The ten longest-running shows in Broadway history, ranked by total number of performances.
Updated July 17, 202610 ranked3 sources
Quick answer: 1. The Phantom of the Opera, 2. Chicago, 3. The Lion King, 4. Wicked, 5. Cats, 6. Les Misérables, 7. A Chorus Line, 8. Beauty and the Beast, 9. Hamilton, 10. Fiddler on the Roof.
Broadway's longest-running shows are a mix of blockbuster musicals, family favorites, and a single record-breaking play. The Phantom of the Opera held the all-time record for 35 years until 2023, but the list has been reshuffled by recent successes including the juggernaut Disney adaptation The Lion King.
Many of these shows have run for over two decades, sustained by a combination of tourism, loyal fan bases, and massive advance ticket sales. This list tracks the total number of regular performances as of mid-2026, excluding preview performances, which are not counted in the Broadway League's official totals.
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Total performances
Total performances
The Phantom of the Opera
13981 performances
Chicago
10850 performances
The Lion King
10800 performances
Wicked
8150 performances
Cats
7485 performances
Les Misérables
6680 performances
A Chorus Line
6137 performances
Beauty and the Beast
5461 performances
Hamilton
5120 performances
Fiddler on the Roof
3242 performances
The ranking
1
The Phantom of the Opera
Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom ran for 13,981 performances from January 1988 to April 2023, making it the longest-running show in Broadway history by a wide margin. The musical, based on Gaston Leroux's 1910 novel, tells the story of a disfigured musical genius who haunts the Paris Opera House. Its closure in 2023 was a landmark moment for Broadway, ending a 35-year run that had survived recessions, 9/11, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Type: MusicalComposer: Andrew Lloyd WebberOpened: January 26, 1988Closed: April 16, 2023Run duration: 35 years
2
Chicago
The original 1975 production of Chicago ran for 936 performances, but it is the 1996 revival — still running today — that ranks second all-time. With over 10,800 performances and counting, the Kander and Ebb musical about murder, celebrity, and corruption in 1920s Chicago has outlasted the original production many times over and remains a major tourist draw.
Type: Musical (revival)Composer: John Kander, Fred EbbOpened: November 14, 1996Closed: Still runningRun duration: 30 years (ongoing)
3
The Lion King
Disney's stage adaptation of its 1994 animated film opened in November 1997 and is still running strong with over 10,800 performances. Directed by Julie Taymor, the production is famous for its innovative use of masks, puppetry, and African-inspired design. It is consistently one of Broadway's highest-grossing shows and has multiple international productions.
Type: MusicalComposer: Elton John, Tim Rice, Lebo M, Hans ZimmerOpened: November 13, 1997Closed: Still runningRun duration: 29 years (ongoing)
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4
Wicked
Stephen Schwartz's Wicked, the untold story of the Witches of Oz, opened in October 2003 and is still running with over 8,100 performances. The musical has become a modern classic, spawning multiple international productions and a two-part film adaptation released in 2024 and 2025 that further boosted ticket sales.
Type: MusicalComposer: Stephen SchwartzOpened: October 30, 2003Closed: Still runningRun duration: 23 years (ongoing)
5
Cats
Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats ran for 7,485 performances from October 1982 to September 2000. The sung-through musical, based on T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, was a cultural phenomenon in the 1980s and held the all-time Broadway record from 1997 until Phantom surpassed it in 2006.
Type: MusicalComposer: Andrew Lloyd WebberOpened: October 7, 1982Closed: September 10, 2000Run duration: 18 years
6
Les Misérables
The original Broadway production of Les Misérables ran for 6,680 performances from March 1987 to May 2003, ranking sixth all-time. The epic musical adaptation of Victor Hugo's novel, with music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, was one of the defining shows of the 1980s and 1990s Broadway era. A 2014 revival ran for an additional 1,100+ performances.
Type: MusicalComposer: Claude-Michel SchönbergOpened: March 12, 1987Closed: May 18, 2003Run duration: 16 years
7
A Chorus Line
The groundbreaking Michael Bennett musical about Broadway dancers auditioning for a show ran for 6,137 performances from July 1975 to April 1990. A Chorus Line won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1976 and held the record for longest-running Broadway show until it was surpassed by Cats in 1997.
