Broadway Sells 87.8% of Seats But Gross Falls $4.8M Year-Over-Year
For the week ending May 10, 2026, Broadway's 39 shows filled 87.82% of available seats while generating $38.3 million in gross revenue, a drop of $4.8 million from the same week in 2025. The attendance gap tells a sharper story: 14,444 fewer tickets sold than a year ago, even as average capacity held above the three-year benchmark. Across 39 shows, the spread between the week's best and worst performers runs from 100% capacity to 51%.
Stage Door Society's analysis of Broadway's week ending May 10, 2026 examines a paradox at the heart of the commercial theater market: how strong seat-fill rates can mask underlying revenue pressure. With 39 shows operating simultaneously, the week presents a case study in the relationship between capacity utilization and financial performance, revealing that attendance volume and pricing power do not always move in tandem. This disconnect matters to producers, theater operators, and investors who rely on occupancy metrics as leading indicators of box-office health.
The week's performance distribution—ranging from full houses to shows operating at just above half capacity—underscores the widening gap between Broadway's strongest and most vulnerable properties. By examining how gross revenue declined despite respectable seat-fill rates, the analysis illuminates the structural challenges facing mid-tier and struggling productions in an environment where hit shows command premium pricing while others compete on volume. Understanding these dynamics is essential for anyone evaluating the sustainability of Broadway's current production slate and the economics of theatrical risk.
Financial and compensation data is sourced from public filings and reports. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or professional advice. Past figures do not indicate future performance. See disclaimer.