Broadway and musicals are once again taking the stage at NYCC 2026. New York Comic Con is not too far from the city’s theaters, so it’s only right that the shows and stars get a chance to shine at the event. Read on for a guide to all of the panels and meetups that Broadway fans won’t want to miss.
Broadway NYCC 2026 Panels
Thursday, October 8
NYCC 2026’s Broadway offerings kick off on Thursday with a Spotlight on Idina Menzel. Taking place in North-Room 405 from 11am-12pm, host Ashley V. Robinson will interview Menzel about her career on and off the stage. Broadway fans know her from “Rent” and, of course, the original Elphaba in “Wicked” among her many stage roles.
Next, fans can get an inside look into how one of the world’s most popular musicals has been transformed into an immersive theatrical experiene. MASQUERADE: Celebrating 40 Years of The Phantom of the Opera will take place from 11:15am-12:15pm in North-Rom 408. Guests include Cesar Hawas, the producer of Masquerade, as well as Kaley Ann Voorhees (Christine) and Kyle Scatliffe (the Phantom). Those who have gotten the chance to see this amazing production and those who haven’t yet entered the Phantom’s world will love this inside look.
Then for stage and screen musical fans, check out the 4th Annual Broadway to Hollywood: A Look at the New Age of Musicals panel. From 11:45am-12:30pm in North-Room 406.1, guests will discuss how stories go from stage to screen and vice versa. Panelists include Bryan Carter (“An Evening with Jeff Goldblum”), Charlie Rosen (“Some Like It Hot”), Ethan Popp (“The Lost Boys”), Katie Spelman (“The Notebook”), and Stephen Oremus (“Wicked”). The panel will be moderated by Katharine Quinn (Founder and CEO of And That’s Showbiz).
Finally for Broadway fans at NYCC 2026 on Thursday, Playbill Presents: Movies, Musicals, and Schmigadoon! with Cinco Paul. The Emmy-and-Tony Award-winning Cinco Paul will discuss his work in animation, TV, and Broadway. He will also talk about taking “Schmigadoon!” from screens to the (multi Tony award winning) stage. Check out this panel from 12:45pm-1:45pm in North-Room 408.
Friday, October 9
Friday’s Broadway offerings start with another Playbill panel. Playbill Presents: “Building A Maybe Happy Ending: How a Tiny Love Story Became a Technological Broadway Musical” will take place in North-Room 408 from 11:30am-12:15pm. The panelists will discuss how “Maybe Happy Ending”, a show about two robots falling in love, came to be. Guests include Clint Ramos, Dane Laffery, Marcus Choi, and Will Aronson.
Next, The Rocky Horror Show: Let’s Do the Time Warp Again! In North-Room 406.2 from 1:45pm-2:30pm, join cast members of the current Broadway revival to talk all things Rocky Horror. Guests for the panel include ANANIA, Jake Shears, and Kevin McHale.
Saturday, October 10
On Saturday, Playbill Presents: The Big Broadway Nerd Panel. This panel will feature Broadway actors who, just like you, are big nerds! They will talk about the pop culture, sci-fi, fantasy, and more that shaped who they are and how they perform. Panelists for this fifth installment of the panel are Frankie Grande (“Titaníque”), Hannah Solow (“Oh, Mary!”), Harvey Guillén (“What We Do In the Shadows”, “The Rocky Horror Show”), Josh Rivera (“West Side Story”), and Justin Sargent (“Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark”). The panel will be hosted and moderated by Bryan Campione from Playbill.
You can check out this panel in North-Room 408 from 11:15am-12:15pm.
Sunday, October 11
Finally, Playbill Presents: Feed Me! The Staying Power of NYC’s Record-Setting Little Shop of Horrors takes place from 11am-11:45am in North-Room 408. This panel will celebrate the now-record-breaking production of Little Shop of Horrors currently playing at the Westside Theater- the longest-running production of the show ever. Current cast members Betsy Wolfe (Audrey), Christian McQueen (the voice of Audrey II), and Ethan Slater (Seymour) will be part of the panel. Upcoming cast member T.R. Knight who will take over the role of Seymour on October 27 will also be in attendance. The production’s director, Michael Mayer is also part of this celebration.
Broadway NYCC 2026 Meetups
For fans of both the movie and the new musical adaptation, swing by The Lost Boys Fan Meetup on Thursday, October 8. Taking place at the South Concourse Cosplay Meetups area from 4pm-4:45pm, cosplayers and fans can meet up to take pictures and chat.
Also, two “unofficial” cosplay meetups have also been planned by Broadway fans. The Broadway & Theatre Cosplay Meetups will take place on two different days of NYCC 2026. Act I will be on Thursday at 4pm. Act II is Friday, also at 4pm. Both meetups will take place on the North Concourse. These cosplay meetups will be hosted by abowmancostumes, elizabethjoysews, itsamewhatsername, littlelottie, and mixedlightphoto on Instagram.
Are you a Broadway or musical theater fan attending NYCC 2026? What are you most looking forward to at the event? Be sure to stay with Temple of Geek here and on our social media for all the fun and news!
If you’re in town for NYCC, try checking out Playbill’s guides to cheap Broadway and Off-Broadway tickets. There’s so many great shows to see right now, and ways to get a deal on a ticket.
Be sure to check out both our Marvel and Star Wars fandom guides for NYCC 2026.
