The Muppet Show is a 2026 variety sketch comedy television special starring the Muppets. It is presented as a variety show as with the original Muppet Show series (1976–1981) created by Jim Henson, featuring recurring sketches and musical numbers interspersed with ongoing plotlines with running gags taking place backstage and in other areas of the venue. The special stars Muppet performers Bill Barretta, Dave Goelz, Eric Jacobson, Peter Linz, David Rudman and Matt Vogel, and features American singer and actress Sabrina Carpenter as the special guest, with additional guest appearances by American actress and comedian Maya Rudolph and Canadian actor and comedian Seth Rogen. Rogen and Carpenter also serve as executive producers. It aired on Disney+ and ABC on February 4, 2026. The Muppet Show revives the original show's tone with slapstick, absurdist, and surreal humor. Within its context, Kermit the Frog (performed by Vogel) acts as showrunner and host, who tries to maintain control of the overwhelming antics of the other Muppet characters as well as appease the guest stars. If successful, it will serve as a backdoor pilot to a full revival of the series. It received universal critical acclaim from critics and fans. == Plot == The special opens in a dark, empty Muppet Theatre as Rowlf plays "Rainbow Connection" on piano. Beauregard dusts the hallway and Kermit arrives, turning on the lights and reflecting on the show’s history before realizing it is time to start again. Scooter prepares the evening's guest star, Sabrina Carpenter, but Miss Piggy is dressed the same as her, sparking tension. After the opening theme, Sabrina kicks off the show with a performance of "Manchild" set in a rowdy bar run by Sam Eagle and populated by unruly Frackles and dancing chickens. Backstage, Kermit quickly discovers the production is overcrowded because he accidentally approved nearly every act out of politeness. Scooter presents an impossibly long schedule, and Kermit scrambles to cut segments. Fozzie offers to help and fires executive producer Seth Rogen instead, while Miss Piggy insists on keeping her two lavish numbers, including an over-the-top historical musical spectacle, ignoring Kermit's concerns about time. Gonzo attempts a deadly roller-skating obstacle course while reciting every Academy Award winner for Best Supporting Actress, only to immediately crash and continue bursting into scenes throughout the episode mid-recitation. A "Pigs in Wigs" ballroom sketch centers on Piggy juggling romantic suitors before her wig gets caught in a chandelier and Pepé replaces her paramour, humiliating her as Statler and Waldorf prepare tomatoes to throw. Rizzo and the rats perform "Blinding Lights" on a city street set, but Beauregard accidentally shorts out the lighting system, plunging the number into chaos. At Muppet Labs, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew unveils "Focus Pocus," a concentration serum that causes Beaker's eyeballs to pop out and multiply uncontrollably, later pelting the audience. In the crowd, Maya Rudolph chats obliviously with Beautiful Day Monster as one of the eyeballs get stuck in her throat and is mistakenly reported dead in a Muppet News Flash before reviving when a sandbag knocks the obstruction from her throat. Meanwhile, Sabrina bonds with Kermit and reveals she idolizes Miss Piggy, but Piggy storms in furious that her big number has been cut and knocks down the dressing room door, flattening Kermit. Sabrina's flattery softens Piggy's anger, and the two reconcile enough to share the spotlight. Later, Kermit and Sabrina perform "Islands in the Stream" in a swamp-set duet, only for Piggy to interrupt and replace Kermit as her duet partner. As backstage pressure mounts and the cast clamors for stage time, Kermit becomes overwhelmed trying to choose a final act. Rather than cut anyone else, he decides to abandon the planned finale and instead leads the entire troupe in an impromptu ensemble number of Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now." One by one, the Muppets, the Electric Mayhem, and the supporting players join in. In the closing moments, Kermit thanks Sabrina, who jokes that they fit in together because they are the same height. Gonzo continues skating past while shouting Oscar winners, Seth Rogen grumbles from the audience about being cut, and Statler and Waldorf deliver their final comments. == Cast == Sabrina Carpenter as herself Maya Rudolph as herself Seth Rogen as himself === Muppet Performers === Bill Barretta as: Rowlf the Dog, Dr. Teeth, Swedish Chef, Pepe the King Prawn, Bobo the Bear, Mahna Mahna, Beautiful Day Monster, "Pigs in Wigs" herald, Larb Dave Goelz as: Gonzo, Zoot, Waldorf, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Beauregard Eric Jacobson as: Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, Sam Eagle, The Newsman Peter Linz as: Lips, Statler, Link Hogthrob, Robin the Frog, Lord Scrappleton, Satay David Rudman as: Scooter, Janice, Beaker, Miss Poogy Matt Vogel as: Kermit the Frog, Sgt. Floyd Pepper, Crazy Harry, Pigs in Wigs announcer == Production == On September 17, 2025, Disney announced that an untitled "event special" for The Muppet Show was being produced for Disney+, to premiere on February 4, 2026, to coincide with the show's 50th anniversary. The special is described as "Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo and the gang as they return to the Muppet Theatre to produce a variety show." The special stars Muppet performers Bill Barretta, Dave Goelz, Eric Jacobson, Peter Linz, David Rudman and Matt Vogel performing the majority of the Muppet characters, alongside a supporting cast of additional performers; Goelz reprises most of the same character roles he originated during the show's original 1976–1981 run. The special was directed by Alex Timbers and feature special guest stars Sabrina Carpenter, Maya Rudolph and Seth Rogen. In addition, Carpenter and Rogen also served as executive producers alongside Evan Goldberg, Vogel, Jacobson, David Lightbody, Leigh Slaughter, Michael Steinbach, Albertina Rizzo, James Weaver and Alex McAtee. The special was co-produced by 20th Television, Disney Branded Television, The Muppets Studio, and Point Grey Pictures. == Marketing == On December 17, 2025, a premiere date was set for February 4, 2026. A teaser was released on January 2, 2026. A trailer was released on January 23, 2026 announcing Maya Rudolph as an additional guest star in addition to the previously announced Sabrina Carpenter and Seth Rogen. == Reception == On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 97% of 32 critics' reviews are positive. The website's consensus reads: "It's time to play the music, it's time to light the lights -- this spirited return to The Muppet Show's roots is clever, earnest, and feels exactly right." Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 80 out of 100, based on 21 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews. == Future == Alongside the special's announcement, it was reported that it was intended to serve as a pilot for a potential revival of The Muppet Show, depending on the special's success. == References == == External links == The Muppet Show special at IMDb The Muppet Show special on Muppet Wiki