In a few weeks, Disney will be back in Anaheim, California for D23 Expo! This year marks the ninth expo, taking place from August 14th to 16th, 2026, at the Anaheim Convention Center. Attendees can expect exciting announcements, celebrity guests, immersive experiences, and much more.
D23 began in 2009 with an announcement from Bob Iger about a new convention dedicated entirely to Disney – similar to Comic-Con but focused solely on Disney films, shows, and parks. This main event, D23 Expo, happens every other year. In the years between, Disney hosts smaller events called Destination D23 at Walt Disney World in Florida. D23 isn’t limited to the US either; there have been three D23 Expos in Japan, and in 2024, Disney launched its first D23 Brazil event.
D23 gets its name from Disney and 1923 – the year Walt Disney started the company. It’s a celebration of Disney’s long history and all the beloved stories and characters it’s created, from Star Wars and Marvel to Pixar and beyond, making it a fantastic event for fans.
With D23 Expo 2026 just weeks away, I’m already getting excited! It feels like a great moment to think about why this event is such a big deal for Disney fans like me – and to start dreaming about what amazing announcements we might see in Anaheim. I can’t wait to get a sneak peek at everything they have planned!
D23 Is The Ultimate Disney Fan Event
D23 is a celebration of all things Disney, offering fans a variety of experiences like panels, presentations, contests, and special displays. Attendees can also shop for exclusive merchandise at pop-up stores, admire fan-created artwork, and enjoy costume contests. A curated exhibit from the Walt Disney Archives is also a key feature.
D23 Expos are best known for their big panel presentations, where Disney reveals exciting upcoming projects across all its businesses. A key part of each expo is the Parks presentation, which gives a sneak peek at new attractions and experiences coming to Disney Parks around the globe. For example, at D23 Expo 2017, Disney announced plans for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World, a Guardians of the Galaxy roller coaster, and growth for the Disney Cruise Line.
Disney’s D23 Expos are famous for their big entertainment panels. These events usually include surprise appearances by celebrities, sneak peeks at new movies and TV shows, and announcements about projects in development. At the last D23, fans got updates and exclusive footage from titles like Avatar: Fire and Ash, The Mandalorian and Grogu, and Hoppers. The 2022 D23 revealed what Disney had planned for its TV lineup, including new shows and movies from Marvel and Star Wars.
D23 Expo also hosts a Disney Legends ceremony where The Walt Disney Company recognizes people who have significantly impacted the company’s history. This year’s recipients included Harrison Ford, John Williams, Angela Bassett, James Cameron, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Miley Cyrus.
What Is Planned For D23 2026?
I’m so excited for D23 2026! The first day, August 14th, is packed with amazing stuff. It starts with a huge celebration of Spider-Man from Marvel, including some new story reveals and even a free comic book. Then they’re honoring the 35th anniversary of Beauty and the Beast – I can’t wait to hear stories from the people who made it! Plus, you get a behind-the-scenes look at how an episode of Bob’s Burgers is created, a chance to ask questions to Michael Giacchino, and even a panel with the cast and creators of The Simpsons talking about why the show is still so popular. Seriously, there’s something for everyone!
On August 14th, Disney will host a big event at the Honda Center called the Disney Entertainment Showcase. It’s packed with sneak peeks of new content, appearances by famous faces, live performances, and important announcements about their latest movies and series.
The second day of D23 2026 will be packed with exciting events, including an early look at the new Disney+ special LEGO Star Wars: The Mandalorian, a panel discussion with the cast of Camp Rock 3: The Next Generation, and a celebration of Spider-Man’s 65th anniversary. Fans can also see a reunion of the stars from Scrubs as they discuss the show’s return, plus much more. The event will wrap up with a Disney Experiences Showcase hosted by Neil Patrick Harris.
The highlight of the last day at D23 2026 will be the Disney Legends Award Ceremony, recognizing Anne Hathaway, Dwayne Johnson, Bob Iger, The Jonas Brothers, Alan Tudyk, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Jerry Bruckheimer, Chris Berman, Susan Egan, Eric Goldberg, and Kim Irvine. Throughout August 16th, attendees can also enjoy a new documentary by Leslie Iwerks, an exclusive look at the making of Hasbro’s incredibly realistic Grogu figure, a 65th anniversary celebration for 101 Dalmatians, and a Disney Experiences Auction featuring rare Parks items – plus much more!
Star Wars Predictions For D23 2026
Okay, let me tell you, if you’re heading to D23 in 2026, the Disney Entertainment Showcase on August 14th is the one to watch. Historically, Disney saves its biggest reveals – new projects and first looks at footage – for this presentation, so I’m pretty confident it’ll be the highlight of the whole event.
