The Muppet Show Returns in 2026 With Seth Rogen and Sabrina Carpenter

The choice of Sabrina Carpenter adds pop-music star power and youthful energy. She won’t just be a guest: she’s also serving as an executive producer on the special. Expect her to interact (and perhaps duet) with Kermit, negotiate with Miss Piggy, and find herself in the middle of rubber-chicken crises. Her dual role behind and in front of the curtain suggests the production aims to merge nostalgic fandom with modern pop sensibilities.

Behind the Curtains: Writers, Directors & Chaos

The Muppet Show special is written by Albertina Rizzo (who also serves as executive producer) and directed by Alex Timbers, with production shared among Point Grey Pictures, Disney Branded Television, The Muppets Studio, and 20th Television. Given the show’s legacy of skits that collapse and musical numbers that explode into absurdity, it’s safe to expect that the backstage will be just as dramatic — and hilarious — as the onstage.

Will This Special Be the Start of Something Bigger?

Disney seems to be testing the waters. The “backdoor pilot” framing gives the network an escape hatch if the ratings aren’t there, but also room for expansion if audiences embrace the return. For fans, the announcement is cause for celebration — a chance to see the Muppets tussle with modern glamour, celebrity cameos, and maybe even viral social media bits.

Final Thoughts on The Muppet Show Special

The Muppets have always thrived in moments of reinvention, and this 2026 comeback could well be their boldest encore. As the curtains rise again on that familiar Theatre, we’ll see whether the world still wants to hear “Mah-na Mah-na,” or whether the new generation will demand something even weirder. Either way — light the lights, because The Muppet Show is coming back!