BURBANK, CA — Disney is preparing to turn Anaheim into the center of its storytelling universe, creating the ultimate fan experience for guests coming from around the country.
D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event presented by Visa® will return August 14-16, 2026, to the Anaheim Convention Center, and this year’s edition is being billed as the largest show floor in D23 event history. For fans, that means more than a convention. It means a weekend built around immersion, nostalgia, spectacle, exclusive shopping, celebrity appearances, and first-look experiences from nearly every corner of The Walt Disney Company.
Disney unveiled an ambitious lineup that spans Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, Pixar, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Disney+, Hulu, ESPN, Disney Parks, Walt Disney Archives, Disney Theatrical Group, Disney Music Group, and more. The event will feature expanded show floor activations, more than 50 panels and shows, and what Disney is positioning as one of the most comprehensive fan experiences it has ever staged.
The weekend will also begin a day early with D23 Day at Disneyland Resort on Thursday, August 13, highlighted by a Disney Legends Cavalcade, a Mickey Mouse ear hat giveaway while supplies last, the return of the Disney Jr. Let’s Play! Party, and a special Disney Princess concert event at Disney California Adventure Park.
For Disney’s most loyal fans, the message is clear, the company wants D23 2026 to feel bigger, deeper, and more personal than ever before.
“No one tells stories like Disney, and this year we’re bringing those stories to life on the largest show floor in D23 event history,” said Michael Vargo, head of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club. “The show floor experience invites guests to explore, engage with, and celebrate the brands and franchises they love through immersive activations, unforgettable moments, and one-of-a-kind offerings that bring them closer to the magic than ever before.”
That quote captures the heart of what Disney is building with D23. This is not just about announcements from a stage. It is about letting fans step into the worlds they have watched, streamed, sung along with, collected, and revisited for years.
Marvel Studios will bring fans back into the Time Variance Authority with Marvel Studios’ TVA Experience: Your Next Assignment, an immersive walkthrough that places guests inside the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After the popularity of Marvel’s multiverse storytelling, the TVA remains one of the studio’s most recognizable modern concepts, giving fans a chance to move through familiar and new worlds tied to the larger MCU.
Lucasfilm will also return with a pavilion dedicated to that galaxy far, far away. Guests can expect photo opportunities, props, costumes, and fireside chats with filmmakers behind current and upcoming Star Wars projects. Fans will also get a special screening opportunity for LEGO Star Wars: The Mandalorian at the Anaheim Convention Center.
For Star Wars fans, D23 has often served as both a celebration and a preview window. This year’s Lucasfilm presence appears designed to honor the franchise’s legacy while keeping attention on what comes next.
Animation will have one of the strongest footprints on the show floor as Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney Animation Studios join forces for a major pavilion experience. The activation will celebrate Pixar’s 40th anniversary while spotlighting upcoming titles including Disney’s Hexed, Disney Animation’s Frozen 3, and Disney and Pixar’s Gatto and Incredibles 3.
For a company built on animation, this section may become one of the emotional anchors of the event. Fans will have access to artist demonstrations, autograph signings with filmmakers, giveaways, and interactive displays that connect the creative process to the finished stories audiences know.
Disney is also bringing Mundo Pixar: The D23 Experience, presented by Disney Rewards Visa Cards from Chase, to the event. The experience will offer a preview of the globally touring immersive exhibition, allowing fans to step inside life-size sets inspired by some of Pixar’s most beloved films.
The streaming side of Disney will also be strongly represented through the Disney+ Hulu Experience, which will feature a signature 4D theater, exclusive merchandise, a collectible mystery pin quest, personalized subscription support, and photo opportunities inspired by titles including Percy Jackson and the Olympians, FX’s American Horror Story, Camp Rock 3, The Simpsons, Only Murders in the Building, Marvel Television’s VisionQuest and more.