Considering the history of D23 presentations – particularly the first look at The Mandalorian and Grogu – it’s highly likely that the upcoming D23 2026 will reveal the first details of Star Wars: Starfighter, the new film directed by Shawn Levy and starring Ryan Gosling. With Levy and Gosling recently confirmed to be working together on a Ghost Rider movie, confidence in Starfighter appears strong. Given that The Mandalorian and Grogu didn’t perform as well as hoped financially, Disney and Lucasfilm probably want to demonstrate they have another potential hit in the works.
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The event will likely feature a first glimpse of Ahsoka Season 2, coming to Disney+ early next year. Filming has already finished, and the show is currently being edited and refined, so Dave Filoni and his team probably have a trailer – and possibly some completed scenes – ready to share at D23.
With only Ahsoka Season 2 currently planned, everyone is wondering what’s next for live-action Star Wars shows. Lucasfilm could reveal their plans at D23 2026 instead of waiting for Star Wars Celebration next year. One possibility is that the planned movie from Dave Filoni, which brings together storylines from previous shows, might be turned into a limited series for television.
With Season 2 of Maul – Shadow Lord currently being made and the first season receiving widespread praise, Lucasfilm and Disney might share a sneak peek at the upcoming episodes soon. These new episodes are expected to premiere on Disney+ next year. While announcing another animated series is less likely, it’s not impossible.
Marvel Predictions For D23 2026
At D23 Expo, Kevin Feige, the head of Marvel Studios, is expected to share updates on Avengers: Doomsday. We’ll likely see footage from the movie – possibly the trailer shown at San Diego Comic-Con or something entirely new. There’s also talk that Feige might announce additional cast members, and names like Tobey Maguire, Hugh Jackman, Elizabeth Olsen, and Tom Holland have been mentioned as possibilities.
Despite not being featured at San Diego Comic-Con, VisionQuest is confirmed to appear at D23 in 2026. Fans can expect a first look at the trailer—it will be shown at the event and released online right away—before the series premieres on Disney+ in October.
Marvel is also planning to share news about Season 2 of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, including a trailer and the official release date, during their presentation.
The third season of Daredevil: Born Again might be previewed at the upcoming event. With the season currently being filmed, Marvel could use the event to formally confirm the return of characters like Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and Elektra, as photos from the set have already hinted at their involvement.
Marvel Studios might use their upcoming event to officially announce they’re working on a Nova movie, as reported recently by industry sources.
Other Disney Movies Predictions For D23 2026
At D23 2026, Disney is expected to emphasize the variety of content they have planned, particularly projects geared towards adult audiences. Updates on several upcoming films – including Ridley Scott’s thriller The Dog Stars, the monster movie Whalefall, Tony Gilroy’s musical drama Behemoth!, and Martin McDonagh’s dark comedy Wild Horse Nine – will likely be revealed through new trailers or exclusive previews.
During the D23 presentation, we might get a sneak peek at two upcoming animated films from 20th Century Studios: Ice Age: Boiling Point and The Simpsons Movie 2. Ice Age: Boiling Point recently had an early preview at CinemaCon 2026, making it even more likely to be featured.
Fans might get a first glimpse of Frozen III – possibly a short teaser trailer – at the D23 Expo in 2026, before the movie comes out in November 2027. Walt Disney Animation’s Hexed is also expected to be featured with a trailer or some early scenes.
It looks like Pixar will likely only share a trailer for Gatto at D23. However, they might give fans an update on Incredibles III and could also announce another Monsters Inc. movie.
Disney Parks D23 2026 Predictions
Disney’s D23 presentations are usually full of exciting announcements, and this year is expected to be no different. On August 15th, we’ll likely hear updates about Walt Disney World, including potential major changes to Space Mountain – like a complete overhaul of its track and structure. There might also be more information revealed about the planned ‘Cars’-themed area, nicknamed “Piston Peak,” which is set to be built behind Frontierland in Magic Kingdom.
Disney might share more news about updates coming to Walt Disney World at the D23 Expo. They could also finally reveal their complete plans for the four new areas currently in development at the Florida park, putting fan rumors to rest.
In addition to news about Walt Disney World, we’ll likely hear updates on the planned Disneyland in Abu Dhabi and possibly learn about a new location for the Disney Cruise Line.
D23 2026 is looking to be a fantastic event for Disney fans! From August 14th to 16th, attendees can expect exciting first looks and announcements about upcoming movies, TV shows, park experiences, and more.
2026-07-29 17:51