How To Enter The Broadway Lottery in NYC: A Step By Step Guide

Have you ever wanted to experience the sights and sounds of a Broadway show firsthand—without breaking your budget? Entering a lottery for discounted tickets is one way to make it happen. NYC has some of the most renowned plays in the world, but they can also be expensive.

Fortunately, entering a lottery allows you to purchase excellent tickets at a fraction of the cost. With a bit of luck and knowledge of how lotteries work, soon you could be sitting front row center watching some of the best performances on Earth! Keep reading for more information about getting tickets by participating in Broadway Lottery!

My tip: This is my complete guide to Broadway shows in NYC.

What Are Ticket Lotteries?

A Broadway ticket lottery allows theatergoers to purchase tickets at a discounted rate. Most shows have some version of a lottery, and the rules vary from production to production. Generally, you enter your name online or in person before the show and then wait for the drawing results.

If you are chosen as one of the lucky winners, you will be able to purchase tickets for a fraction of the normal cost.

Step by Step Guide

Step 1: Sign up

In order to get Lottery tickets from participating Broadway shows, you must register for free. Often, each Broadway show has its own website just for the Broadway Lottery.

See my table further down in the article for all the applicable links.

Step 2: Be sure to confirm your registration!

After registration you will receive an email in which you have to confirm the account you created in step 1. This is important, because the confirmation of your winnings will be sent there later.

Step 3: Enter early!

Tickets are usually raffled off the day before the show. This can vary from broadway show to broadway show – you can find the exact dates in my table. Be sure to put a reminder in your calendar so you don’t miss it.

Select the show (sometimes there are several performances per day) and from now on it’s just a matter of waiting.

This is an example of a Broadway Lottery website (Broadwaydirect.com)

Step 4: You are a winner!

If you are one of the winners (usually you have the chance to buy up to 2 tickets for this special price), you will receive an email with all the information. Take it to the Box Office on the day of the performance, including your ID (!). There you will get your lottery tickets.

What Shows Offer Ticket Lotteries In 2023?

Here’s a list of the top shows offering ticket lotteries right now: