The theater community raised a record $7,135,088 during the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS spring fundraising competition, surpassing last spring’s record of $6,849,510. The 2026 campaign ran from March 13 through April 26. A total of 54 Broadway, Off-Broadway and national touring shows participated in this season’s red bucket appeals.
“The companies behind each of these 54 shows and theatergoers joined forces to turn a moment in a lobby into meaningful, lifesaving support,” said Danny Whitman, executive director of Broadway Cares, in a statement. “At a time when budgets are being slashed and so many are navigating rising costs and uncertain access to care, this compassion and generosity ensure people across the country can count on meals, medication and critical health services when they need them most.”
The Broadway musical “Just in Time” took the top spot on the overall fundraising leaderboard by bringing in $932,461. (The production’s fundraising efforts included auctioning a bow tie worn by original star Jonathan Groff, a tradition continued by his successors, Matthew Morrison and Jeremy Jordan.)
Other productions offered unique memorabilia and experiences in exchange for donations. Offerings included a meet-and-greet with Nicholas Christopher, Lea Michele and Aaron Tveit at “Chess,” a stage-used book prop signed by Simu Liu of “Oh, Mary!” and a T-shirt worn by Jon Bernthal of “Dog Day Afternoon.”
In the Broadway musical category, top fundraiser “Just in Time” was followed by “Chess” with $350,152, “Maybe Happy Ending” with $268,579 and “Hadestown” with $210,752.
“Every Brilliant Thing,” starring Daniel Radcliffe, was the top fundraiser in the Broadway play category with $408,180. The production was followed by “Oh, Mary!” with $173,133, “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” with $150,408 and “Dog Day Afternoon” with $147,171.
Off-Broadway productions also participated in the six-week drive, led by top earners “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” with $137,753, “Heathers” with $99,985 and “Little Shop of Horrors” with $99,006.
The national tour of “The Phantom of the Opera” topped its respective category by raising $289,195. It was followed by the tours of “Beauty and the Beast” with $271,079, “The Sound of Music” with $249,670, “The Outsiders” with $225,385 and “Spamalot” with $200,045.
The funds raised will benefit the organization’s National Grants Program and the Entertainment Community Fund, the latter of which supports individuals working in the entertainment and performing arts industries. Since the spring fundraising efforts began in 1988, the campaigns have raised $114 million for Broadway Cares.
