How a Broadway lottery works
A lottery sells a small batch of seats for one performance at a low, fixed price. You enter online for free during the entry window, the platform draws winners at random, and winners get a short window to pay. You collect the tickets at the box office with a photo ID that matches the name on the entry.
Odds are long for the biggest hits and much better on weeknights and for newer shows. Entering several shows on the same night is the best way to improve your chances. The full guide to Broadway lotteries.
Broadway Direct 8 shows
| Show | Price | Entry window (ET) | Draw | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aladdin Enter the Aladdin lottery | $35 | Opens 9:00 AM the day before the performance and closes 3:00 PM that day Broadway Direct and TDF list $35; Playbill's roundup lists $45 (outdated). Entrants must be 18+; seats may be partial view or freestanding chairs. | Winners have 60 minutes to pay by credit card | 2 |
| The Lion King Enter the The Lion King lottery | $35 | Opens 9:00 AM the day before the performance and closes 3:00 PM that day Broadway Direct and TDF list $35; Playbill's roundup lists $60 (outdated). Tickets are collected at the box office with photo ID. | Winners notified by email after the lottery closes; 60 minutes to pay | 2 |
| The Lost Boys Enter the The Lost Boys lottery | $45 | Opens 7:00 AM ET the day before the performance and closes 2:00 PM ET that day One entry per person per day; seats may be partially obstructed. | Winners notified within minutes of closing; 60 minutes to pay | 2 |
| MJ the Musical Enter the MJ the Musical lottery | $49 | Opens 9:00 AM the day before the performance and closes 3:00 PM that day Price includes a $2 facility fee and $5 handling fee (official FAQ). TDF lists $40 (outdated). | Winners have 60 minutes to pay online | 2 |
| Schmigadoon! Enter the Schmigadoon! lottery | $45 | Opens 10:00 AM the day before the performance and closes 2:00 PM that day Price includes fees; seats may be partial view. | Winners drawn as soon as entries close; one hour to buy | 2 |
| SIX: The Musical Enter the SIX: The Musical lottery | $45 | Opens 9:00 AM the day before the performance and closes 6:00 PM that day One entry per person. | Winners notified by email and have 60 minutes to pay | 2 |
| Stranger Things: The First Shadow Enter the Stranger Things: The First Shadow lottery | $40 | Opens 10:00 AM the day before the performance and closes 2:00 PM that day Broadway Direct lists $40; TDF lists $45. Entry window from TDF. | Winners notified within minutes of closing; 60 minutes to pay | 2 |
| Wicked Enter the Wicked lottery | $55 | Opens 9:00 AM the day before the performance and closes 3:00 PM that day Select performances only; price includes all fees (official FAQ). TDF lists an older, different schedule. | Winners notified after the lottery closes; one hour to pay online, e-tickets emailed | 2 |
Hamilton app (official) 1 show
| Show | Price | Entry window (ET) | Draw | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton Enter the Hamilton lottery | $10 | Opens 10:00 AM every Friday and closes 12:00 PM the following Thursday, for the next week's performances "Ham4Ham" lottery for all performances; front-row orchestra seats per Playbill. Pick up at will call with photo ID. | Winner notices go out Thursday afternoon (Playbill: 1–4 PM ET; TDF: 12–4 PM); two hours to claim and pay | 2 |
Lucky Seat 4 shows
| Show | Price | Entry window (ET) | Draw | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Book of Mormon Enter the The Book of Mormon lottery | $49 | Weekday performances: entries close 9:30 AM ET the day before. Weekend (and any Monday) performances: entries close 9:30 AM ET the Friday before Lucky Seat shows $49 = $40 + $6 service fee + $3 facility fee. The official site also runs a monthly $15 lottery (winners drawn by the 15th for select dates the following month). | Drawings start at 10:00 AM ET and continue through the day as needed; tickets must be bought by 3:00 PM ET the day before | 2 |
| Hadestown Enter the Hadestown lottery | $49 | Weekday performances: entries close 9:30 AM ET the day before. Weekend (and any Monday) performances: entries close 9:30 AM ET the Friday before Lucky Seat shows $49 = $40 + $6 service fee + $3 facility fee. Some seats have an obstructed view. TDF's older listing ($47.50, closing 10:30 AM day of) is out of date. | Drawings start at 10:00 AM ET and continue through the day as needed; tickets must be bought by 3:00 PM ET the day before | 2 |
