Best Broadway Musicals (October 2026)
October 2026 finds Broadway in exceptional form, with shows that opened in 2025 continuing to captivate audiences and critics alike. The current season showcases remarkable range, from provocative new dramas to beloved musical revivals, all maintaining an impressive average critic score of 89 out of 100.
Leading the critical rankings is "Giant," Mark Rosenblatt's bold examination of Roald Dahl's antisemitism, which proves that challenging subject matter can resonate powerfully on the Broadway stage. Close behind, the 20th-anniversary revival of "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" demonstrates the enduring appeal of well-crafted musical comedy, with critics describing the production as "joyous, warm, and letter-perfect." Meanwhile, "Paddington The Musical" has emerged as a family favorite, earning widespread praise for its ingenious stagecraft and heartwarming storytelling.
The season's strength extends across multiple genres. Ivo van Hove's stripped-back "All My Sons" features powerhouse performances from Bryan Cranston, while Mischief Theatre's "The Comedy About Spies" delivers sophisticated farce. Opera lovers have embraced the Met's productions of "Andrea Chénier" and "Porgy and Bess," and musical theater enthusiasts are reveling in fresh takes on "The Producers" and a touring "Phantom of the Opera" that critics say has found renewed vitality.
What distinguishes this crop of productions is not just their individual excellence but their collective demonstration of Broadway's ability to balance artistic ambition with entertainment value. From intimate memory plays like "Liberation" to spectacular musical adaptations, the top-rated shows represent theater firing on all cylinders. Whether you're seeking thought-provoking drama or pure theatrical joy, Broadway's current offerings provide compelling reasons to book your tickets now.
17 shows | Last updated: October 2026
How We Rank
Rankings are based on CriticScore, an aggregate of professional reviews from 400+ outlets including The New York Times, Vulture, and Variety. Top-tier outlets carry the most weight in the composite score. Each show needs a minimum number of reviews to qualify. Scores are recalculated weekly. Learn more about our methodology.
Critics hail this triumphant revival as powerfully resonant for today, with Joshua Henry's magnificent performance and the glorious score landing with visceral impact, though some find the staging sparse and the material uneven.
Critics hail "Dead Outlaw" as a bold, darkly comic triumph, praising David Yazbek's genre-hopping score, David Cromer's smart direction, and its audacious storytelling of Elmer McCurdy's bizarre true tale—a rare, wholly original Broadway gem.
Critics praise the intoxicating music and vibrant choreography as transporting and joyful, but many note the book is thin and clichéd. The show works best as a sensory celebration of Cuban culture rather than a narrative musical.
Jonathan Groff dazzles in this slickly entertaining Bobby Darin bio-musical that doesn't reinvent the jukebox formula but soars on its star's charisma and showmanship. Critics mostly charmed despite familiar structure.
Critics praise this clever British musical about a WWII deception as zany, high-energy fun with five actors juggling dozens of roles, though some find it overstuffed and too frenetic. Unexpected emotional depth elevates it beyond mere farce.
Critics find this New Orleans-set Gilbert & Sullivan reimagining a charming, entertaining trifle elevated by David Hyde Pierce's performance, though some feel the jazzy Broadway treatment undercuts the original's wit and musical nuance.
Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
Longacre Theatre · 2h 15m
Closes Nov 29, 2026
Critics find this charming two-hander rom-com a modest, sweet-natured crowd-pleaser elevated by its lead performances, though some dismiss it as lightweight and formulaic. Most praise its sincerity and emotional resonance beneath the quirky premise.
Critics praise this heartfelt musical adaptation as a timely, tuneful celebration of Latina sisterhood and body positivity, though some find the story predictable. The ensemble cast and standout "Curves" number earn widespread acclaim.
Critics find this jukebox musical return a flawed but irresistibly fun crowd-pleaser, with ABBA's infectious hits overpowering the show's thin plot and clumsy song integration to deliver pure escapist joy.
Critics find this Sondheim revue a well-performed but familiar tribute, elevated by powerhouse stars like Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga. The talented ensemble and fully-staged numbers impress, though some question if another revue was needed.
Critics find Guettel's folk-operatic score beautiful and Jordan's performance compelling, but the show's static, claustrophobic premise proves challenging to sustain dramatically, resulting in an ambitious yet uneven Broadway debut.
Critics are charmed by breakout star Jasmine Amy Rogers and Jerry Mitchell's dazzling choreography, but divided on whether this polished, family-friendly spectacle justifies bringing the Depression-era cartoon icon to Broadway.
Critics remain divided on this Broadway revival: the powerhouse vocals and beloved ABBA score earn praise, but the famously convoluted Cold War plot proves stubbornly unfixable despite yet another book rewrite.
Critics are divided on this meta-musical adaptation of the NBC series, with some finding it a gleefully bonkers guilty pleasure while others dismiss it as a messy, tasteless spectacle that wastes its talented cast and catchy score.
Critics find "Redwood" visually stunning but dramatically hollow, with Menzel's powerhouse vocals unable to compensate for a shallow script and uneven songs. The immersive tech design impresses, yet the grief narrative fails to resonate emotionally.
Brown's beloved score shines in its Broadway debut, but critics cite uneven casting—particularly Jonas—that leaves the two-hander unbalanced, with Warren's performance outshining her co-star in this intimate breakup musical.
Critics are divided on this musical about American excess, with most praising Kristin Chenoweth's dazzling performance but faulting the show's muddled tone—unable to decide whether to satirize or celebrate its billionaire protagonist.