It is a smart move for D23 that has always been about fandom, but in the current entertainment landscape, fandom lives across platforms. Disney’s ability to connect theatrical releases, streaming series, theme parks, merchandise, and live experiences under one roof is one of the company’s unique strengths.
That cross-company approach will also be seen in the Avatar Experience, which invites guests into a lush, bioluminescent world inspired by Pandora. The activation will include an immersive 4D moment and a gallery of film artistry showcasing the craftsmanship behind the Na’vi culture and the world James Cameron’s films brought to the screen.
For families, one of the most popular stops may be The Bluey Movie booth, where Bluey and Bingo will be available for photos at select times. Reservations will be required for a chance to meet the characters. Guests can also celebrate the upcoming new Simpsons movie, scheduled for theaters September 3, 2027, with special photo moments tied to D23.
Disney Parks fans will have plenty to study as well. The Disney Experiences pavilion returns with Imagineering: Horizons, described as Imagineering’s largest pavilion ever. The experience will give guests an up-close look at the progress shaping Disney Parks around the world, with a focus on the people, process and possibilities behind the next era of Disney’s theme park storytelling.
For many D23 attendees, the parks presentations and Imagineering displays are among the biggest draws. Disney’s theme parks remain one of the company’s most visible storytelling engines, and Imagineering: Horizons appears built to give fans a closer look at how future attractions, lands and experiences move from concept to reality.
Another major attraction will be Walt Disney Archives: Uncrated, an all-new exhibition making its debut on the show floor. The exhibition will invite fans into the rarely seen world of Disney’s archival warehouses, with themed displays featuring props, costumes and puppets from beloved films, television series and theme parks.
The Archives have long been a treasured part of D23 because they offer something fans cannot easily find elsewhere: physical pieces of Disney history. For collectors and longtime Disney enthusiasts, the chance to see artifacts pulled from the company’s past often becomes one of the most meaningful parts of the event.
Disney will also honor Walt Disney himself as fans celebrate 125 years of Walt’s life through stories and displays from The Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco, the Walt Disney Hometown Museum in Marceline, and the Walt Disney Birthplace in Chicago. Displays of Walt’s classic vehicles from the Walt Disney Archives and tributes to Disney Legends who worked alongside him will add a historical layer to the show floor.
The celebration begins even before the convention officially opens. On August 13, D23 Day at Disneyland Resort will set the tone with the Disney Legends Cavalcade and special offerings throughout the parks. The day will culminate with a limited-capacity live performance of Disney Princess: The Ultimate Concert Celebration at Disney California Adventure Park.
Disney is calling the concert the largest gathering of Disney Princess talent ever assembled, celebrating stories across animation, live-action, stage and music. The production will feature lights, projections and fountains designed to create an immersive concert environment. Attendance will be limited and may require a virtual queue confirmation, wristband and valid Disney California Adventure Park admission.
For fans unable to attend in person, the concert will stream on Disney+ and air on Disney Channel, Freeform and The Wonderful World of Disney on ABC on Sunday, August 16.
That concert is more than a kickoff. It is a statement about the enduring power of the Disney Princess brand, particularly as Disney continues to connect generations of fans through music, character and nostalgia.
Elsewhere on the show floor, Disney Theatrical Group will spotlight its expanding live entertainment portfolio, including Broadway productions, arena tours and immersive experiences. The showcase will feature authentic sets, costumes, props, concept art and video content, along with behind-the-scenes demonstrations and presentations hosted by figures including Disney on Broadway star Ryan McCartan.
The Disney Music Group booth will offer an interactive environment with a classic radio booth, scheduled appearances from Disney personalities, guest recording opportunities for “Be Our Guest” segments, and select recordings eligible to be featured on the Disney Hits SiriusXM channel. Fans will also see costumes from The Descendants/ZOMBIES: Worlds Collide Tour, take part in photo opportunities, and explore exclusive Disney Music Emporium offerings.
