The Muppet Show returned for a one-night special on February 4, 2026, with Sabrina Carpenter as its special guest. The event aired on ABC and streamed on Disney+. Disney later reported 7.58 million total viewers across the two platforms during the special’s first eight days.
What the 2026 Muppet Show special was
Disney announced the special as part of the original series’ 50th anniversary year. Created by Jim Henson, The Muppet Show originally ran from 1976 to 1981. For the 2026 event, Kermit, Miss Piggy and the ensemble returned to the original Muppet Theatre for a variety-show format. Disney described the original series as having aired in more than 100 countries and noted its history of celebrity guests, including Elton John, Johnny Cash, Diana Ross, Debbie Harry, Gladys Knight, Liza Minnelli and Paul Simon. Disney’s announcement
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| 1 |
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The Muppet Show: Season 1 | $48.29 | Buy on Amazon |
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The Muppet Show: Seasons 1-3 | $169.93 | Buy on Amazon |
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The Muppet Show - Season 1 [DVD] | $29.85 | Buy on Amazon |
Who appeared in it
Sabrina Carpenter
Carpenter was the special guest and an executive producer. Disney’s announcement billed the combination of Muppets and Carpenter as a return to the original theatre; the phrase “Working Late” in some coverage is a pop-culture allusion, not a title or a characterization Disney explained in its announcements.
Maya Rudolph and Seth Rogen
Maya Rudolph was announced as a guest star in January 2026. Seth Rogen was also a guest star and an executive producer. Alex Timbers directed and executive produced. Additional executive producers included Evan Goldberg, James Weaver and Alex McAtee for Point Grey Pictures, and David Lightbody, Leigh Slaughter and Michael Steinbach for The Muppets Studio. Disney’s January trailer announcement is at Disney+ Press.
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- Contains all 24 episodes, which have been completely restored and remastered.
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The Muppet performers
Disney said Bill Barretta, Dave Goelz, Eric Jacobson, Peter Linz, David Rudman and Matt Vogel performed the majority of the characters. Goelz also performed on the original series and originated characters including Gonzo and Dr. Bunsen Honeydew.
When and where it premiered
The special premiered February 4, 2026, on Disney+ and ABC. Disney’s announced U.S. schedule listed Disney+ availability from 12:00 a.m. Pacific / 3:00 a.m. Eastern and the ABC broadcast at 9:00 p.m. Eastern/Pacific. Disney+ offers on-demand viewing, while ABC’s listing was for a scheduled broadcast. Those were premiere details, not a guarantee of current availability: check the Disney+ catalog in your region and ABC’s local listings before planning to watch. Disney notes that its schedule and availability can vary by region and change: February 2026 Disney+ schedule.
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What the reported audience and ratings mean
On February 13, 2026, The Walt Disney Company reported 7.58 million total viewers across ABC and Disney+ over the first eight days of multiplatform viewing. That is Disney’s reported figure; it is not an independently cited audience measurement in the available announcement. Disney’s same report said the Muppets franchise generated more than 125 million viewing hours on Disney+ and gave the special a 98% Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score at that time. The hours refer to the wider franchise, not the special alone, and a Tomatometer score can change. Disney’s February 13 report
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is this a continuing series?
The announced event was a special, not a confirmed continuing season. The official announcements cited here establish the special’s premiere and creative team but do not establish that a new ongoing series was ordered.
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- Polish Release, cover may contain Polish text/markings. The disk has English audio and subtitles.
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