It’s time to play the music. It’s time to light the lights. It’s time to meet the Muppets once again, as they return to our screens in an all-new special.
“The Muppet Show” premiered on ABC and Disney+ on Feb. 4, 2026. The special not only showcased the same Muppets audiences know and love, but also featured multiple celebrity appearances. Singer Sabrina Carpenter was the show’s special guest, and comedians Seth Rogen and Maya Rudolph guest starred, as well.
The special served to celebrate the original series’ 50th anniversary; however, there are talks that the special may not just be a stand-alone episode and could serve as a pilot for a revival of the series.
Sabrina Carpenter, who served as an executive producer, performed her own hit single, “Manchild,” alongside a flock of Muppet chickens. She also gave a charming rendition of Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers’ 1983 hit, “Islands in the Stream” as a duet with both Kermit and Miss Piggy, respectively. She wasn’t the only singer in this special however, as Rizzo the Rat made his first return to a Muppet special since 2016 with his rendition of The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights.”
Alongside the music, the special also featured skits, including “Pigs in Wigs” (a parody of Netflix’s “Bridgerton”) and returning favorites “The Great Gonzo” and “Muppet Labs,” featuring Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker.
Guest stars Seth Rogen and Maya Rudolph got in on the excitement, too. Rogen, who also served as an executive producer, was “cut” by Fozzie Bear as the Muppet crew attempted to slim down the show’s runtime. Rudolph joined the show from the audience alongside lesser known Muppet, Beautiful Day Monster, before the chaos of a show gone awry pulled her onstage.
In between performances, Carpenter proved her comedic chops as a host as she and Miss Piggy playfully bantered about the comparisons between them, resulting in a rivalry that has continued on social media since the special’s premiere.
“The Muppet Show” ended with an awe-inspiring final act, as the Muppets joined together to perform Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now,” led by Kermit. The big finish was a strong conclusion to the already contagiously-vibrant energy the special had.
The special earned 7.58 million viewers across its platforms and currently boasts a 98% critic approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Could this be enough attention to bring the Muppets back to Muppet Theatre for a full revival?
