Broadway takings fall 20% over Fourth of July as Rudolph and Hargitay sell out
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Broadway box-office takings fell sharply during the week ending 5 July 2026, as the traditional Fourth of July holiday drew audiences away from theatres and towards celebrations such as Macy's annual fireworks display. All 32 productions running that week reported dips, with total receipts of $29,331,200 down 20% on the previous week, underlining the seasonal pull the holiday exerts on Broadway even for popular shows.
Overall attendance for the week was 258,418, an 11% drop, though part of the decline reflected three shows having closed the previous week. Star turns still filled houses in their final performances: Maya Rudolph packed the Lyceum in her last week in Oh, Mary! (grossing $1,533,238, with Meg Stalter taking over), while Mariska Hargitay drew crowds to Every Brilliant Thing before Tracee Ellis Ross succeeds her. Death of a Salesman sold out for $1,857,099, and other sell-outs included Hamilton and Ragtime, with big drops recorded by titles such as The Rocky Horror Show (down $279,564) and The Lost Boys (down $268,670). Six weeks into the 2026-27 season, Broadway has grossed $219,079,486, down about 10% on the same point last year.
- Broadway takings fell 20% to $29.3m over the Fourth of July week.
- All 32 running shows saw dips; attendance dropped 11%.
- Rudolph and Hargitay sold out in their final Broadway weeks.
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Broadway runs on a rhythm of highs and lows, and box-office receipts are watched closely as a gauge of the industry's health. Each week, every production reports its takings and attendance, giving a snapshot of which shows are thriving and which are struggling, and how outside events, like holidays, affect audience turnout.
The Fourth of July is traditionally a quiet period for Broadway, as New Yorkers and tourists alike are drawn to Independence Day celebrations, such as Macy's fireworks display, rather than the theatre. This means a dip in takings around that week is a familiar seasonal pattern rather than necessarily a sign of trouble.
Individual shows and their casts also shape the picture. High-profile actors taking on or leaving roles, such as Maya Rudolph departing Oh, Mary! or Mariska Hargitay finishing her run in Every Brilliant Thing, tend to draw strong ticket sales in their final performances, since audiences want to catch a particular star before a new one steps in.
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Originally published by Deadline as “Maya Rudolph & Mariska Hargitay Sell Out In Final Weeks On Broadway As Overall Box Office Dimmed By Fireworks”.