The Public's Shakespeare in the Park 2026 announced

The Public Theater has unveiled their 2026 Free Shakespeare in the Park season, which they're titling "Shakespeare for the City." The institution's newly renovated Delacorte Theater, located in Central Park, will host new productions of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and The Winter's Tale, run dates and casting to be announced.

The Public Works series, which has New York community members and professional actors sharing the stage, will also return to the Delacorte in 2026. The title and artists involved will be announced at the later date.

Public Associate Artistic Director Saheem Ali (Fat Ham, Buena Vista Social Club) will be at the helm for Romeo and Juliet, returning to the summer series after leading this past summer's staging of Twelfth Night (streaming now on PBS). Winter's Tale will be directed by Tony winner Daniel Sullivan, who has directed The Merry Wives of Windsor and A Midsummer Night’s Dream for Shakespeare in the Park. 

https://playbill.com/article/saheem-ali-will-direct-romeo-and-juliet-for-free-shakespeare-in-the-park-in-2026

Updated On: 11/19/25 at 02:04 PM

SO happy Public Works is coming back next year!

I know they’re costly, but I wish they’d do a proper musical revival soon. It feels like it’s been forever. 

jakethesnake said: "EDSOSLO858 said: "SO happy Public Works is coming back next year!"

Was there some indication that it wasn’t? Hasn’t it been ongoing (excluding the renovation year) for almost the last decade?"

It definitely has, but there was no Public Works production at the Delacorte this year. 

EDSOSLO858 said: "jakethesnake said: "EDSOSLO858 said: "SO happy Public Works is coming back next year!"

Was there some indication that it wasn’t? Hasn’t it been ongoing (excluding the renovation year) for almost the last decade?"

It definitely has, but therewas no Public Works production at the Delacorte this year."

Yes, but they still did it.   Just at St. John's the Divine.