Best Broadway shows to see this summer: Tony winners, family favorites and closing soon picks

Summer is one of the best times to see a Broadway show. The city is packed, Tony buzz is still fresh and the theater district has a little bit of everything: new musicals, star-led plays, family favorites, long-running blockbusters and a few limited engagements you’ll want to catch before they disappear.

Whether you’re planning a date night, bringing the kids, chasing this year’s Tony winners or looking for a classic first Broadway experience, SeatGeek rounded up some of the top Broadway shows to see this summer.

Best Broadway shows for date night

A Broadway date night can go a few different ways. You can lean romantic, funny, glamorous, weird or full-on spectacle. This summer, the strongest picks are shows that give you something to talk about after curtain call.

Moulin Rouge! The Musical

If you want a big, dazzling night out, Moulin Rouge! The Musical is still one of Broadway’s most obvious date-night picks. The show turns the world of Baz Luhrmann’s film into a full-throttle pop spectacle, with elaborate sets, huge vocals and a jukebox score built for maximum crowd reaction.

This is also a final-chance pick: Moulin Rouge! is scheduled to close on Broadway on August 30, 2026. If it has been sitting on your “one day” list, this summer is the time to make it happen.

Hadestown

Hadestown is a moodier, more intimate date-night choice. The Tony-winning musical retells the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice through folk, jazz and blues, creating the kind of show that feels romantic, haunting and deeply theatrical all at once. It’s a great pick for couples who want something more atmospheric than flashy. The music is the hook, but the staging and emotional pull are what make it linger.

The Great Gatsby

For a glamorous night out, The Great Gatsby brings Jazz Age excess to the Broadway Theatre with big costumes, sweeping romance and a familiar literary story. Reeve Carney stars as Jay Gatsby, Eva Noblezada plays Daisy Buchanan and Corbin Bleu appears as Nick Carraway.

There’s also fresh casting news for summer: Naturi Naughton (best known as one third of the R&B group 3LW) joins the production as Jordan Baker beginning July 31, marking her first Broadway role in 20 years. That gives theater fans another reason to check in on the production during the second half of summer.

Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)

For something lighter and sweeter, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) is an easy summer rom-com pick. The show follows two people moving through New York, secrets and second chances, making it a natural fit for anyone who wants a charming new musical rather than a giant spectacle. It’s especially good for a low-pressure date night: warm, funny, heartfelt and very New York.

Best Broadway shows for families

Broadway with kids is all about matching the show to the audience. Some families want Disney magic, some want wizarding-world spectacle and others want a big musical that works for kids, teens and adults.

The Lion King

The Lion King remains one of Broadway’s most reliable family picks for a reason. The puppetry, costumes and opening number still feel massive, even if everyone in the group already knows the story. It’s a strong choice for younger theatergoers, first-time Broadway visitors and families who want a show that feels like an event from the first few minutes.

Aladdin

Aladdin is another easy family win, especially for kids who want bright visuals, big comedy and a story they already recognize. The show leans into spectacle with flying-carpet magic, colorful production numbers and a high-energy Genie role that keeps the pace moving.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

For families with older kids or teens, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child offers a different kind of Broadway magic. The play is built around stage illusions, suspense and a continuation of the Harry Potter story, making it a good option for fans who want something more theatrical than a standard musical. It’s best for kids who can sit through a full play and follow a more involved plot, but for the right family, it can be one of the most memorable shows of the trip.

Wicked

Wicked is still one of the best all-ages Broadway musicals because it works on multiple levels. Younger audiences get the world of Oz, big songs and spectacle, while older fans get the friendship story, political undercurrent and emotional payoff. It’s also a great pick for families who enjoyed the movie and want a show with songs they’ll still be talking about on the ride home.

Tony-winning hits to see this summer

Tony season can change the way a Broadway summer feels. Some shows suddenly become harder to ignore, especially when they pick up major awards or ride fresh post-Tony momentum.

Schmigadoon!

Schmigadoon! is one of the biggest Tony stories of the summer. The Broadway adaptation of the cult-favorite series won the 2026 Tony Award for Best Musical, along with wins for score, book and orchestrations. The show is a love letter to Golden Age Broadway, but it has enough modern humor to work for people who don’t know every classic musical reference. It’s a smart pick for musical-theater fans, comedy fans and anyone who wants to see the season’s top new musical while the Tony buzz is still fresh.

