D23 2026 has been and gone, and Disney used its biggest fan event of the year to unload a serious amount of news. Held in Anaheim from August 14 to 16, D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event served up new movies, new series, and a stack of theme park reveals across two headline showcases. Here's the short, snappy rundown of everything worth knowing.
What is D23, and why should you care?
D23 is Disney's official fan event, where it announces its biggest films, shows and rides all in one weekend. Think of it as Disney's own Comic-Con, held right on its home turf. This year brought casting bombshells, first-look trailers and concept art for projects landing everywhere from later this year to 2030.
What movies did Disney announce at D23 2026?
The film slate was stacked. Here are the headliners:
Avengers: Doomsday — Robert Downey Jr. took the stage as Doctor Doom with brand-new footage. In theatres December 18, 2026.
Untitled X-Men film — The talk of the whole event. A fresh young cast was revealed, including Sadie Sink as Jean Grey, Kit Connor as Cyclops and Samara Weaving as Emma Frost. Release date still under wraps.
Frozen 3 — Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel and Josh Gad turned up to perform brand-new songs. Out November 24, 2027.
The Incredibles 3 — Fresh concept art dropped showing new hero suits. No date yet, but it's officially happening.
Coco 2 and Zootopia 3 — Two of Pixar and Disney Animation's biggest sequels got the green light. First Coco 2 concept art shows an older Miguel, with a 2029 release.
The Simpsons Movie sequel — Yes, really. The first teaser poster landed, with a September 2027 release.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 3 — A first teaser dropped for the fan-favorite series, back November 20, 2026.
Tangled (live-action) — Teagan Croft leads as Rapunzel, with Kathryn Hahn as Mother Gothel. In theatres March 31, 2028.
What's coming to the Disney theme parks?
Saturday's Disney Experiences showcase might have topped the movie news. Here's what's on the way:
Disneyworld major updates:
Villains Land — A whole new fully immersive area at the Magic Kingdom, headlined by a Maleficent coaster and a dark ride hosted by the Evil Queen's Magic Mirror. No official opening date yet, but seeing as no construction has really started yet, you can expect it around 2030 at the earliest.
Piston Peak National Park — A Cars-themed expansion at Magic Kingdom with the Ridge Run Rally off-road ride and Miss Fritter's Daredevil Spin-Along. Construction has already started since the Liberty Belle riverboat and Tom Sawyer Island closed last summer, but no official opening year yet- although we can expect it before Villain's Land.
Tropical Americas — Coming to Animal Kingdom in 2027, with an Indiana Jones ride featuring a Harrison Ford animatronic and an Encanto boat ride, Antonio's Fiesta de Encanto.
Monstropolis — A Monsters, Inc. land heading to Hollywood Studios, complete with a suspended Doors Coaster. Although the ambitious rollercoaster won't be open for a while (again, no official year announced), it was announced at D23 that the rest of Monstropolis will be opening earlier than planned, so you'll be able to check out the new theatre show and restaurant from 2027.
Disneyworld refurbishments:
Dreamfinder is back — Journey Into Imagination at EPCOT is being revamped, bringing back fan-favorite Dreamfinder alongside Figment.
Expedition Everest's Yeti lives again — The famously frozen animatronic is finally getting a full restoration.
Carousel of Progress — The classic ride is getting an update with new scenes in spring 2027, with Bryan Cranston and Jamie Lee Curtis lending their voices.
Spaceship Earth update — This was originally planned (and quickly scrapped) in 2020 but is very much needed. New scenes and narration will be added to improve EPCOT's icon.
Disneyland updates:
Tomorrowland reimagining — Disneyland's Tomorrowland is getting a full-scale rethink. Specifics and timings are still to come, but it's something fans have been asking for.
Avengers Campus expansion — Two new rides open at Disney California Adventure in 2028, doubling the land's size: Avengers Infinity Defense (a multi-world adventure through Asgard, Wakanda and New York) and Stark Flight Lab (a gyro-kinetic flight simulator). Robert Downey Jr., Anthony Mackie and Brie Larson all feature.
Coco boat ride — California Adventure's first Coco attraction sends you by boat through Miguel's memories of the Land of the Dead. Bonus: no height requirement, so it's one for the whole family.
New entertainment — A refreshed version of the “Remember… Dreams Come True” nighttime show is coming, as well as an updated version of the original “World of Color” at Disney's California Adventure and the “Magic Happens” parade will start in 2027 at Disneyland park.
Disneyland Paris
The Lion King flume ride — Disney Adventure World is getting the first-ever Lion King attraction — a major water ride retelling Simba's journey from cub to king, with three slopes, a 52-foot drop, a Scar animatronic, and a 120-foot Pride Rock towering over it all.
Space Mountain goes back to the OG — Hyperspace Mountain will close and will be restored back to the OG version of the ride.
A new parade — A new daytime parade will launch in 2028.
Tokyo Disneyland
Space Mountain: Earthrise — A brand-new Space Mountain, launching guests into space with a fresh view of Earth as part of a reimagined Tomorrowland. Opening spring 2027.
Sugar Rush: Sweet Rescue — The first-ever Wreck-It Ralph ride — an interactive game world where you help Ralph and Vanellope fend off King Candy, complete with a huge Ralph animatronic. Also opening spring 2027.
Shanghai Disney Resort
Spider-Man land — The first Disney Parks land dedicated entirely to Spider-Man, built around the W.E.B. (Worldwide Engineering Brigade) with Spider-Bots and a new Spider-Man coaster — and the coaster track is already complete.
Hong Kong Disneyland
Avengers Pavilion — An expansion of Stark Expo with Avengers Research Testing Labs, where you team up with Peter Parker and other heroes across more than 120 feet of storytelling tech, plus a new Quinjet landing platform for character encounters.
So, was D23 2026 worth the hype?
Short answer: yes. Between a rebooted X-Men, Frozen 3, an entire Villains Land and the Yeti finally getting fixed, Disney's next few years look packed. Whether you're a cinema regular, a streaming binger or a full-blown park person, there's plenty to look forward to — and plenty of ways to do it for less.
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