Daniel Radcliffe takes a bow onstage during curtain call at “Every Brilliant Thing” Opening Night at Hudson Theatre on March 12, 2026 in New York City.
Theo Wargo | Getty Images
Broadway just wrapped its highest-grossing season on record, offering another sign that consumers are willing to spend on experiences even as concerns about inflation and economic uncertainty linger.
The 2025-2026 show season topped the prior year’s record and generated nearly $1.91 billion in ticket sales, according to industry data from The Broadway League.
“Even in a challenging economic environment, Broadway remained notably on par with last season, reflecting both the resilience of this industry and the connection audiences feel to these productions,” said Jason Laks, president of The Broadway League, in a press release.
Adjusting for the extra week that was included in the prior season, Broadway grosses this year rose 3.5%, attendance increased 1.8% and average ticket prices climbed 1.7%.
This comes ahead of Sunday’s Tony Awards, setting a high-stakes background for the industry’s biggest night. The awards often lead to further ticket sales for winning shows.
While consumers have pulled back in some discretionary categories, demand for live entertainment has remained remarkably strong — from concerts and sporting events to theater.
The New York Fed’s beige book has made explicit mentions of Broadway nearly a dozen times over the last two decades as an economic indicator, most recently in April saying “ticket sales remained strong.”
But Broadway’s record year highlights a growing question: Have live performances become too expensive to balance rising production costs?
The average Broadway ticket cost $131 this season. For a family of four attending a musical, tickets alone can easily exceed $500 before accounting for transportation, meals and other expenses. In many cases, premium seats cost significantly more. At higher rates, the total expenses start to rival a one-day trip to Disney World for a family of four.
Rising Broadway prices
The industry’s growth is increasingly being driven by high-priced plays featuring major celebrities rather than traditional blockbuster musicals.
The 2025-2026 season opened 35 new productions: 12 musicals, 21 plays, and two specials. Existing intellectual property counts for three of the four nominated best new musicals, including an adaptation of the Apple TV series “Schmigadoon,” the 1980s cult-classic film “Lost Boys” and a parody of the Oscar-winning film “Titanic,” titled “Titanique.”
(L-R) John Riddle, Layton Williams, Constantine Rousouli, Jim Parsons, “Titanic” film star Victor Garber, Frankie Grande, Marla Mindelle and Melissa Barrera pose backstage at the hit musical “Titanique” on Broadway at The St. James Theatre on June 1, 2026 in New York City.
Bruce Glikas | Wireimage | Getty Images
“Producers are becoming far more selective about the economics of a project,” said Broadway producer Jim Kierstead. “There’s greater emphasis on recognizable titles, built-in audiences, limited runs, strategic casting, and productions that can generate additional life beyond Broadway through touring, licensing, or international productions.”
The final week of the current season, which ended May 24, brought in $40.7 million across 40 productions, according to The Broadway League. A revival of “Every Brilliant Thing” starring Tony-nominated Daniel Radcliffe led ticket sales.
It’s a similar trend to last season’s box office, which was led by limited-run plays starring Hollywood names like George Clooney, Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal. The star-studded titles allow producers to charge premium prices while avoiding the massive costs and risks associated with launching a new musical.
And it’s the plays, rather than musicals, driving higher attendance. This season, attendance at plays surged almost 14%, while attendance at musicals fell 4.7%.
That’s good news for sales, since plays typically commanded higher average prices, at $139.55 per ticket compared to $128.83 for musicals.
The 21 plays released this season grossed roughly $463 million combined, more than double the category’s haul from just two seasons ago and the second consecutive year that plays topped $400 million in revenue.
Experts say rising tickets prices are a reflection of not just demand, but also the costs to put on a good show.
“The financial hurdles are significant,” said Kierstead.
“Ultimately, the industry understands that long-term sustainability depends on keeping Broadway both economically viable and culturally accessible. If audiences feel priced out, everyone loses,” he added.
— CNBC’s Robert Hum contributed to this report.
