Video: First-Look at THE MUPPET SHOW Special Event Coming in 2026

It's time to light the lights! As BroadwayWorld previously reported, The Muppet Show is returning next year for a special event in celebration of the iconic show's 50th anniversary. It has now been confirmed that the special will debut on Disney+ and ABC on February 4. Take a look at a first-look teaser now, which sees a certain green frog getting ready for the show. 

Kermit, Miss Piggy and the beloved Muppet gang are back with a brand-new special event. Music, comedy, and a whole lot of chaos are bound to ensue when The Muppets once again take the stage of the original Muppet Theatre with special guest, Sabrina Carpenter.

From 20th Television, Disney Branded Television, The Muppets Studio and Point Grey Pictures, the special event is directed by Tony Award winner Alex Timbers, who also serves as executive producer. Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, James Weaver and Alex McAtee are executive producers for Point Grey Pictures; David Lightbody, Leigh Slaughter and Michael Steinbach are executive producers for The Muppets Studio; Sabrina Carpenter, Albertina Rizzo, Matt Vogel and Eric Jacobson are executive producers.

The original series, The Muppet Show, created by Jim Henson, ran from 1976 through 1981 and aired in over 100 countries, featuring notable guest stars, including Elton John, Johnny Cash, Diana Ross, Julie Andrews, Bernadette Peters, Debbie Harry, Gladys Knight, Liza Minnelli, Paul Simon and many others. During its run, the series earned Emmy, GRAMMY, Peabody, BAFTA and numerous other awards. In a 1978 story, Time magazine called it "the most popular television entertainment now being produced on Earth." In 2026, The Muppet Show will celebrate its 50th anniversary. All five seasons of The Muppet Show are currently available to stream on Disney+.

Veteran Muppet performers Bill Barretta, Dave Goelz, Eric Jacobson, Peter Linz, David Rudman, and Matt Vogel will perform the majority of the Muppet characters in this production, supported by a talented team of additional performers. Dave Goelz, who has performed with The Muppets for over 50 years, was one of the performers on the original The Muppet Show and originated the characters Gonzo and Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, among many others. 

The Muppets recently joined magician Rob Lake for a magic show that played at the Broadhurst Theatre. Though this production marked their long-awaited Broadway debut, the gang has frequently appeared in stage shows around the world since their debut on television in the 1970s. Learn more about their history on stage here.