Shakespeare in the Park begins this week

The Public Theater begins this summer’s Free Shakespeare in the Park season on Friday, May 22, with the first preview of “Romeo & Juliet” at the revitalized Delacorte Theater in Central Park. The production runs through June 28, according to the theater, marking the return of the program to the Delacorte for its 2026 season. The Public said free tickets are available through day-of in-person distribution, borough voucher distribution sites and a digital lottery on TodayTix. The season is part of the group’s broader “Shakespeare for the City” program, which the theater said will run across New York City through September. ### When do performances start, and how long does this run last? Friday, May 22, is the first preview for “Romeo & Juliet,” The Public Theater said in a May 14 release. The company said the production will run through Sunday, June 28, with an official press opening scheduled for Thursday, June 11. The Delacorte Theater in Central Park is hosting the production as part of the first full summer season at the venue after its recent revitalization, according to The Public and Time Out New York. (publictheater.org) Time Out reported on May 15 that the opening also serves as the start of the theater’s summer Free Shakespeare in the Park season. ### What is different about this year’s “Romeo & Juliet”? (publictheater.org) Saheem Ali directs the 2026 staging, and The Public Theater said the play unfolds in English while Romeo and Juliet speak to one another in Spanish. The theater said the production is set in a border town where “ideology and simmering violence” shape the world around the lovers. April 13 casting materials from The Public said the show marks the first time in nearly 20 years that “Romeo & Juliet” has appeared in Free Shakespeare in the Park. (publictheater.org) The listed cast includes Ra’Mya Latiah Aikens as Juliet and Daniel Bravo Hernández as Romeo, with LaChanze, Deirdre O’Connell, Okieriete Onaodowan and Francis Jue also in the company. (publictheater.org) ### How do free tickets work this season? The Public Theater said free tickets are being distributed in several ways: in person at the Delacorte, through borough distributions in partnership with Citizens, and through the official TodayTix digital lottery. The theater’s main Free Shakespeare page says day-of tickets are distributed at noon on public performance days and that a Public Theater Patron ID is required for in-person pickup. (publictheater.org) April 21 program details from The Public said the borough distribution effort spans 50 locations this summer, including 12 Citizens branches. Time Out reported on April 22 that the expanded system is intended to reduce reliance on the Central Park line by adding pickup points across all five boroughs. ### What else is part of “Shakespeare for the City”? (publictheater.org) The Public Theater said “Shakespeare for the City” includes more than the Delacorte run of “Romeo & Juliet.” The 2026 program also includes “The Winter’s Tale” at the Delacorte from July 25 through Aug. 23 and a Mobile Unit production of “As You Like It” across the five boroughs. More than six million people have attended over 160 free productions since the program began, according to The Public Theater. (publictheater.org) The theater says Free Shakespeare in the Park remains a core part of the organization’s mission of free public access to theater. ### What happens next at the Delacorte? Saturday, May 30, is the date of a free kickoff celebration at the Delacorte Theater, The Public Theater said. (publictheater.org) The event is scheduled from noon to 5 p.m. and will feature family-friendly activities as part of the launch of “Shakespeare for the City.” June 5, June 19, Aug. 7, Aug. 14 and Aug. 21 are the dates The Public has set for “Summer Fridays” open houses at the Delacorte, according to its website. (publictheater.org) The theater said those afternoons will include self-guided tours, photo opportunities, family activities and evening picnics with music and special guests. (publictheater.org)