Shakespeare in the Park kickoff at Delacorte

The Public Theater will begin its 2026 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 and marks the return of the long-running summer program to a refreshed venue after recent renovation work, according to The Public’s season pages. The organization said its broader “Shakespeare for the City” program will run from May 22 through September 8 and is expected to reach more than 130,000 people across New York. The opening week has also put renewed attention on how free tickets will be distributed and what else is scheduled at the Delacorte over the next several weeks. ### When do performances at the Delacorte actually start? Friday, May 22, is the first preview of “Romeo & Juliet,” according to The Public Theater and Time Out New York. The production is directed by Saheem Ali and is scheduled to run at the Delacorte through June 28. The Public Theater said the staging brings Shakespeare’s play to Central Park “for the first time in nearly 20 years.” Time Out described the production as the grand reopening season opener for the newly revitalized Delacorte Theater. (publictheater.org) ### What is different about this “Romeo & Juliet”? Saheem Ali’s production uses English for the public world of the Montagues and Capulets, while Romeo and Juliet speak to each other in Spanish, according to The Public Theater. (publictheater.org) The company’s production page says the play is set in a border town where ideological conflict and street violence shape the action around the lovers. Time Out reported the same bilingual structure, describing Spanish as a private language reserved for the lovers’ scenes. The Public Theater credits Alfredo Michel Modenessi with Spanish translations and Mayte Natalio with choreography. ### How do free tickets work this year? The Public Theater said nonmembers can access free tickets on the day of each performance through five methods, including in-person distribution points and a digital lottery run by TodayTix. (publictheater.org) Its Free Shakespeare in the Park page says there are multiple in-person distribution points for day-of tickets, alongside the return of TodayTix as the official digital lottery partner. The Public also expanded borough-based voucher distribution this summer. In an April 21 announcement, the company said 50 distribution locations were scheduled across the five boroughs, including 12 Citizens bank branches and other community sites. The “Romeo & Juliet” page lists early borough dates including May 23 at Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden in Staten Island and May 28 at the Tow Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College. (publictheater.org) ### What else is happening at the Delacorte besides the play? Saturday, May 30, is scheduled as a free kickoff celebration at the Delacorte from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., according to The Public Theater. The organization said the event will include family activities, concessions, a Wonder pop-up, giveaways and meet-and-greets with “Romeo the Raccoon.” (publictheater.org) June 5 and June 19 are the first two “Summer Fridays” at the Delacorte. The Public Theater said those afternoons will include open houses from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. with self-guided tours, onstage photo opportunities and family programming, followed by picnics from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. with music and special guests. ### What comes after opening week? July 25 is the start date for “The Winter’s Tale,” the second Delacorte production of the summer, according to The Public Theater’s main Free Shakespeare in the Park page. (publictheater.org) The company has also said its citywide summer programming includes “As You Like It” through the Mobile Unit in parks and plazas across the five boroughs. September 8 is the listed end date for the broader “Shakespeare for the City” season. (publictheater.org) For the immediate next step, the first Delacorte preview is Friday, May 22, followed by the public kickoff event on Saturday, May 30, and the next borough voucher distribution date on Friday, May 23, at Snug Harbor, according to The Public Theater. (publictheater.org)