I can’t believe I’m saying this, but The Muppets finally feel like they have real momentum again in 2026. After years of one-off specials and the like, Disney seems ready to give The Muppet franchise the bright future it’s always deserved.
Between a breakout new Muppet Show special, new projects in development, and even an exciting Disney Parks overhaul, 2026 is shaping up to be a genuine turning point for The Muppets on their 50th anniversary. For the first time in nearly a decade, it feels like The Muppets’ future is being actively planned instead of improvised as an afterthought.
Seth Rogen’s Muppet Show Special Absolutely Deserves A Full Revival On Disney+
Executive produced by Seth Rogen and guest starring Sabrina Carpenter, 2026’s new Muppet Show special is a brilliant return to form, showcasing what The Muppet franchise has always done best. There’s no massive push to be modern like in past one-off events, and their wonderfully chaotic and self-aware humor is on full display.
Since 2011 and 2014’s Muppet films, the franchise has struggled to find a consistent identity. The 2015 mockumentary series had charm, but it never fully caught on after a single 16-episode season.
Since then, Muppet projects from Disney have been few and far between, with none of them really capturing the full joy The Muppets are known for. That’s why 2026’s new Muppet Show special is being received so well, the consensus being that the magic has been recaptured by getting back to the franchise’s original roots.
With 2026 also marking The Muppets’ 50th anniversary, the timing couldn’t be better. Likewise, the potential for a full episodic revival of The Muppet Show from Rogen feels quite earned going forward with this wonderful “proof-of-concept” special.
Disney Finally Seems To Have A Clear Vision For The Muppets
The strong response to the new special makes a full series revival feel quite likely. However, Disney also seems to be coordinating The Muppets across multiple fronts beyond streaming.
Firstly, a Miss Piggy movie is currently being produced by Emma Stone and Jennifer Lawrence, signaling a real star-driven belief in the characters. At the same time, Disney World’s upcoming Electric Mayhem re-theme of the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster opening this summer is a very exciting addition to Disney Parks (especially following last year’s closure of Muppet Vision 3D).
For the first time in years, The Muppets feel like a priority again instead of an afterthought. Assuming Disney follows through with these upcoming projects and orders a full Muppet Show revival, it would be pretty cool if The Muppets’ 50th anniversary was also remembered as a key turning point to a more meaningful future. After all, we could all use more Muppets in our lives.
The Muppet Show (2026) is now streaming on Disney+.
- Release Date
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February 4, 2026
- Director
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Alex Timbers
- Writers
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Albertina Rizzo, Kelly Younger, Jim Henson
- Producers
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Matt Vogel, Seth Rogen, Alex McAtee, Eric Jacobson, Evan Goldberg, James Weaver, Sabrina Carpenter, Michael Steinbach, David Lightbody
- Franchise(s)
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The Muppets
Cast
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Sabrina Carpenter
Sabrina Carpenter