Muppet and Jim Henson fans in New York City have a pretty special reason to clear their Saturday afternoon.
Brian Henson, chairman of The Jim Henson Company and the son of Jim Henson, will take the stage for A Conversation With Brian Henson on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at the BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center in New York City.
And this isn’t simply a sit-down interview.
The one-time event promises a trip through the history of Henson puppetry, behind-the-scenes stories from some of the company’s most famous productions, a live puppetry demonstration and even a chance for fans to ask Brian Henson questions themselves.
Brian Henson Will Explore the History of Henson Puppetry
The 90-minute presentation will focus on the evolution of the distinctive puppetry techniques developed and refined by The Jim Henson Company.
Brian Henson will discuss how those techniques helped change the way puppetry could be used in television and movies while sharing stories from decades of Henson productions.
Fans can expect discussion of projects connected to the wider Henson legacy, including Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal, Farscape and other productions from the company’s long history.
Henson will also demonstrate some of the puppetry techniques live on stage, giving the audience a closer look at how the illusion actually works.
For longtime fans who have spent years watching the finished performances on screen, seeing the craft demonstrated in person offers a rare look behind the curtain.
Brian Henson Has His Own Long History With the Muppets
Brian Henson’s connection to the Muppet world goes far beyond simply being Jim Henson’s son.
His career has included work as a puppeteer, producer, writer and director across numerous Henson productions.
Muppet fans will especially know him as the director of The Muppet Christmas Carol and Muppet Treasure Island.
His credits also stretch back to productions including The Great Muppet Caper, The Muppets Take Manhattan, Labyrinth and Return to Oz, along with later projects including Dinosaurs, Muppets Tonight, Bear in the Big Blue House and Farscape.
That makes this conversation particularly interesting for fans because Brian Henson witnessed several different eras of the company firsthand.
Puppet Up! Is Also Taking Over New York This Weekend
Brian Henson isn’t coming to New York alone.
His adult improv puppet show Puppet Up! is also appearing at the BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center on Friday, October 2 and Saturday, October 3.
Created by Brian Henson and Patrick Bristow, Puppet Up! combines traditional Henson-style puppetry with live improvisational comedy.
Audience suggestions help shape the sketches, meaning the performers — and puppets — never really know exactly where the show is going.
The audience also gets to see something normally hidden from television viewers.
The puppet performance is projected onto screens while the puppeteers remain visible below, allowing fans to simultaneously watch the finished illusion and the performers creating it.
The production also incorporates musical performances and recreations of classic material originally created by Jim Henson, Jane Henson and Frank Oz.
Just don’t mistake this one for Sesame Street.
Puppet Up! is aimed at adults and is recommended for ages 16 and older.
A Big Weekend for Henson Fans
Having A Conversation With Brian Henson and Puppet Up! at the same venue creates a pretty unusual opportunity for Henson fans.
The afternoon conversation looks backward at how the company’s puppetry evolved, while Puppet Up! demonstrates what performers are still doing with that art form today.
It’s essentially Henson history in the afternoon followed by puppet anarchy at night.
That sounds like a fairly appropriate way to spend a Saturday.
Event Details
A Conversation With Brian Henson
Saturday, October 3, 2026
2:00 PM
BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center
199 Chambers Street
New York City
Brian Henson’s Puppet Up!
Friday, October 2 — 7:00 PM
Saturday, October 3 — 7:00 PM
BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center
Final Thoughts
For fans of Jim Henson, the Muppets and the art of puppetry itself, A Conversation With Brian Henson offers something we don’t get very often: the chance to hear Henson history directly from someone who was there for so much of it.
Between the behind-the-scenes stories, live puppetry demonstration and audience Q&A, this is much more than a standard convention-style appearance.
And with Puppet Up! happening the same weekend, New York is basically getting a miniature Henson takeover.
A Conversation With Brian Henson can be seen live at the BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center in New York City on Saturday, October 3 at 2:00 PM. Tickets and information for the conversation and Puppet Up! are available through the official Puppet Up! website. Get tickets and event information at Puppet Up!