At present’s article was written by Tyler Partnow. Thanks for gazing into the long run, Tyler!
There’s been plenty of hullabaloo on-line a few kind of “Muppet renaissance” brewing in 2026. As Muppet followers, we
know higher than anybody to chunk our tongues at any time when a brand new venture is introduced and by no means ever, below any
circumstances get our hopes up about something.
That being mentioned, this actually is trying to be a very eventful 12 months for all of the Muppet and Henson associated issues, and I, an observant fanatic, have some predictions for thrilling, potential Muppet highlights for every month of the 12 months.
Disclaimer: these are predictions. I’ve no insider information or proof that the majority of these items will truly occur…however wouldn’t or not it’s cool?
January – Extra movies of Rizzo and Bean speaking about holidays
On the morning of December twenty fourth, followers of the Muppets’ numerous social media accounts had been handled to one of many best presents anybody may ask for: a pair of movies that includes Bradley Freeman Jr.’s unimaginable debut performances as Rizzo and Bean. I’m not even a Disney Trip Membership member, and I nonetheless appreciated that promo; sure, Bean, I’ll purchase a timeshare from you!
We had been even blessed with one other video of Bean every week later, celebrating New Yr’s Eve. And would you consider it, the very subsequent day, we acquired a Rizzo video, our first piece of Muppet content material in 2026.
However why cease there? There’s loads of different holidays in January that these guys may give their two cents on. In actual fact, January sixth was Nationwide Bean Day. This stuff write themselves!
February – The Muppet Present particular airs on ABC and Disney+ to uproarious success
If every thing goes in accordance with plan, we ought to be getting a model new televised Muppet Present particular, 50 years after the unique debuted, in T-minus 28 days. Actually, what timeline are we residing in? I can solely fathom a number of causes as to why this gloriously anticipated return to primetime won’t come to fruition:
-Sabrina Carpenter’s recognition unexpectedly plummets
-Jimmy Kimmel will get pulled of the air once more
-World-wide revolt in opposition to expertise
So long as none of these items occur between now and February 4, we ought to be good to go!
March – Aerosmith followers from all over the world collect to mourn the closure of Rock n’ Rollercoaster
The shuttering of Disney World’s Muppet*Imaginative and prescient 3D attracted widespread media consideration, in addition to two separate fan-orchestrated meetups to present the attraction a correct ship off. This despatched a message to Disney, and to the world, that not solely are Muppet followers extremely passionate in terms of historic attraction closures, however so are theme park fanatics/folks with YouTube channels about theme parks.
Thus, Rock n’ Rollercoaster’s closure and subsequent re-theming will inevitably draw crowds similar to, if not fully overshadowing the Muppet*Imaginative and prescient meetups. Dozens of followers will put on their t-shirts of Aerosmith drummer Joey Kramer for one final trip. However bear in mind, within the immortal phrases of Aerosmith, “By no means Say Goodbye.” Wait—that’s a Bon Jovi track. Whoops.
April – 4 extra new episodes of Sesame Avenue premiere on Netflix
The launch of Sesame Avenue on Netflix appears to have gone over properly, to date. Most followers I’ve talked to largely loved the 4 episodes of Season 56 that premiered again in November, or at the least most popular them over a lot of the previous couple of seasons. However are children going to maintain tuning into the identical 4 episodes again and again? Heck no! Preschoolers famously hate rewatching their favourite reveals! They’d fairly watch “Digital Circus” or one thing.
That’s why we want new episodes of Sesame Avenue on Netflix, and we want them quick; 6 months looks as if sufficient time. Let these 4 episodes, and their collective three “Tales from 1-2-3” segments, actually sink in earlier than we spoil the youngsters with an excessive amount of Sesame Avenue. Then, out of nowhere, hit ‘em with 4 extra episodes, and two extra of the animated issues. That’ll hook the children in.
Might – Kermit offers one other graduation speech at a prestigious college (possibly even different Muppets?)
When the College of Maryland introduced that the Kermit the Frog can be delivering their 2025 graduation speech, it sparked a sequence of jealousy amongst actually each single different college in America. Check out this listing of graduation audio system from numerous school graduations final 12 months. It’s your normal fare of CEOs, athletes, the President…embarrassingly normal in comparison with UMD’s selection of “Kermit the Frog, a Muppet.”
I guess that committees in any respect the Ivy Leagues are scrambling to e book no matter Muppet they will to try to cling onto even a fraction of the excitement Kermit’s speech obtained. Everybody, from incomprehensible characters like Beaker and Chef, to B and C-listers like Wayne and Angelo, are all being tapped to present speeches that can uplift and encourage the subsequent era of graduates.
June – One other Muppet Present particular is introduced for late 2026 with particular visitor star, oh, let’s say…Robert Downey Jr.
The Muppet Present particular with Sabrina Carpenter can be such an unprecedented success again in February, it can solely be a matter of time earlier than a observe up is introduced. Sabrina Carpenter is such an enormous star, although; how may they ever discover somebody of comparable caliber who can be tight with Disney and has a serious venture to advertise for This autumn of 2026…wait. Truthfully, Disney can get whomever they need from Avengers: Doomsday to be the subsequent visitor star, it’s a match made in synergy heaven. I simply wish to see RDJ work with the Muppets once more and hopefully redeem his observe document.
