‘The Muppet Show’ returning in 2026 with Sabrina Carpenter on Disney+ | Release date revealed
“The Muppet Show” will return with a one-off special streaming on Disney+ in 2026 and guest-starring musician Sabrina Carpenter.
The release date of “The Muppet Show” special event with Sabrina Carpenter is Feb. 4, 2026, on Disney+ and ABC.
While the Muppets have endured as an evergreen brand across the decades, the actual program “The Muppet Show” has never been revived in its traditional form since the original series ended in 1981 after five seasons.
Sabrina Carpenter steps into the role of the classic program’s rotating celebrity guest (assumedly playing herself) thrown into the chaos of Kermit, Miss Piggy, and the gang trying (and often failing) to put on a show.
Variety broke the news on Sept. 17, and Disney+ immediately followed with a formal announcement. A teaser followed on Dec. 17.
Disney also shared what seems to be a photo from the set, showing Kermit’s signature coffee cup among the class backstage set familiar to all five seasons of “The Muppet Show.”
An “individual with knowledge of the situation” told Variety that “the special could serve as a backdoor pilot that would help launch a new iteration of the iconic series.”
Beyond the streaming special, the Muppets will replace Aerosmith in Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets at Walt Disney World next year. Earlier this year, “Muppet*Vision 3D” permanently closed at Disney World.
The 2026 “The Muppet Show” special is a collaboration among 20th Television, Disney Branded Television, The Muppets Studio, and Seth Rogen and Evan Golberg’s Point Grey production company.
Photo courtesy of Disney
Below is the lineup for the puppeteer cast for 2026’s “The Muppet Show” special, and who they typically perform as part of the Muppets ensemble (this does not mean these individual characters will necessarily appear in the special):
- Matt Vogel: Kermit the Frog, Floyd Pepper, Lew Zealand
- Eric Jacobson: Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, Sam Eagle
- Dave Goelz: Gonzo, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Zoot, Waldorf
- Bill Barretta: Pepe the King Prawn, Rowlf, Dr. Teeth
- David Rudman: Scooter, Janice, Beaker
- Peter Linz: Walter, Robin, Lips, Statler, Joe the Legal Weasel
The crew behind the camera includes:
- Director: Alex Timbers
- Writer: Albertina Rizzo
- Executive producers
- Albertina Rizzo
- Sabrina Carpenter
- Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, James Weaver, and Alex McAtee with Point Grey Pictures
- David Lightbody, Leigh Slaughter, and Michael Steinbach with The Muppets Studio
Alex Timbers previously directed a long list of Broadway shows, including the particularly Muppet-esque “Oh Hello! On Broadway,” “Beetlejuice,” and “The Pee-Wee Herman Show.” Albertino Rizzo’s previous writing credits include TV’s “Hit-Monkey” and hundreds of episodes of “The Tonight Show.”
Seth Rogen previously guest-starred on an episode of the 2020 streaming series “Muppets Now.”
Are you excited for “The Muppet Show” to return in 2026?
Stay tuned to Attractions Magazine for daily coverage of theme park news, trip reports, and exclusive interviews from Disney, Universal, and independent attractions around the world.
More Attractions Magazine stories:
Follow us:
