What Are the Top 3 Broadway Shows Right Now?

If you're planning a trip to New York and want to see a Broadway show that actually lives up to the hype, you don't need to guess. The big tickets right now aren't just popular-they're cultural moments. You're not just watching a play or musical; you're stepping into something people talk about for weeks after. The top three shows on Broadway right now aren't just selling out-they're redefining what live theatre can be.

Hadestown

Hadestown isn't just a musical. It's a haunting, blues-infused retelling of the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, set in a post-industrial hellscape that feels terrifyingly familiar. Anaïs Mitchell's score blends folk, jazz, and gospel into something that sticks in your head long after the curtain falls. The show won eight Tony Awards in 2019, including Best Musical, and it hasn't lost steam since.

What makes Hadestown stand out today is its emotional weight. The story isn't about flashy costumes or giant set pieces-it's about love, labor, and the cost of hope. The actor playing Hades doesn't roar; he whispers, and the audience leans in. The ensemble moves like a living chorus, their bodies telling stories even when they're not singing. It’s the kind of show that makes you feel like you’ve been part of something sacred.

Seats are still hard to get, even two years after its peak hype. If you want to see it, book at least six weeks ahead. The Winter Garden Theatre has no rush tickets, no last-minute discounts-just pure demand. People fly in from Europe, Australia, even New Zealand just to see it. And they don’t regret it.

Wicked

Wicked has been running since 2003. That’s over 20 years. And yet, it’s still the most popular show on Broadway. Why? Because it doesn’t feel dated. It feels essential.

This is the untold story of the witches of Oz-Elphaba and Glinda-before Dorothy ever landed in Munchkinland. It’s about friendship, prejudice, and how society labels people as monsters just because they’re different. The music by Stephen Schwartz is unforgettable: "Defying Gravity" isn’t just a showstopper; it’s a national anthem for anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider.

What’s changed since 2003? The staging. The new projection mapping technology lets the Emerald City shimmer like liquid glass. The flying sequences are smoother, the costumes more intricate. The cast changes, but the heart doesn’t. You’ll still hear a thousand phones come out during "Defying Gravity"-not to record, but to hold back tears.

Wicked draws families, teens, couples, and solo travelers. It’s the show you take your mom to, your best friend to, your kid to before they see the movie. It’s the only Broadway musical that sells out every single performance, year after year. And it still feels fresh. That’s rare.

The Lion King

If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like when theatre meets magic, The Lion King is your answer. Opened in 1997, it’s one of the longest-running musicals in Broadway history-and still the most visually stunning.

It’s not just about the puppets. It’s about the way the giraffes walk on stilts, how the antelopes leap in perfect unison, how the wildebeest stampede feels real enough to make you flinch. The costumes, designed by Julie Taymor, are hand-painted works of art that blend African tribal patterns with theatrical abstraction. The music, by Elton John and Tim Rice, still gives you chills.

What keeps it on top today? It’s the only show that works equally well for a five-year-old and a 75-year-old. Kids are mesmerized by the animals. Adults are moved by the story of loss, redemption, and finding your place in the world. The show doesn’t talk down to anyone. It doesn’t need to. The storytelling is universal.

It’s also the most financially successful Broadway show ever, with over $1.7 billion in global ticket sales. And it still sells out every night at the Minskoff Theatre. No discount codes, no standby lines-just pure, unshakable demand. Parents bring their kids. Grandparents bring their grandchildren. Tourists from Tokyo, Paris, and Sydney all say the same thing: "I didn’t know theatre could feel like this."

Why These Three? The Real Criteria

You might ask: Why not Hamilton? Why not Chicago? Why not some new buzzworthy show? The answer isn’t about awards or buzz-it’s about consistency.

These three shows-Hadestown, Wicked, and The Lion King-have something in common: they don’t rely on celebrity names or viral moments. They don’t need TikTok trends to stay alive. They survive because they’re built to last. They have deep stories, unforgettable music, and production values that feel like miracles.

Other shows come and go. A new musical might sell out for three months and then fade. These three? They’ve been running for over a decade, and they’re still the ones people plan trips around. They’re the shows you tell your friends about years later, not because they were trendy, but because they changed how you saw live theatre.

Hadestown gives you poetry. Wicked gives you heart. The Lion King gives you wonder. Together, they’re not just the top three shows-they’re the reason people still believe in Broadway.

What to Expect When You Go

Buying tickets isn’t like ordering coffee. You need a plan. All three shows are on the same ticketing platform: Telecharge or Ticketmaster. Book as early as possible-ideally three months ahead if you want good seats. Midweek performances (Tuesday-Thursday) are usually cheaper and less crowded than weekends.

Arrive early. Broadway theatres are old buildings. The lobby is small. The bathrooms are even smaller. If you want to avoid a line, get there 45 minutes before curtain. Dress? No strict rules. You’ll see everything from jeans and sneakers to cocktail dresses. But most people dress up a little. It’s a night out. Make it feel like one.

And don’t skip the intermission. These shows are long-two and a half to three hours. The break gives you time to stretch, get a drink, and talk about what you’ve seen so far. That’s part of the experience too.

What’s Next After These Shows?

Once you’ve seen these three, you’ll know what Broadway is really capable of. After that, you might want to try something different-like the new rock musical Hadestown’s sister show, Once, or the dark comedy Leopoldstadt. Or maybe you’ll go back to Wicked and watch it again with a different perspective.

But start here. These are the shows that define Broadway today. Not because they’re the newest, but because they’re the ones that will still be remembered 20 years from now.