The show floor will also include Lights, Camera, Sparkle! Presented by Disney Consumer Products, an immersive walkthrough and photo experience featuring Mickey & Friends, snack-inspired elements, and a Stitch and Angel section inspired by the “Glitter Glide” music video.
Sports will have a presence too. Ahead of the Super Bowl airing on ESPN and ABC this season, ESPN will offer a “We’re Going to the Super Bowl!” activation featuring stadium-inspired environments, photo opportunities, a confetti-filled victory celebration, digital keepsakes, giveaways, and an exclusive ESPN Super Bowl D23 pin.
One of the most community-minded activations will come through the Disney VoluntEARS pavilion, where attendees can become Honorary Disney VoluntEARS by assembling 8,000 kits per day for charitable organizations. On Friday, guests will build wish kits for children with upcoming Disney Wishes in partnership with Make-A-Wish. On Saturday, they will assemble welcome kits for military families with Blue Star Families. On Sunday, attendees will put together Disney-themed activity kits for children in hospitals with the Starlight Children’s Foundation.
The gesture gives D23 something beyond spectacle. It adds a service component to an event otherwise centered on entertainment, access and fandom.
Shopping and collecting will also be central to the 2026 experience. Topps will make its first appearance at D23 with an interactive Topps Chrome Disney experience and exclusive trading card offerings. Wizards of the Coast will debut a booth themed to Magic: The Gathering | MARVEL Super Heroes, while Ravensburger will host an interactive Disney Lorcana Trading Card Game booth.
Additional brands will bring exclusive offerings and activations, including Hasbro, Loungefly, Just Play, Little Words Project, Atari, Citizen, Crocs, Pandora and more. Fans can expect everything from exclusive mini backpacks and mystery tees to gameplay demos, charm boxes, merchandise drops, photo ops and giveaways.
Corporate sponsors will also help fill out the show floor. Chevrolet will celebrate 20 years of Disney and Pixar’s Cars with Cars-inspired vehicle wraps, photo opportunities with Lightning McQueen and Mater, tote giveaways and live painting from Disney Fine Arts artist Trevor Carlton. Heinz will offer a “Flavor Ferry” experience with globally inspired sauces and limited-edition pins. Honda will present an Encanto-themed activation with character-inspired photo moments and commemorative buttons. M&M’S® will team with Marvel for a “Be A Hero” activation featuring character auditions, sampling and giveaways.
Talent access will be another major draw. Talent Central presented by M&M’S® will host Disney artists, filmmakers, Imagineers, authors and performers throughout the weekend. Expected guests include incoming Disney Legend Eric Goldberg, Disney Legend Mark Henn, Pixar Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter, current and former Imagineers, stars from Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Camp Rock 3, Bob’s Burgers, The Proud Family, The Simpsons, Phineas & Ferb, and the pros from Dancing with the Stars.
Fans will also have opportunities to meet authors including Bob Weis, former president of Walt Disney Imagineering, and Disney Legend Joe Rohde, as well as the official voices of Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, Bret Iwan and Kaitlyn Robrock.
For the first time, Fandango will serve as presenting sponsor of the Spotlight Stage, which will return with panels, interviews, musical performances, demonstrations, and interactive programming. Through Fandango Front Row, filmmakers and talent will join Fandango hosts for exclusive conversations about Disney storytelling, upcoming projects, and the creative process.
Taken together, D23 2026 looks designed to operate as both a fan convention and a living map of Disney’s entertainment empire. It will celebrate the old, preview the new, and give fans a chance to step into the franchises that define the company physically.
That balance is what makes D23 matter. Disney is not just selling announcements. It is selling proximity to characters, creators, artifacts, music, costumes, props, future attractions and shared memories.
From Marvel’s TVA to Lucasfilm’s galaxy, from Pixar’s anniversary to Disney Princess music, from Imagineering’s future to the Walt Disney Archives’ past, Disney is building a weekend meant to remind fans why these stories continue to travel across generations.