Type: MusicalComposer: Marvin HamlischOpened: July 25, 1975Closed: April 28, 1990Run duration: 15 years
8
Beauty and the Beast
Disney's first Broadway musical adaptation of an animated film opened in April 1994 and ran for 5,461 performances through July 2007. The show proved that Disney could successfully transition from screen to stage, paving the way for The Lion King and other Disney stage adaptations.
Type: MusicalComposer: Alan Menken, Howard Ashman, Tim RiceOpened: April 18, 1994Closed: July 29, 2007Run duration: 13 years
9
Hamilton
Lin-Manuel Miranda's Hamilton opened in August 2015 and has run for over 5,000 performances while still going strong. The hip-hop-infused biographical musical about Alexander Hamilton became a cultural phenomenon, winning 11 Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Despite premium ticket prices, the show regularly sells out and has multiple touring productions.
Type: MusicalComposer: Lin-Manuel MirandaOpened: August 6, 2015Closed: Still runningRun duration: 11 years (ongoing)
10
Fiddler on the Roof
The beloved 1964 musical about a Jewish milkman and his family in pre-revolutionary Russia ran for 3,242 performances in its original Broadway production, which closed in 1972. Including three separate Broadway revivals (1976, 1990, and 2015), the show's total Broadway performances exceed 4,700, a testament to its enduring cultural significance.
Type: MusicalComposer: Jerry Bock, Sheldon HarnickOpened: September 22, 1964Closed: July 2, 1972Run duration: 8 years (original)
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Full comparison
#
Name
Type
Composer
Opened
Closed
Run duration
1
The Phantom of the Opera
Musical
Andrew Lloyd Webber
January 26, 1988
April 16, 2023
35 years
2
Chicago
Musical (revival)
John Kander, Fred Ebb
November 14, 1996
Still running
30 years (ongoing)
3
The Lion King
Musical
Elton John, Tim Rice, Lebo M, Hans Zimmer
November 13, 1997
Still running
29 years (ongoing)
4
Wicked
Musical
Stephen Schwartz
October 30, 2003
Still running
23 years (ongoing)
5
Cats
Musical
Andrew Lloyd Webber
October 7, 1982
September 10, 2000
18 years
6
Les Misérables
Musical
Claude-Michel Schönberg
March 12, 1987
May 18, 2003
16 years
7
A Chorus Line
Musical
Marvin Hamlisch
July 25, 1975
April 28, 1990
15 years
8
Beauty and the Beast
Musical
Alan Menken, Howard Ashman, Tim Rice
April 18, 1994
July 29, 2007
13 years
9
Hamilton
Musical
Lin-Manuel Miranda
August 6, 2015
Still running
11 years (ongoing)
10
Fiddler on the Roof
Musical
Jerry Bock, Sheldon Harnick
September 22, 1964
July 2, 1972
8 years (original)
How we ranked this
Shows are ranked by total number of regular (non-preview) performances on Broadway in New York City, as tracked by the Broadway League and reported by Playbill, IBDB (Internet Broadway Database), and Wikipedia. Only shows that have completed their run or are currently running with a confirmed performance count are included. Previews, special events, and limited engagements are excluded. Figures are current as of July 2026. Rank 1 is the most performances.
FAQ
What is the longest-running show in Broadway history?
The Phantom of the Opera is the longest-running show in Broadway history with 13,981 performances, running from January 1988 to April 2023. It surpassed Cats' record of 7,485 performances in January 2006 and held the top spot for 17 years.
Why are there so many musicals on this list but no plays?
Musicals consistently outdraw plays on Broadway because they appeal to a broader audience — tourists, families, and international visitors who make up a large portion of Broadway ticket buyers. The longest-running play on Broadway is the comedy The Book of Mormon at #1 of plays, but it ranks about 15th overall among all Broadway productions. Musical productions cost more to stage but generate far more sustained demand.
Does this list include preview performances?
No. The Broadway League's official performance counts exclude preview performances, which are technically rehearsals open to the public. Only regular performances counted toward official box office reporting are included in these totals.
Which currently running show is most likely to break Phantom's record?
Chicago and The Lion King are the closest, both with over 10,000 performances. However, even if they continue uninterrupted, Chicago would need approximately 20 more years and The Lion King about 15 more years to surpass Phantom's 13,981 record. Wicked would need roughly 30 more years of continuous performance to catch up.