Matt Ranks (almost) Every Show of the 2025/2026 Season

After a full Broadway season of transfers, star vehicles, ambitious new musicals, baffling misfires, and surprise favorites, Matt finally attempts the impossible: ranking (almost) every show from the 2025/2026 season. From major Tony contenders to chaotic curiosities, he revisits what worked, what didn’t, and which productions lingered long after curtain call. Along the way, the episode becomes less a definitive “best to worst” list and more a snapshot of a season defined by big swings, divided reactions, and wildly different ideas of what Broadway should be right now.Important Links* Broadway Breakdown Live: Green Room 42 Tix! * Broadway Breakdown: Discord* Broadway Breakdown: Substack* Broadway Breakdown: YoutubeTime Stamps* 0:00 – Intro + ranking criteria explanation* 4:27 – #50* 6:05 – #49* 9:05 – #48* 12:57 – #47* 16:27 – #46* 18:40 – #45* 21:51 – #44* 24:58 – #43* 27:36 – #42* 29:37 – #41* 32:50 – #40* 36:57 – #39* 39:33 – #38* 43:12 – #37* 44:55 – #36* 47:06 – #35* 48:27 – #34* 50:49 – #33* 54:36 – #32* 57:21 – #31* 58:58 – #30* 1:00:52 – #29* 1:03:13 – #28* 1:05:52 – #27* 1:09:50 – #26* 1:11:45 – #25* 1:13:10 – #24* 1:16:02 – #23* 1:22:17 – #22* 1:27:07 – #21* 1:29:52 – #20* 1:32:07 – #19* 1:35:35 – #18* 1:41:15 – #17* 1:42:55 – #16* 1:48:23 – #15* 1:50:11 – #14* 1:52:38 – #13* 1:56:45 – #12* 1:59:17 – #11* 2:02:14 – #10* 2:04:43 – #9* 2:07:52 – #8* 2:10:32 – #7* 2:14:17 – #6* 2:16:44 – #5* 2:19:17 – #4* 2:22:25 – #3* 2:25:51 – #2* 2:27:35 – #1 + final reflections on the seasonListener discussion questions* “What was your personal favorite show of the 2025/2026 Broadway season—and did critical consensus line up with your own ranking?”* “Which production do you think will age the best over time, regardless of awards success?”* “Are there shows this season you admired more than you actually enjoyed—and how do you separate those two reactions?” This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bwaybreakdown.substack.com