Shakespeare in the Park Season Begins

The Public Theater’s 2026 summer season begins on Friday, May 22, with the first preview of “Romeo & Juliet” at the revitalized Delacorte Theater in Central Park. The production opens this year’s Free Shakespeare in the Park program and marks the return of performances to the Delacorte as part of the theater’s broader “Shakespeare for the City” lineup. Time Out New York included the start of the run in its May 18–24 events guide, calling attention to the reopening week for one of the city’s best-known free summer traditions. ### When do performances start, and how long does the first show run? “Romeo & Juliet” begins performances on Friday, May 22, and runs through Sunday, June 28, according to The Public Theater’s production page. Saheem Ali, The Public’s associate artistic director and resident director, is directing the staging. The Delacorte Theater is the venue for the run, and The Public says this is the first time in nearly 20 years that “Romeo & Juliet” has returned to that stage. (publictheater.org) Time Out described the production as the summer season opener at the newly revitalized theater. ### What is different about this year’s “Romeo & Juliet”? The Public Theater says the 2026 production sets Shakespeare’s story in a border town where violence spills into the streets. (publictheater.org) The company also says the play unfolds in English, while Romeo and Juliet speak to each other in Spanish. Oskar Eustis, The Public’s artistic director, said in a season announcement that Ali was bringing “Romeo and Juliet” back to the Delacorte for the first time in 19 years. (publictheater.org) Time Out said the lovers’ private scenes are staged in Spanish as “a secret language reserved solely for their romance.” ### How do free tickets work this summer? The Public Theater says tickets remain free, but required for entry to the Delacorte. (publictheater.org) The company says non-members have five ways to get day-of tickets, including in-person distribution points and a digital lottery through TodayTix. A Public Theater release dated April 21 said the organization scheduled 50 ticket voucher distribution locations across the five boroughs this summer, including 12 Citizens bank branches. (publictheater.org) The same release said borough distributions would return alongside Central Park distribution and the in-person lottery at The Public Theater’s flagship downtown. (publictheater.org) The “Romeo & Juliet” page says one borough distribution is set for May 23 at Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden on Staten Island, with later dates at Brooklyn College on May 28, Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning on June 6, and The Point Community Development Center in the Bronx on June 17. The Public also says Nordstrom NYC will host a ticket lottery at its flagship store on June 23 during the run. (publictheater.org) ### Is this just one show, or the start of a larger summer program? The Public Theater says “Shakespeare for the City” runs from May 22 through September 8 and is expected to bring free theater to more than 130,000 people across New York City. The lineup includes “Romeo & Juliet,” the Mobile Unit’s “As You Like It,” “The Winter’s Tale,” and Public Works’ “Public Record.” (publictheater.org) “As You Like It” is scheduled to tour the five boroughs from June 4 through June 28, according to The Public’s season page. “The Winter’s Tale,” directed by Daniel Sullivan, is set for the Delacorte from July 25 through August 23, and “Public Record” is scheduled for September 4 through September 8. ### What else is happening around the reopening? Saturday, May 30, is the date of a free kickoff celebration at the Delacorte from noon to 5 p.m., The Public Theater said. (publictheater.org) The event will include family activities, concessions, a Wonder pop-up, giveaways and appearances by “Romeo the Raccoon,” according to The Public and Time Out. Select Fridays later in the summer will also include Delacorte open houses and evening picnics, The Public said, with the first dates listed as June 5 and June 19. (publictheater.org) The next major performance milestone after “Romeo & Juliet” is the June 4 start of the Mobile Unit’s “As You Like It,” followed by “The Winter’s Tale” on July 25 at the Delacorte. (publictheater.org)