Disney+ Announces The Muppet Show Special for 2026 With Seth Rogen and Sabrina Carpenter

Welcome, fellow lovers of puppetry, oddball ensemble casts, and anything that blends silliness with spectacle. Grab your popcorn (maybe a glowing one) and let’s dive into some news making its rounds through the multiverse: the Muppets are staging a comeback, and it’s weird in all the best ways.

In 2026 Disney+ will drop a Muppet Show special. But this isn’t just a nostalgia bait; it’s being built from day one as a possible doorway into a full series revival. Yes, the idea is that if this one-shot special slays, we could see regular episodes again. It’s a high risk, high pig laugh move.

The mastermind behind this is none other than Seth Rogen (with Evan Goldberg riding shotgun). They’re partnering with The Muppets’ own studio and Disney’s streaming arm to produce the event. And in a twist worthy of spooky sci fi, they’ve roped in Sabrina Carpenter, she’ll be both special guest star and executive producer. That’s like summoning a magical crossover from two parallel pop universes.

The show is timed to hit pretty much exactly on the 50th anniversary of the original Muppet Show, which first charmed the world in 1976. So while we’re celebrating half a century of frog jokes, vaudeville sketches, and puppet mayhem, this special could reforge the Muppet brand for a new generation.

The plan? The Muppet cast returns to their old stomping ground, the Muppet Theatre, to build a fresh variety show. Expect music, sketches, chaos, Kermit pacing, Miss Piggy drama, and more than a few moments where you go “Wait, they’re puppets?” in your head. Longtime performers like Bill Barretta, Dave Goelz, Eric Jacobson, Peter Linz, David Rudman, and Matt Vogel are slated to bring most of the characters back to life. Goelz, in particular, returns to roles he first played decades ago.

On the creative side, Albertina Rizzo is penning the script, and Alex Timbers is directing. Both also take on EP duties to make sure the tone, jokes, and puppet physics all land. The hopes (and pressure) are high: this special will serve as litmus test for whether the Muppets still have the storytelling magma inside them.

Why does this feel electric? Because in a media world where franchises, reboots, and legacy content usually get cautious reboots, the Muppet gamble feels more daring. It’s embracing chaos. It’s saying, “We believe in puppet voices, in absurdity, in music cues that cut at weird times.” It’s the sort of move that can either slide into the background or explode into something new and magnificent.

If nothing else, this is good news for people who want their entertainment to be loud, weird, and touching. And if this special works? We might get seasons, guest stars, Muppet arcs, and all the delightful oddities we’ve been missing. Puppets, prepare your comedy bits. We’re coming back for you.