Families can score free Broadway tickets for kids and teens with Kids’ Night on Broadway, plus dining deals and hands-on theater experiences.
At a Glance:
- Date: Tuesday, February 24, 2026
- Deal: Kids and teens 18 and under attend free with a full-paying adult
- How it works: Tickets are purchased as pairs at 50% off each
- Shows participating: 18 Broadway productions (list below)
- Extras: Restaurant deals, in-theater activities, and 50% off the Museum of Broadway
- Heads up: Some shows run Wednesday, February 25 instead
Growing up with a single mom who worked two jobs, there wasn’t much money left for extras. Back then, Broadway wasn’t even a question, but I was able to see my first show in high school, thanks to a discounted school field trip. My mother waited even longer. I was in my 20s and working for a magazine when I was finally able to get her tickets to Little Women. I’ll never forget how happy she was.
So when I hear parents say that maybe someday they will take their kids, when Broadway tickets don’t cost as much as a week’s worth of groceries, I totally get it. That someday doesn’t always feel realistic.
That’s why Kids’ Night on Broadway, returning Tuesday, February 24, 2026, is so exciting. It’s one of the few nights each year when Broadway feels doable for working families.
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How Kids’ Night on Broadway Works
“Kids’ Night” doesn’t mean tickets are automatically free. Kids and teens (18 and under) get a ticket only when paired with a full-paying adult, with the discount applied as 50% off each ticket purchased together. Every guest still needs their own ticket.
Which Shows Are Participating This Year?
This year’s lineup is broad, everything from Disney favorites to teen-appeal musicals and serious theater for older kids.
Participating shows include:
- Aladdin
- & Juliet
- Chicago
- Hamilton
- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
- The Lion King
- MJ
- Moulin Rouge! The Musical
- SIX: The Musical (Feb. 25 performance)
- WickedStranger Things: The First Shadow
- The Outsiders
- Plus several newer and more adult-leaning productions
Remember to always check content warnings since some shows on this list are better for older kids. For elementary-age kids, The Lion King, Aladdin, and Harry Potter are usually the safest bets. Tweens and teens tend to love Hamilton, SIX, MJ, and & Juliet.
Planning the Night: Dinner and Activities Around Kids’ Night on Broadway
Another great aspect of Kids’ Night on Broadway is that it acknowledges a basic parenting truth, the kids are going to need dinner.
Sixteen Theater District restaurants are offering Kids’ Night dining deals, including free kids’ meals with the purchase of an adult entrée. That alone can save you another chunk of change and mental energy on a weeknight.
Participating spots include family-friendly classics like Ellen’s Stardust Diner, Planet Hollywood, and Schnipper’s, along with sit-down options if your kids are older.
If your kid likes to know how things work, the Museum of Broadway is offering 50% off admission for Kids’ Night ticketholders that day.
It’s open from 9:30 am to 4 pm, with interactive exhibits, trivia, and hands-on Broadway history that actually keeps kids engaged. It’s also a nice way to build excitement before the show.
How to Get Tickets
Tickets will be released at a later date. Families who want early notification when tickets become available can join the free The Broadway Fan Club at KidsNightonBroadway.com (for ages 13 and up).
Watching your kid’s face when the lights go down never really gets old. With Kids’ Night, Broadway becomes what it’s supposed to be, a memory you’ll talk about on the way home, and hopefully much longer than that.
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