July – Muppet followers from all over the world collect to rejoice the opening of Rock n’ Rollercoaster
We Muppet followers are additionally infamous thrill-seekers, who like our Muppet experiences to go by at 60 mph, and final no
greater than a minute and a half.
In all seriousness, whereas it’s a disgrace that quite a lot of Muppet followers can be unable to expertise the trip itself because of private restrictions or discomfort with thill rides, I’ve religion that ready within the queue can be an pleasant expertise in and of itself, with loads of sight gags to make the 60+ minute wait simply fly by! Keep in mind how nice the Muppet*Imaginative and prescient pre-show was? Effectively, this one’s going to have a Scooter animatronic, which everybody can and may admit is completely badass. There’s certain to be loads of new merch for the event as properly, which anybody with cash can get pleasure from. Will we lastly get a Lips plush? Solely time will inform.
August – Muppet reside reveals debut on Disney Cruise Line voyages
Final month, a headline concerning the Muppets supposedly showing on upcoming Disney Cruise Line voyages gained shocking traction. The knowledge got here from a small piece in Time Journal’s particular Muppets 70 difficulty, and was
regurgitated on a bunch of Disney blogs a few month after it hit the newsstands.
Followers of cruise ship reside leisure must wait till August to see simply what this reside Muppets stage present would entail, however it can actually be definitely worth the wait. Rob Lake Magic Takes the Excessive Seas That includes the Muppets can be an instantaneous smash, with households mortgaging their houses simply to afford a measly 3-night voyage.
And certain, the Muppets can seem on a number of cruise voyages (so long as they’re delivered to life by gifted, skilled puppeteers lip syncing to the core Muppet performers). However Rob Lake is one singular man, who can’t be duplicated (except that’s one among his magic tips?), so this present can be restricted to only 4 performances on one Disney Cruise leaving out of New York.
September – Jim Henson’s birthday weekend at MOMI takes over entirety of Queens, spills over into Lengthy
Island
The annual Jim Henson birthday celebrations at our beloved Museum of the Transferring Picture appear to get larger and larger every year. Regardless of the Museum that includes a whopping 4 flooring with two theaters and an out of doors space, it’s merely not sufficient to comprise the huge inflow of Muppet followers who will present up in 2026.
So, some upgrades will should be made: the favored “Swamp Meet” can be a virtually 40 block-long “Fleece Market” (like a Flea Market, however…with fleece), the costume contest can be a vogue present judged by a panel of among the prime designers in NY, and the Museum can be pressured to rent a second Craig Shemin to fulfill the demand for screenings and trivias throughout city.
Oh, and Frank Oz will present up someday, however nobody will comprehend it’s him in his Pepé cosplay.
October – One other Henson Firm public sale
The Jim Henson Firm’s first ever public sale this previous November was, unsurprisingly, a large success, raking in over $2 million, and making dozens of rich Hoobs followers’ wildest goals come true. I actually loved poring over the net catalog and watching the livestream, in all probability my favourite Henson Firm manufacturing of the previous few years.
However from thumbing via the listings, anybody can see that they need to nonetheless have loads of artifacts mendacity round that should go below the hammer. Weren’t there 5 Squirrels in Emmet Otter? As a result of the 2 that had been up for public sale offered for a fortune! Solely one of many pig tiki heads from Muppet Treasure Island went up on the market. There will need to have been a dozen of these within the film. Are you telling me Jim Henson solely had 5 shirts? These issues offered for over $3 grand a pop — in case you offered a complete match, you can in all probability fund half a brand new season of Again to the Rock. Who is aware of; possibly this time, the Age of Resistance objects will solely make up a 3rd of your complete public sale?
November – Netflix revives The Darkish Crystal: Age of Resistance, 5 years after its cancellation
Shock! After promoting off 90% of the present’s props, costumes, and puppets in the latest of the 2 Henson
Firm auctions, Netflix will make the choice to deliver again The Darkish Crystal: Age of Resistance for an additional season. You
see, it seems that the brass over at Netflix by no means completed watching the primary season again in 2019, in order that they didn’t understand that the present ends on a brutal cliffhanger. Determined to seek out out what occurs to Hup and co., they’ll rush-order a brand new season for instant launch.
Henson will put out a press launch as properly, stating that any Age of Resistance merchandise bought at their public sale might be traded in for “a Doozer or one thing of equal/lesser worth.”
December – The Muppet Present particular with Robert Downey Jr., or somebody of equal stature, airs on ABC
The weeks main as much as December 2026 can be an absolute media blitz, all surrounding one main popular culture occasion. No, it’s not Avengers: Doomsday. It’s not even Dune: Half 3, which comes out the identical day for some purpose and can probably get completely obliterated within the field workplace.
No, it’s the long-awaited return of the long-awaited return (once more) of The Muppet Present, in fact! Households everywhere in the globe will collect collectively to get pleasure from this healthful, winter particular starring Robert Downey Jr. and the Muppets, and possibly even Stockard Channing will present up too. Now that will be actually splendiferous.
And that’s it… wow, what a hypothetical 12 months! I used to be truthfully skeptical of this entire “Muppet renaissance” factor,
however this hypothetical 12 months has the potential to be probably the most productive years in current Muppets historical past. Perhaps
we’ll lastly get that Storyteller reboot, too!
Click on right here to spill over into Lengthy Island on the Powerful Pigs Discord!
by Tyler Partnow
