Broadway Box Office Sees Holiday Bump

Harry Potter and big musicals like Hamilton and Wicked see increased ticket sales ahead of Presidents Day weekend.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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Broadway box office numbers were up 11% last week compared to the prior week, with several high-profile shows like Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Hamilton, and Wicked seeing significant jumps in ticket sales. The increases were attributed to crowds coming to New York for school breaks and the Presidents Day holiday weekend, as well as the end of the discounted Broadway Week program. Other musicals like The Lion King, Chess, The Great Gatsby, Aladdin, and MJ also saw notable upticks in sales. Meanwhile, the play Marjorie Prime played its final performance, bringing in its highest gross of the run.

Why it matters

Broadway's box office performance is a key indicator of the health and popularity of live theater in New York City, one of the world's premier entertainment hubs. Strong ticket sales, especially for marquee shows like Harry Potter and Hamilton, suggest continued consumer demand for Broadway productions and the ability of the industry to bounce back from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The details

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child was the highest-grossing show of the week, bringing in $2.7 million. Hamilton was second with $2.2 million, followed by Wicked ($2 million), The Lion King ($1.9 million), and Chess ($1.6 million). Many of these shows saw significant week-over-week increases, with The Lion King up $404,000, The Great Gatsby up $450,000, Aladdin up $314,000, and MJ up $350,000. The increases were attributed to an influx of visitors to New York City for school breaks and the Presidents Day holiday, as well as the end of the discounted Broadway Week program.

  • Broadway Week, a discounted ticket program, ended on February 12, 2026.
  • Presidents Day weekend was February 15-17, 2026.

The players

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

A Broadway play based on the Harry Potter book and film series, which continues to be the highest-grossing show on Broadway.

Hamilton

The hit musical about the life of founding father Alexander Hamilton, which was the second highest-grossing show on Broadway last week.

Wicked

The long-running musical about the witches of Oz, which was the third highest-grossing show on Broadway last week.

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The takeaway

Broadway's box office rebound continues, with major musicals like Harry Potter, Hamilton, and Wicked drawing large crowds and seeing significant increases in ticket sales ahead of the Presidents Day holiday. This suggests that live theater in New York City remains a popular draw for tourists and locals alike, even as the industry works to fully recover from the impacts of the pandemic.