Best Broadway Shows Right Now (September 2026)
Broadway is currently home to 43 productions spanning musicals, plays, revivals, and world premieres. Our rankings combine scores from top critics including The New York Times, Vulture, and Variety to identify the very best shows playing right now.
43 shows | Last updated: September 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 Adjmi's three-hour studio drama as a masterful, immersive triumph that captures the messy creative process with stunning authenticity. The hyperrealistic production, original songs, and design dazzle, though the lengthy runtime tests some.
Critics hail Cole Escola's irreverent farce as howlingly funny and dizzyingly absurd, with nearly universal praise for its campy take on Mary Todd Lincoln as a boozy cabaret-obsessed diva delivering 80 minutes of nonstop laughs to Broadway.
Critics hail this original robot rom-com as enchanting and refreshingly innovative, with a lush score and stunning design. The tender love story between two obsolete Helperbots earns praise for its emotional depth, though a few find the premise overly precious.
Critics hail Audra McDonald's "heartbreaking" and "towering" performance as Mama Rose in George C. Wolfe's mostly traditional revival, with most praising her emotional depth over traditional belting, though a few find the production slow-moving.
Herzog's intimate drama about a mother caring for her severely ill son earns widespread praise for its understated power and emotional authenticity, anchored by McAdams' compelling Broadway debut, though a few find it too muted.
Critics largely embrace this campy musical adaptation as a hilarious crowd-pleaser that improves on the 1992 film, with standout performances from Megan Hilty and Jennifer Simard and dazzling production values delivering pure escapist fun.
Shaina Taub's ambitious musical about the women's suffrage movement earns mostly positive reviews for its tuneful score and passionate performances, though some critics find it more civics lesson than fully realized drama.
Hwang's meta-theatrical satire about race and casting earns strong reviews for its sharp wit and timely relevance. Critics praise Daniel Dae Kim's performance and the play's deft balance of comedy and pointed social commentary.
Kenny Leon's vibrant revival of Samm-Art Williams' 1979 play earns mostly positive reviews for its powerful performances and poetic storytelling, though some critics find the work dated and the production occasionally lacking.
Critics largely embrace this dance-driven Sufjan Stevens adaptation as a breathtaking, emotionally powerful hybrid that carves fresh Broadway territory, though some find its wordless storytelling more abstract than accessible.
Harmon's ambitious three-hour drama about a French Jewish family grappling with antisemitism across generations earns strong praise for its timeliness and emotional power, though some critics find it overstuffed and structurally uneven.
Critics praise the powerhouse vocals and vibrant energy of this Alicia Keys jukebox musical, particularly breakout star Maleah Joi Moon, though some find the coming-of-age story formulaic and the book uneven.
Foster dazzles with her physical comedy chops in this frothy, family-friendly revival that prioritizes fun over substance. Critics praise the leads' performances but note the lightweight material feels more summer stock than essential Broadway.
Critics praise this sharp satire of progressive Berkeley parents debating vaccines as one of Broadway's funniest offerings, with a standout Zoom chat scene earning mid-show applause, though some find its barbs feel dated post-pandemic.
Critics hail Jamie Lloyd's stripped-down revival as electrifying and bold, with Nicole Scherzinger delivering a transcendent, career-defining performance as Norma Desmond, though some find the cinematic staging gimmicky and overwrought.
This visceral revival delivers thrilling sonic power and sensational spectacle, though some critics question whether its dated story justifies the return. Most praise the electrifying staging and performances, even if the plot remains puzzling.
Butterworth's ambitious family drama earns praise for Laura Donnelly's powerful dual performance and Mendes' assured direction, though some critics find the sprawling melodrama overlong and its showbiz-dreams story overly familiar.
Critics praise O'Hara and James' superb performances and Guettel's spiky, sumptuous score, though some question whether this grim alcoholism tale suits musicalization. The chamber piece mostly succeeds as an unconventional, operatic drama.
Shanley's Pulitzer-winning drama holds up powerfully in this strong revival, with critics praising the electric performances of Ryan and Schreiber, though some note the play's central ambiguity feels less potent 20 years after its debut.
Critics find this timely Ibsen revival compelling but uneven, with Jeremy Strong's intense central performance earning widespread praise while Sam Gold's directorial choices divide opinion on whether they enhance or diminish the classic drama.
Critics praise the remarkable circus ensemble and stunning acrobatics, but find the Depression-era love story formulaic and the score forgettable, making for a visually dazzling spectacle that lacks emotional depth.