Ragtime

Ragtime won the 2026 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical, making it one of the summer’s major prestige picks. With its sweeping score and interwoven American stories, it’s the kind of musical that feels big, emotional and built for Broadway.

It’s also a limited summer opportunity. Ragtime is scheduled to close August 16, 2026, so fans who want to see this Tony-winning revival should plan ahead.

Cats: The Jellicle Ball

Cats: The Jellicle Ball is not just another revival. This reimagined version of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s classic brings the show into the world of ballroom culture, giving it a fresh visual and choreographic identity.

The production was also a major Tony player, with wins including Best Direction of a Musical, Best Choreography and Best Costume Design of a Musical. For theatergoers who want a revival that feels genuinely rethought rather than simply restaged, this is one of summer’s most exciting choices.

The Lost Boys

The Lost Boys brings vampire nostalgia to Broadway with a new musical based on the 1987 film. It’s a strong pick for fans who want something pop-culture-forward, spooky and more offbeat than a traditional Broadway musical.

The show was one of the most-nominated productions of the 2026 Tony season and picked up multiple wins, including recognition for featured performances and design. For audiences looking for a new musical with cult-favorite energy, it belongs high on the list.

Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman

For drama lovers, Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman is one of the summer’s most important plays. The revival was the biggest winner of the 2026 Tony Awards, taking home Best Revival of a Play and several additional honors.

It is also scheduled to close August 9, 2026. If you want to balance your summer musical picks with a serious, award-winning play, this is the one to prioritize.

Long-running Broadway favorites

Sometimes the best Broadway choice is the show that has already proved itself for years. These long-running favorites are great for first-timers, out-of-town visitors or anyone who wants the kind of Broadway experience people travel to New York to see.

Hamilton

Hamilton remains one of Broadway’s defining modern hits. The blend of hip-hop, history and theatrical storytelling still makes it a strong choice for first-time Broadway visitors and repeat fans alike.

There’s also notable casting news on the horizon: original cast member Christopher Jackson is set to return as George Washington beginning September 8, 2026. That falls just after the core summer window, but it’s worth noting for fans planning late-summer or early-fall trips.

Chicago

Chicago is Broadway’s longest-running American musical and one of the easiest recommendations for adults looking for something stylish, sharp and classic. The staging is lean, the score is iconic and the show’s rotating celebrity casting often gives fans a reason to check back. For example, Dancing with the Stars' Mark Ballas rejoins as Billy Flynn starting July 20, and South Korean pop star, Ivy, makes her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart from August 17 through September 6.

The Book of Mormon

For comedy fans, The Book of Mormon remains one of Broadway’s most reliable laugh-heavy shows. It is irreverent, adult and definitely not for every family group, but for the right audience, it’s still one of the funniest nights on Broadway.

Best Broadway shows for pop music fans

Not every Broadway fan wants a traditional show-tune experience. If your group is more into recognizable hits, pop vocals or concert-style energy, these shows are built to meet you halfway.

& Juliet

& Juliet flips the ending of Romeo and Juliet and turns it into a pop-powered musical full of Max Martin hits. Expect songs made famous by artists like Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, Katy Perry and more, wrapped around a bright, high-energy story. It’s one of the best picks for groups, birthdays, bachelorette weekends or anyone who wants a Broadway show that feels like a pop party.

Six

Six turns the six wives of Henry VIII into a pop-concert-style musical, with each queen getting her own spotlight moment. It’s short (80 minutes with no intermission), punchy and built around big vocals, making it a great fit for teens, friend groups and anyone who wants a show with no slow parts.

MJ the Musical

MJ the Musical is built around Michael Jackson’s catalog, with choreography and performance at the center of the experience. For fans who want recognizable songs and dance-driven staging, it’s one of the strongest jukebox options on Broadway.

Buena Vista Social Club

Buena Vista Social Club is a great pick for music lovers who want something warm, rhythmic and rooted in a specific musical world. Inspired by the legendary Cuban ensemble, the show brings Afro-Cuban music and history to the Broadway stage.

It’s a strong choice for adults, music fans and anyone looking for a Broadway night that feels different from the usual pop-musical lineup.

Best Broadway comedies and offbeat picks

Some of the most talked-about shows of the summer are the ones that don’t fit neatly into the classic Broadway box. If you want weird, funny or cult-favorite energy, start here.

