Sabrina Carpenter leads “The Muppet Show” special event for its 50th anniversary night

Sabrina Carpenter takes center stage in “The Muppet Show” special event airing Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026 at 9:00 p.m. ET, a one-night revival built to celebrate the variety series’ 50th anniversary. The 33-minute special brings the classic theatre-and-backstage format back with musical numbers, quick sketches, and familiar characters, while positioning Carpenter as the marquee human star of the night.

The show is available live on a major U.S. broadcast channel and is also available to stream immediately through the same company’s subscription streaming service.

What the special event is (and what it isn’t)

This isn’t a full-season reboot or a weekly return. It’s a single “event” edition designed to feel like the original: a stage show that keeps getting derailed by chaos behind the curtain. The production leans into the idea that the theatre itself is a character—complete with pre-show panic, last-second fixes, and performers trying to keep the spotlight from sliding away.

Carpenter’s role is the headline draw in the traditional “guest star” mold, but the format makes her feel like an on-stage anchor: she’s present across multiple segments, singing and acting opposite the ensemble rather than popping in for one isolated bit.

Sabrina Carpenter’s “host” role: guest star plus creative stake

Many viewers are calling Carpenter the “host,” and in practice she functions like one: she’s the most prominent human presence, she drives several set pieces, and she’s positioned as the audience’s entry point into the theatre’s controlled chaos.

Formally, the special treats her as the featured guest star, and she also has a behind-the-scenes role as part of the project’s producing team. That combination matters: it suggests this isn’t just a cameo booked for promotion, but a collaborative showcase shaped around her strengths—performance timing, comedic beats, and a pop set that can be staged inside a sketch format.

Who shows up with her on stage

The special event stacks recognizable human guest appearances alongside the core cast, including Seth Rogen and Maya Rudolph, both of whom slot into the show’s fast, punchline-forward rhythm.

On the Muppet side, the familiar theatre lineup returns, including Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Animal, Scooter, Rowlf the Dog, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker, Statler and Waldorf, and more. A noteworthy addition is Pepé the King Prawn, positioned as a scene-stealer in at least one new sketch.

What to expect: music, backstage mayhem, and classic bits

The tone aims for a modern polish without losing the original’s structure: musical performance as the “big moment,” interrupted by backstage tangents that escalate. The special’s comedic engine is still the tension between putting on a professional variety show and the fact that everyone involved is, at best, improvising competence.

Carpenter’s segments lean into the “variety hour” idea—music integrated with the chaos rather than performed as a standalone concert break. That’s the classic Muppet trick: treat the song like a sketch that happens to be catchy.

When it airs and how to watch

Here’s the simplest schedule in ET:

If you’re watching live, tune in at 9:00 p.m. ET. If you miss the broadcast window, it’s available on demand through the associated streaming library.

Why this special lands now

The timing stacks visibility on visibility: Carpenter’s awards-week momentum rolls straight into a prime-time variety slot, while the anniversary framing gives the project an all-ages hook. For the franchise, the event format reduces risk—one tight, shareable show instead of an open-ended reboot—while still testing whether the classic variety structure can cut through in a modern attention economy.

If the special performs well, the next move to watch is whether this becomes a recurring annual event, a limited run, or simply a template for more character-led specials with rotating headliners.

Sources consulted: Disney+, D23, The Wrap, Los Angeles Times