You’re standing under the neon glow of 42nd Street, clutching a ticket that cost more than your first car’s monthly insurance payment. You’ve got dinner reservations at 10:00 PM. Or maybe you’re just worried about your "Broadway bladder" giving out during a dramatic soliloquy. Either way, the question of how long is a Broadway show becomes very real the second you step into those cramped, historic seats.
Most people guess two hours. They're usually wrong.
The reality is a bit more of a marathon than a sprint. If you’re heading to a theater in 2026, you aren't just buying a performance; you’re committing to a three-hour block of your life. Honestly, between the "curtain at 7:00 PM" (which actually means 7:07 PM) and the final bow, you’re looking at a serious time investment.
The Standard: Breaking Down the Average Run Time
If you want a quick answer, here it is: the average Broadway musical clocks in at 2 hours and 45 minutes.
That’s the sweet spot. Producers love it because it feels "substantial" enough to justify a $180 ticket, but it’s not so long that the audience starts checking their watches or plotting an escape during the second act. This duration almost always includes a 15 to 20-minute intermission.
Let’s look at the heavy hitters currently dominating the boards:
- Wicked: 2 hours and 45 minutes.
- The Lion King: 2 hours and 30 minutes.
- Hamilton: 2 hours and 40 minutes.
- Chicago: 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Notice a pattern? These shows are built to fit into a specific window. They start at 7:00 PM or 8:00 PM and dump you back onto the sidewalk before the late-night subway rush gets truly chaotic.
👉 See also: Why the Denethor Eating Tomato GIF Still Haunts the Internet
Why do they last this long?
It’s not just about the script. You’ve got scene changes that involve literal tons of machinery moving behind a curtain. You’ve got costume changes where a lead actress has 45 seconds to swap a ballgown for a nightgown. And then, there’s the intermission—the unsung hero of the Broadway economy.
The Intermission: More Than a Bathroom Break
People ask if every show has a break. Most do.
Usually, the intermission hits about 75 to 90 minutes into the performance. Why? Because that’s roughly the limit of human endurance for a wooden seat designed in 1924.
But there’s a secret reason for the 15-minute gap: The bar. Theater owners make a massive chunk of their profit on $22 plastic cups of lukewarm Chardonnay and $9 bags of Peanut M&Ms. If a show is 90 minutes with no break, they lose that revenue.
That said, we’re seeing a shift. Some newer productions are ditching the break entirely. Six: The Musical is a famous example—it’s a lean, mean 80-minute concert. No intermission. You’re in, you’re out, and you’re at the bar across the street before the Wicked crowd has even started Act II.
✨ Don't miss: Losing It Cora Carmack: What Most Romance Readers Get Wrong
Plays vs. Musicals: The Time Gap
If you aren't a fan of jazz hands and want something shorter, look at "straight plays" (shows without the singing).
Plays are notoriously unpredictable with their timing. You might get a 90-minute "one-act" play that feels like a punch to the gut, or you might end up in a three-hour revival of a classic where characters talk about their feelings until your legs go numb.
In 2026, the trend for new plays is "lean." Writers like Lauren Yee or the team behind the latest revivals at the Hudson Theater are often aiming for that 100-minute mark with no intermission. It keeps the tension high. It feels cinematic. Basically, if you see "no intermission" on your ticket for a play, expect to be out in under two hours.
The Extreme Outliers: From Sprints to Marathons
Sometimes, the answer to how long is a Broadway show is "longer than your flight to New York."
Take Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. It’s a beast. For a long time, it was two separate shows you had to see on different nights or in one grueling "marathon" day. Even the current "condensed" version is roughly 3 hours and 30 minutes. If you’re going to see the boy wizard, don't plan anything else for that evening.
On the flip side, you have shows like Every Brilliant Thing or certain Off-Broadway transfers that might barely hit 75 minutes. These are great if you have dinner plans, but some tourists feel "cheated" if they aren't in the theater for at least two hours.
Pro Tips for Timing Your Night
The "start time" is a lie.
If your ticket says 7:00 PM, the lights won't actually dim until 7:05 or 7:07. This is "Broadway Time." It gives the stragglers coming from the Port Authority a few extra minutes to find their seats.
Here is how to actually plan your night:
- Arrival: Get there 30 minutes early. Security lines at the Majestic or the Gershwin can be brutal.
- The Exit: Don't expect to bolt the second the lights come up. The "curtain call" (the bowing and clapping) takes about 5 to 10 minutes.
- The Stage Door: If you want to meet the actors, add another 45 minutes of standing behind a metal barricade in the cold.
Does the Length Actually Matter?
Honestly, a "short" show can feel like forever if the book is boring, and a three-hour epic like Les Misérables (when it's in town) can fly by.
The industry is currently debating this. With shorter attention spans and higher ticket prices, some producers are pushing for shorter run times. They save money on labor (overtime for stagehands is expensive!) and audiences get home earlier. But for many, the "three-hour musical" is the quintessential New York experience. You want the spectacle. You want the two acts. You want the dramatic "Act I Finale" that leaves you breathless while you wait in line for the restroom.
What to check before you go:
- The Official Website: Every show lists its current run time.
- Playbill.com: They keep a running list of every show on Broadway and exactly how many minutes they last.
- Google Maps: Check the "popular times" for the theater; it’ll show you when the crowd usually disperses.
If you’re worried about the time, just remember that the longest-running shows aren't always the longest in length. Chicago is a relatively quick 2.5 hours, and it’s been running since the mid-90s.
📖 Related: Avatar Fire and Ash Explained (Simply): When Can You Actually See It?
To make the most of your trip, check your ticket's start time twice. Some shows do 7:00 PM starts on Tuesdays and 8:00 PM on Fridays. Missing the first 10 minutes because you assumed every show starts at 8:00 is a classic rookie mistake that ruins the vibe of the whole night.
Check the run time on your specific show's website tonight so you can lock in those post-theater dinner reservations without stressing during the finale.