I finally won the Hamilton lottery and scored $10 tickets to see Hamilton on Broadway. No, it wasn’t the kind of lottery where I won a pile of money, but considering how expensive Broadway tickets can be, it still felt like a pretty good win.
Hamilton remains one of the most popular shows in New York City, and regular ticket prices can easily climb into the hundreds of dollars. I used the lottery to surprise my girlfriend with $10 tickets for her birthday, and in this guide I’ll show you how the Hamilton lottery works, how to enter, and what happens if you win.
How Much Does it Cost to See Hamilton?
Ticket prices for Hamilton on Broadway can vary quite a bit depending on the date, showtime, and where you sit.
- Time of year: Summer and the weeks leading up to Christmas are among the busiest times for tourism in New York City, so demand for Broadway shows is often higher and ticket prices can be more expensive.
- Showtime: Matinees can sometimes be cheaper than evening performances.
- Seat location: The Richard Rodgers Theatre has Orchestra, Front Mezzanine, and Rear Mezzanine seating, with better-located seats generally costing more.
- Availability: Prices can rise as a performance fills up.
As of 2026, regular tickets on Broadway Direct generally start around $110 and can run close to $300, depending on the performance and seat location. Premium seats may cost more.
You can check current prices on the official Hamilton ticket page.
A note about ticket resellers: During busy periods, resale tickets can be listed for much more than face value, and fraudulent tickets are always a risk. Hamilton recommends buying through its official website, the Richard Rodgers Theatre box office, or an authorized seller such as Broadway Direct.
How to Get $10 Tickets to Hamilton
Hamilton still offers $10 tickets for every Broadway performance through its Ham4Ham digital lottery. You can enter for individual performances during the weekly entry period, and each winner can purchase up to two tickets for $10 each.
Thousands of people may enter, so there is no guarantee you will win right away. When I entered, I kept trying every week and eventually won about a month later in mid-January.
How to Enter the Lottery for Hamilton Tickets
Step 1: Enter through the official Hamilton app or the lottery option provided through the official Hamilton site.
Step 2: Choose the performances you want to enter. The lottery opens every Friday at 10:00 AM and closes the following Thursday at 12:00 PM for the next week’s performances.
Step 3: Winners are notified between 12:00 PM and 4:00 PM on Thursday by email and mobile push notification. If you win, you have two hours to claim and pay for your tickets.
Step 4: Pick up your lottery tickets at will call beginning 30 minutes before the performance. You must show a valid photo ID that matches the name used to enter.
How Often can I Enter the Lottery for Hamilton Tickets?
You can enter for multiple performances during the weekly lottery period, but you are limited to one entry per person, per performance. Duplicate entries and disposable email addresses are discarded.
That means you and another adult in your party can each enter separately for the same performance, as long as each person uses their own name and valid ID. If either of you wins, the winning entrant can purchase up to two tickets.
How many Hamilton Tickets Can I Get?
If you win the lottery, you have the option of purchasing up to 2 tickets at $10 each.
What Happens If You Win?
If you win the Hamilton lottery, you will be notified on Thursday for one of the following week’s performances. Winners are typically notified by email and through the Hamilton app, so it is worth checking both during the afternoon.
The most important thing to know is that you only have two hours to claim and pay for your tickets after being notified. If you miss that window, you lose the tickets and they may be offered to someone else.
Winners can purchase up to two tickets for $10 each. The tickets are non-transferable, so the name used to enter the lottery needs to match the person picking them up.
On the day of the show, lottery tickets can be picked up at the Richard Rodgers Theatre box office beginning about 30 minutes before the performance. Bring a valid photo ID that matches the name on the winning entry.
Seat locations can vary, so I would not enter expecting a specific section. The big advantage is simply getting to see Hamilton on Broadway for $10 per ticket, which is hard to beat considering what regular tickets usually cost.
Tips for Entering the Hamilton Lottery
The Hamilton lottery is mostly about persistence. You may win quickly, or you may enter for weeks without getting picked, so I would treat it as a bonus opportunity rather than something to build an entire trip around.
A few things can improve your chances of actually using the lottery if you do win:
- Enter for every performance you can realistically attend. If your schedule is flexible, selecting more showtimes gives you more chances than entering for just one performance.
- Keep entering every week. I entered repeatedly before finally winning about a month later.
- Check your email and app notifications on Thursday afternoon. Winners only have a short window to claim and pay for their tickets.
- Make sure the name on your entry matches your ID. Lottery tickets are non-transferable, so the winner needs to be the person who claims them.
- Have another adult in your group enter too. Each eligible person can submit their own entry for the same performance, which gives your group another chance to win.
- Do not rely on the lottery for a must-see date. If you are visiting New York for only one night and Hamilton is a priority, buying regular tickets is safer than hoping to win.
Hamilton Lottery: Final Thoughts
The Hamilton lottery is one of the best ways to see one of Broadway’s biggest shows without paying typical Broadway prices. There is no guarantee you will win, but entering only takes a few minutes, and if your schedule is flexible, it is worth trying for as many performances as you can realistically attend.
When I won, the $10 tickets made it easy to turn Hamilton into a much more affordable night out in New York. If you are planning a Broadway trip, I would still have a backup plan in case the lottery does not work out, but I would absolutely enter before paying full price.
If you are staying near the theater, check out my guide to the best hotels in Hell’s Kitchen. And if you want somewhere to eat before or after the show, I also have a guide to the best restaurants in Times Square.
