Free Shakespeare in the Park 2026

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Twelfth Night

Experience the magic of Shakespeare under the stars in 2026!

Free Shakespeare in the Park returns to the newly renovated Delacorte Theater with a whole new production of Romeo and Juliet, directed by Saheem Ali, as well as The Winter’s Tale, directed by Daniel Sullivan. There will also be a Public Works production (to be announced soon).

In addition, on Monday evenings, the Delacorte will host the revival of the Public Forum series, where performance meets lively conversation and culture.

Don't miss these summer traditions - where timeless stories, community voices, and fresh ideas come alive!

Shakespeare in the Park tickets are FREE and will be distributed in a variety of ways across all five boroughs:

In-Person Ticket Distribution in Central Park

• A Public Theater Patron ID is required to receive a free ticket, and you are encouraged to create or confirm your ID before arrival by visiting publictheater.org/register.
• Free tickets are distributed at 12:00 PM (Noon) every day when there is a public performance.
• Performance days may vary weekly, so check the performance calendar.
• Seat locations are randomly distributed; not based on the position of a person in the line, and you and your group are not guaranteed to be seated together.
• People waiting for free tickets must line up along the paths designated by The Public Theater staff and The Parks Department.
• Each person (age 5+) may receive two (2) tickets while supplies last.
• Anyone who attempts to create a line inside the park before 6:00 AM is sent to the end of any line that has formed outside the park.

Please note that there are three separate distribution lines at Delacorte Theater in Central Park:

1) General Distribution Line

2) Senior 65+ Distribution Line

• Ticket recipients must be 65 or older on the performance date.
• This line has access to benches, shade, and restroom facilities.
• Tickets are for seats in Section E, which offers accessible seating: including seating accessed with no stairs, seating accessible by ramp, seating accessed with limited stairs, wheelchair accessible locations, wheelchair transfer accessible locations, and seating to support hearing or vision loss based on proximity to the stage.

3) Access for People with Disabilities Line

• This line has access to benches, shade, and restroom facilities.
• Ticket recipients must attest to the need for accessible seating: including seating accessed with no stairs, seating accessible by ramp, seating accessed with limited stairs, wheelchair accessible locations, wheelchair transfer accessible locations, and seating to support hearing or vision loss based on proximity to the stage, seating locations for select performances where American Sign Language, Open Captions, and Audio Descriptions will be offered (visit the website and calendar to confirm those dates before attending a distribution), and seating for guests who need extra space outside the measurements of The Delacorte seating.

In-person standby line in Central Park

After the final ticket is distributed for that day’s performance, anyone who did not obtain a ticket may begin to form a standby line at Delacorte Theater. 

• A Public Theater Patron ID is required to receive a free ticket, and you are encouraged to create or confirm your ID before arrival by visiting publictheater.org/register.
• The Public Theater staff will begin to monitor this line, starting at 6PM.
• Tickets may begin to be distributed to this line any time after 6PM through the beginning of the performance or when The Public Theater staff dismisses the line. 
• Pending availability, free standby tickets will be distributed, 2 per person.
• Performance days may vary weekly, so check the performance calendar.
• Seat locations are randomly distributed, not based on the position of a person in the line.
• People waiting for free tickets must line up along the paths designated by The Public Theater staff and The Parks Department.
• There are no separate standby lines for General, 65+, or people with disabilities since all tickets received on standby are the best available at their time of release.

Other Ways to Acquire Tickets

• In-person lottery at The Public Theater
• In-person distribution in the boroughs
• Digital lottery with TodayTix
• Become a supporter of The Public Theater with a gift of $300 or more to access reserved seating (seats are limited to keep the majority of tickets accessible to all).

For free ticket availability for each evening's performance, visit the DAILY TICKET UPDATE.

Other Notes

• The Public Theater reserves the right to deny tickets. Including tickets to future performances this season and in future seasons, to anyone participating on a secondary market in the selling or obtaining of tickets that The Public Theater offers for free, and to revoke such tickets or to deny admission to anyone found in possession of such obtained tickets. Any known activity regarding the misuse of free tickets should be reported to The Public Theater staff. The Public Theater does not condone ticket scalping. It undermines the spirit of Free Shakespeare in the Park and is unfair to those who wait in line.
• The ticket distribution lines and the area surrounding The Delacorte Theater are monitored by video.