalog into a permanent Las Vegas production. Its current staging uses a cast of dozens of performers, surround sound and large-scale visual effects around songs including “Beat It,” “Smooth Criminal” and “Human Nature.” Jackson was born Aug. 29, 1958, in Gary, Indiana. He died June 25, 2009, at age 50.
Prince Says ‘Michael’ Is Reaching a New Generation
Prince used the birthday weekend to reflect on what has happened since Michael reached theaters in April. “It has been so special for me to see the impact that this film has had,” he told PEOPLE.
He said one of the most meaningful parts has been watching younger viewers encounter his father’s music and message, adding that he hopes the renewed attention can encourage people to make the world better.
The movie has brought that music to an enormous new audience. Michael has earned more than $1 billion worldwide, making it the highest-grossing music biopic to date.
Prince served as an executive producer on the film. His cousin Jaafar Jackson portrays the adult Michael, while Juliano Krue Valdi plays him as a child. Colman Domingo stars as family patriarch Joe Jackson, with Nia Long as Katherine Jackson.
Seeing Jaafar as Michael Gave Prince an ‘Emotional Shock’
Prince had already explained how personal the project became before audiences ever saw it. In an April interview with ABC News, he recalled seeing Jaafar in full hair and makeup for the first time and experiencing what he called an “emotional shock.”
Prince said photographs had prepared him only partially for the transformation. Seeing his cousin standing in front of him brought back the image of a father he had not seen in years, leaving Prince wanting to hug him before stepping away briefly to collect himself.
He later said Jaafar exceeded the family’s expectations and described watching his cousin portray Michael as one of the greatest experiences of his life.
Prince carried another personal connection onto the red carpet at the Los Angeles premiere on April 20. His black suit was designed by Michael Bush, while a red armband was made from corduroy fabric associated with one of his father’s shirts, material Prince said reminded him of hugging Michael as a child.