Critics find Headland's dysfunctional family Christmas drama caustically funny and well-acted, though overstuffed with issues. The ensemble earns widespread praise, but the play's ambitious sprawl divides opinion on execution.
Critics find this cheerful revival delivers holiday joy for families, with Grey Henson praised as an ideal Buddy. While some find it overly saccharine, most agree it's a sparkly, crowd-pleasing seasonal treat that works for kids and adults alike.
Vogel's semi-autobiographical family drama earns praise for Lange's commanding performance and bold stylistic choices, but critics find the play itself uneven, with some calling it emotionally underpowered and overly therapeutic despite its humor and inventive staging.
Critics find "The Outsiders" a visceral, emotionally engaging adaptation elevated by Danya Taymor's dynamic direction and thrilling choreography, though some dismiss it as competent but forgettable, overly familiar territory despite strong performances.
Critics find this tense two-hander about a viral meltdown and therapy session at gunpoint mostly effective, praising the performances and timely exploration of internet culture, though some feel the provocative premise can't sustain its 80-minute runtime.
Kenny Leon's revival of Wilder's classic earns praise for its emotional resonance and diverse casting, though critics are divided on its execution. Parsons' Stage Manager and the production's timeless themes connect, but some find it lacking cohesion.
Critics find LuPone and Farrow's star power elevates Silverman's slight but charming odd-couple comedy, with most praising the performances over the thin script. Farrow particularly dazzles in this crowd-pleasing two-hander that shows its age.
This Huey Lewis jukebox musical earns mixed-to-positive reviews for its unpretentious fun and catchy '80s nostalgia, though critics note its thin plot and familiar formula. Most find it a surprisingly enjoyable crowd-pleaser.
Morgan's timely drama about Putin's rise receives mixed reviews: critics praise Stuhlbarg's performance and Goold's slick staging, but many find the play lacks insight, with an exposition-heavy first act that never fully illuminates its subject.
Critics are divided on this dark Avett Brothers musical about shipwrecked sailors. Praised for strong performances and staging, but faulted for its grim subject matter and uneven execution. A polarizing show that impresses some while leaving others cold.
Sam Gold's Gen Z-targeted revival divides critics with its aggressively modern, club-like aesthetic. Connor and Zegler earn praise, but reactions split on whether the hyperactive, pop-infused production enhances or overshadows Shakespeare's tragedy.
Simon Rich's celebrity-studded staged reading divides critics: some find the star-powered comic vignettes charming and funny, while others dismiss it as an overpriced, underrehearsed cash grab masquerading as Broadway theater.
Critics are divided on this "The Wiz" revival, with many praising its joyful energy and spectacular design but others finding it lacks the magic of the original, resulting in a celebration that doesn't fully soar.
Critics are divided on this immersive revival: some praise Redmayne and Rankin's performances and the stunning theater transformation, while others feel the elaborate pre-show spectacle and directorial choices overshadow the musical's darker themes.
A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical
Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre
Iglehart's impressive Armstrong impersonation anchors a musically rich but overstuffed biographical musical that struggles with a meandering book and too much information, though the four wives and jazz performances nearly steal the show.
Critics find this Nicholas Sparks adaptation emotionally manipulative yet effective, with strong performances elevating a schmaltzy, cliché-laden score. Fans of the book and film will likely weep; others may find it too saccharine to embrace.
Mixed reviews greet this star-studded revival, with critics praising Steve Carell's Broadway debut and Heidi Schreck's modern translation, but finding Lila Neugebauer's production disconnected and uneven despite its talented ensemble.
A visually dazzling spectacle with sumptuous costumes and sets, but critics find this Broadway adaptation prioritizes style over substance, offering lavish production values that can't compensate for a hollow emotional core.
Critics are divided on this visually striking musical about painter Tamara de Lempicka, praising Eden Espinosa's performance and bold design but faulting a muddled, overstuffed narrative that struggles to find its artistic focus.
Critics find this memoir adaptation disappointing, with Margulies' warm performance unable to overcome sluggish pacing and a struggle to translate the page to stage, resulting in a directionless rom-com that lacks dramatic tension.
Critics find Akhtar's AI-focused drama muddled and dramatically unsatisfying, though Downey Jr. delivers a magnetic Broadway debut. The play raises intriguing questions about artificial intelligence and authorship but fails to cohere into compelling theater.
Critics find this Elton John musical tonally confused and unfocused, struggling between camp and compassion. Katie Brayben's powerhouse performance earns praise, but the show's muddled message and uneven execution leave audiences asking "Huh?"