The ten longest-running productions in Broadway history, ranked by total regular performances as of October 18, 2026.
The Phantom of the Opera is the longest-running show in Broadway history, with 13,981 performances from 1988 until it closed in April 2023. Chicago (1996 revival) is second at 11,800 performances and The Lion King third at 11,425, both still running. The ranking uses total regular performances from Wikipedia's List of the longest-running Broadway shows, as of October 18, 2026.
Broadway's longest-running productions are almost all musicals: nine of the top ten are musicals and the tenth, the 1976 revival of Oh! Calcutta!, is a revue. The Phantom of the Opera has held the all-time record since it passed Cats in 2006, and it kept the record when it closed in April 2023 after 13,981 performances. Four of the top ten are still running - the 1996 revival of Chicago, The Lion King, Wicked and The Book of Mormon - so their totals grow by roughly eight performances a week. Figures for running shows are a snapshot as of October 18, 2026.
Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical ran for 13,981 performances from January 26, 1988 to April 16, 2023 at the Majestic Theatre. It became Broadway's longest-running show when it passed Cats in 2006, was the first Broadway production to pass 10,000 performances, and still holds the all-time record after closing.
The Kander and Ebb revival opened on November 14, 1996 and had reached 11,800 performances by October 18, 2026, making it the longest-running show currently on Broadway and the longest-running revival. The original 1975 production ran for 936 performances and is not counted here.
Disney's stage adaptation opened on November 13, 1997 and had reached 11,425 performances by October 18, 2026. Directed by Julie Taymor, it is the longest-running Disney Theatrical production on Broadway.
Stephen Schwartz's musical about the witches of Oz opened on October 30, 2003 and had reached 8,963 performances by October 18, 2026.
Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats ran for 7,485 performances from October 7, 1982 to September 10, 2000. It was the first Broadway production to pass 7,000 performances and held the all-time record from 1997, when it passed A Chorus Line, until Phantom passed it in 2006. Later revivals are separate productions and are not counted here.
The original Broadway production of Les Misérables ran for 6,680 performances from March 12, 1987 to May 18, 2003. Its 2006 and 2014 revivals are separate productions and are not counted here.
Michael Bennett's musical about dancers auditioning for a show ran for 6,137 performances from July 25, 1975 to April 28, 1990. It won the 1976 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and was Broadway's longest-running show until Cats passed it in 1997.
The 1976 revival of this revue ran for 5,959 performances from September 24, 1976 to August 6, 1989, making it Broadway's longest-running revue. The original 1969 production ran for 1,314 performances and is counted separately.
Trey Parker, Matt Stone and Robert Lopez's musical opened at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre on March 24, 2011 and had reached 5,787 performances by October 18, 2026, passing Mamma Mia! on the all-time list.
The ABBA jukebox musical ran for 5,758 performances from October 18, 2001 to September 12, 2015, the longest run of any jukebox musical on Broadway. A 2025 return engagement is a separate production and is not counted here.
| # | Name | Type | Opened | Closed | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Phantom of the Opera | Musical | January 26, 1988 | April 16, 2023 | Closed |
| 2 | Chicago (1996 revival) | Musical (revival) | November 14, 1996 | Still running | Running |
| 3 | The Lion King | Musical | November 13, 1997 | Still running | Running |
| 4 | Wicked | Musical | October 30, 2003 | Still running | Running |
| 5 | Cats | Musical | October 7, 1982 | September 10, 2000 | Closed |
| 6 | Les Misérables | Musical | March 12, 1987 | May 18, 2003 | Closed |
| 7 | A Chorus Line | Musical | July 25, 1975 | April 28, 1990 | Closed |
| 8 | Oh! Calcutta! (1976 revival) | Revue (revival) | September 24, 1976 | August 6, 1989 | Closed |
| 9 | The Book of Mormon | Musical | March 24, 2011 | Still running | Running |
| 10 | Mamma Mia! | Musical | October 18, 2001 | September 12, 2015 | Closed |
Productions are ranked by total regular (non-preview) Broadway performances, as listed in Wikipedia's List of the longest-running Broadway shows (permanent revision 1380784279, which states its totals are current through October 18, 2026; each row cites the show's IBDB production page). One source and one as-of date are used for every item. Each production is counted on its own: a revival is a separate production, so the 1996 Chicago revival and the 1976 Oh! Calcutta! revival are ranked on their own runs, not combined with their original productions. Totals for the four still-running shows will rise after the as-of date. Rank 1 is the most performances.
The Phantom of the Opera, with 13,981 performances between January 26, 1988 and April 16, 2023. It took the record from Cats (7,485 performances) in 2006 and still holds it.
No. Nine of the ten are musicals and Oh! Calcutta! is a revue. The longest-running straight play in the same source is Life with Father, with 3,224 performances, which ranks 20th overall. The Book of Mormon is a musical, not a play.
No. The counts are regular performances as listed on each show's IBDB production page; previews are not included.
As of October 18, 2026, Chicago (11,800 performances) was 2,181 performances behind Phantom's 13,981, and The Lion King (11,425) was 2,556 behind.
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