The Muppet Show Returns in 2026 With Seth Rogen and Sabrina Carpenter
Get ready to light the lights and cue the opening number — The Muppet Show is staging a comeback. In 2026, Disney+ will feature the return of the zany, chaotic, beloved puppet variety show in a special event starring Sabrina Carpenter and produced by Seth Rogen. After decades off the air, the Muppets are back in the Theatre — and the world’s favorite fuzzy green frog has never looked more mischievous.
“That’s the Way to Do It”: A New Opening Number
It’s an auspicious moment: the 50th anniversary of the first Muppet Show is fast approaching, and Disney has tapped Seth Rogen’s Point Grey Pictures to resurrect the franchise. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the series “returns as a Disney+ special” in 2026, and is being positioned as a “backdoor pilot for a new season of the iconic series that debuted in the ‘70s”. Rogen, ever the irrepressible jokester, has been humorously billed in promotional chatter as “basically a Muppet in human form” — a compliment in a world where Kermit never ages.
Kermit, Miss Piggy & the Gang Step Back Into the Spotlight
True to the original format, Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie, Gonzo, and the rest of the gang will return to the Muppet Theatre to stage their signature variety show — complete with musical numbers, comic bits, guest stars, and backstage mayhem. The veteran Muppeteers (Bill Barretta, Dave Goelz, Eric Jacobson, Peter Linz, David Rudman, and Matt Vogel) are confirmed to carry on the puppetry legacy. The hope is that The Muppet Show special’s success will lead to a full series resurrection.
Sabrina Carpenter as Madcap Guest and Executive Producer
The choice of Sabrina Carpenter adds pop-music star power and youthful energy. She won’t just be a guest: she’s also serving as an executive producer on the special. Expect her to interact (and perhaps duet) with Kermit, negotiate with Miss Piggy, and find herself in the middle of rubber-chicken crises. Her dual role behind and in front of the curtain suggests the production aims to merge nostalgic fandom with modern pop sensibilities.
Behind the Curtains: Writers, Directors & Chaos
The Muppet Show special is written by Albertina Rizzo (who also serves as executive producer) and directed by Alex Timbers, with production shared among Point Grey Pictures, Disney Branded Television, The Muppets Studio, and 20th Television. Given the show’s legacy of skits that collapse and musical numbers that explode into absurdity, it’s safe to expect that the backstage will be just as dramatic — and hilarious — as the onstage.
Will This Special Be the Start of Something Bigger?
Disney seems to be testing the waters. The “backdoor pilot” framing gives the network an escape hatch if the ratings aren’t there, but also room for expansion if audiences embrace the return. For fans, the announcement is cause for celebration — a chance to see the Muppets tussle with modern glamour, celebrity cameos, and maybe even viral social media bits.
Final Thoughts on The Muppet Show Special
The Muppets have always thrived in moments of reinvention, and this 2026 comeback could well be their boldest encore. As the curtains rise again on that familiar Theatre, we’ll see whether the world still wants to hear “Mah-na Mah-na,” or whether the new generation will demand something even weirder. Either way — light the lights, because The Muppet Show is coming back!