Oh, Mary!

Oh, Mary! has become one of Broadway’s defining comedy hits, turning Mary Todd Lincoln into the center of a chaotic, absurd and extremely adult historical farce. It’s short, sharp and built for audiences who want something wild. Maya Rudolph stars as Mary Todd Lincoln until Meg Stalter joins starting July 6.

This is not the family-friendly pick of the summer, but for comedy fans, it’s one of the most talked-about plays on Broadway.

The Rocky Horror Show

The Rocky Horror Show brings the cult classic back to Broadway with a party-like atmosphere and a cast that includes Luke Evans, Amber Gray, Juliette Lewis, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Andrew Durand and more.

It’s scheduled to run through November 29, 2026, making summer a strong time to catch it before Halloween demand kicks in. If your ideal Broadway night includes rock music, camp and audience energy, this is the pick.

Titanique

Titanique combines Titanic parody with the music of Céline Dion, which tells you almost everything you need to know about the vibe. It’s campy, ridiculous and built for fans who want to laugh hard rather than sit through a traditional Broadway epic.

It is scheduled to close September 20, 2026, so summer is the best time to catch it before it sails away.

Operation Mincemeat

Operation Mincemeat is a clever, fast-moving musical comedy based on the strange true story of a World War II deception operation. It has the kind of oddball premise that rewards audiences willing to try something outside the obvious tourist picks. For theater fans who like smart comedy, tight ensemble work and a bit of British chaos, it’s one of Broadway’s more distinctive options.

New and limited summer events to watch

Summer Broadway is not only about what is already running. It is also about what’s opening, what’s closing and what’s available for a short window.

Paranormal Activity

Paranormal Activity begins previews on August 14, 2026, bringing the horror franchise to Broadway. That makes it one of the biggest late-summer arrivals for fans who want something suspenseful and different from the usual musical-heavy lineup.

If it catches on, it could become one of the season’s buzziest new plays, especially for audiences who like horror, thrillers and screen-to-stage adaptations.

Les Misérables: The Arena Concert Spectacular

Les Misérables: The Arena Concert Spectacular plays a limited summer engagement at Radio City Music Hall from July 23 through August 9, 2026. It’s not a standard Broadway sit-down production, but it’s a major New York theater event built around one of musical theater’s most beloved scores.

Closing soon picks

Several major shows have summer closing dates, which makes timing especially important. Death of a Salesman and Every Brilliant Thing are scheduled to close August 9, Ragtime closes August 16 and Moulin Rouge! closes August 30.

If you’re deciding between a long-running show and a limited engagement, start with the one that might not be around next season.

How to get Broadway tickets on SeatGeek

SeatGeek makes it easy to compare Broadway ticket options, see where your seats are and find the right performance for your plans.

1. Search for the Broadway show you want to see. Start by typing the show name into SeatGeek or visit the Broadway page to see all the shows in one place.

2. Choose your performance date. Select the date and time that works best for your trip. Broadway schedules often include evening performances and select matinees, so check multiple dates if your plans are flexible.

3. Use filters to narrow your options. Filter by price, quantity, section and ticket type to focus on the listings that fit your group. If you’re buying for a family or a larger group, make sure the listing has enough seats together before checkout.

4. Check the seat map. Use SeatGeek’s interactive seat map to compare sections and sightlines before you buy. Orchestra seats can put you closer to the action, while mezzanine seats often offer a wider view of the full stage.

5. Compare listings with Deal Score. SeatGeek’s Deal Score helps show how strong a ticket listing is based on price, location and other factors. It’s a helpful way to compare similar seats without guessing which one offers better value.

6. Review all-in pricing. Before checkout, review the full ticket cost so you know what you’re paying. SeatGeek is designed to make it easier to compare options with fees included where applicable.

7. Complete your purchase and check delivery details. After you buy, follow the instructions in your SeatGeek account or confirmation email. Many Broadway tickets are mobile tickets, so make sure your phone is charged and your tickets are ready before heading to the theater.

8. Arrive early and enjoy the show. Plan to get to the theater early, especially in the summer when Midtown can be crowded. Give yourself time for security, finding your seats and reading the Playbill before the lights go down.

From long-running classics to limited summer engagements, your next Broadway show starts on SeatGeek. Grab your tickets and make this summer one to remember.