| Other Desert Cities Enter the Other Desert Cities lottery | $49 | Entries open each day at 12:00 PM ET Official site. Playbill instead says entries open 10:30 AM ET the day before with drawings from 11 AM. | Not published | 2 |
| Paranormal Activity Enter the Paranormal Activity lottery | $40 | Entry times not published Requires a Lucky Seat account; the official site does not publish entry or drawing times. | Not published | 2 |
Telecharge 9 shows
| Show | Price | Entry window (ET) | Draw | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 860 Enter the 860 lottery | $59 | Opens 12:00 AM the day before the performance and closes 3:00 PM that day | Drawings at 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM the day before; winners are emailed and have five hours to buy online | 2 |
| Buena Vista Social Club Enter the Buena Vista Social Club lottery | $49 | Opens 12:00 AM the day before the performance | Drawings at 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM the day before; five hours to buy | 2 |
| The Great Gatsby Enter the The Great Gatsby lottery | $45 | Opens 12:00 AM the day before the performance and closes 3:00 PM that day | Drawings at 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM the day before; winners are emailed and have five hours to buy online | 2 |
| Maybe Happy Ending Enter the Maybe Happy Ending lottery | $20.64 | Opens 12:00 AM the day before the performance "Club 2064" lottery for select performances; seats in the mezzanine or orchestra (official). TDF lists $45 (outdated). | Drawings at 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM ET the day before | 2 |
| Oh, Mary! Enter the Oh, Mary! lottery | $47 | Opens 12:00 AM the day before the performance and closes 3:00 PM that day | Drawings at 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM the day before; winners are emailed and have five hours to buy online | 2 |
| Operation Mincemeat Enter the Operation Mincemeat lottery | Price not published | Entry times not published Unconfirmed. Playbill lists a $49 Telecharge digital lottery and TDF lists $39, but the official site only invites sign-ups to "be the first to hear about" an official lottery. | Not published | Not published |
| The Outsiders Enter the The Outsiders lottery | $49 | Opens 12:00 AM the day before the performance | Drawings at 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM; five hours to buy | 2 |
| Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) Enter the Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) lottery | $48 | Opens 12:00 AM the day before the performance | Drawings at 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM the day before | 2 |
| Wanted Enter the Wanted lottery | $35 | Opens 12:00 AM the day before the performance Playbill and TDF. | Drawings at 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM the day before; five hours to claim | 2 |
TodayTix 2 shows
| Show | Price | Entry window (ET) | Draw | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Enter the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child lottery | $40 | Opens 12:01 AM Monday and closes 1:00 PM Friday, for the following week's performances Called "The Friday Forty"; enter in the TodayTix app. Playbill lists 40 tickets per week. | Winners notified between 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM on Friday; one hour to claim | 2 |
| The Rocky Horror Show Enter the The Rocky Horror Show lottery | $30 | Opens 5:00 PM the day before the performance and closes 9:00 AM the day of the performance Price confirmed by the official FAQ and TodayTix; entry window from Playbill. | Winners notified after the lottery closes and have one hour to claim in the TodayTix app | 2 |
Other platforms 1 show
| Show | Price | Entry window (ET) | Draw | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Few Good Men Enter the A Few Good Men lottery | $49 | Entries open at 12:01 AM ET the day before each performance Lincoln Center Theater's own digital lottery (lctlottery.com); price includes all fees. Playbill's roundup places it on Telecharge. | Winners chosen at 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM the day before | 2 |
Lottery prices and windows change without much notice. Every show's own page lists its full policy and the date we last checked it. Prefer to line up instead? See rush, standing room and student tickets.