Pushover　analysis　as　an　efficient　nonlinear　static　analysis　method　has　been　widely　applied　to　the　seismic　inelastic　performance　evaluation　of　above-ground　structures.　Although　it　has　the　main　advantage　of　high　computational　efficiency　compared　to　nonlinear　dynamic　time-history　analysis　(THA),　the　assumption　that　the　fundamental　mode　dominates　structural　response　limits　its　application　to　long-period　structures.　Improved　pushover　analysis　has　been　developed　to　consider　the　higher　mode　effect,　named　modal　pushover　analysis　(MPA),　but　all　research　mainly　focused　on　buildings　and　bridges.　Since　the　mechanical　behaviors　of　the　underground　structures　and　above-ground　structures　under　seismic　exaction　are　not　exactly　the　same,　so　far,　MPA　suitable　for　seismic　performance　assessment　of　underground　structures　still　has　not　been　developed.　Therefore,　the　aim　of　this　investigation　is　to　develop　MPA　for　the　seismic　performance　assessment　of　underground　structures.　A　prototype　subway　station　structure　and　a　soft　site　are　used　to　study　the　applicability　of　the　developed　MPA　and　compare　it　with　the　traditional　pushover　analysis　procedure　and　nonlinear　THA.　Numerical　analysis　results　of　the　subway　station　illustrate　the　applicability　and　potential　of　the　developed　MPA　for　underground　structures.