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2026 D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event Announcement Media Event
Mar 26, 2026
D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event will be returning to Anaheim, California, on August 14, 15, and 16, 2026. This will be the culmination of a week of celebrations leading up to this ultimate Disney fan event. Daps Magic was invited to The Walt Disney Studios to learn about what is coming for this very special event. The multi-day celebration will once again offer fans exclusive first access to the latest in Disney storytelling, creativity, and innovation. Throughout the three packed days, Disney will bring together stars and storytellers for some incredible moments that will include sneak peeks, behind-the-scenes access, thrilling performances, immersive experiences, expanded shopping, and surprises that only Disney can deliver.
During the media preview today, event details were shared. This included an early look at some of the programming that will be offered, ticketing, and also D23 Member benefits. The preview began with a video with new Disney CEO Josh D'Amaro and included moments with Asad Ayaz, Disney Legend Jodi Benson, and head of D23 Michael Vargo.
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0:06
[music]
0:10
D23.
0:12
>> Let's go.
0:13
>> It's incredible. It's unbelievable.
0:18
[music]
0:19
>> Welcome to the most magical showcase on
0:22
Earth. [music] There's so many things to
0:24
see. It's everything Disney.
0:27
You're going to love what comes next.
0:32
[music]
0:33
>> Dr. Duke,
0:35
>> this is a once in a-lifetime experience.
0:37
[music]
0:39
>> These truly are my people. The surprises
0:42
are going to be huge. [music]
0:46
>> We are building a villain's land at the
0:47
Magic Kingdom.
0:49
[music]
0:52
>> Everything is magical. You have to be
0:54
here. [music]
0:56
the biggest ever.
0:58
>> There's nothing like this. [music]
1:03
>> You guys are the best fans. [music]
1:05
>> You are the magic.
1:10
[music]
1:20
[applause]
1:20
>> Morning everyone and welcome to this
1:22
preview of D23, the ultimate Disney fan
1:25
event. Obviously, I wish I could be
1:28
there with all of you today in person,
1:29
but I'm actually at Disneyland Paris for
1:31
the opening of our new World of Frozen
1:33
at the re-imagined Disney Adventure
1:35
World. This is the latest in a long line
1:38
of expansion projects underway across
1:40
our parks and cruise line, many of which
1:43
are inspired by characters and stories
1:45
like Frozen that were first created
1:47
right here at our animation studio.
1:50
I was thrilled to unveil a whole host of
1:53
these expansion projects at D23 two
1:55
years ago, and I'm so excited for what
1:58
we have in store for all of you when we
1:59
gather again in Anaheim this August. At
2:02
the center of the Walt Disney Company is
2:04
the extraordinary connection that we
2:06
have with our fans. There's nothing
2:08
quite like it, and we're so lucky to
2:10
have the best fans in the world. D23 is
2:13
where we come together as one Disney to
2:16
give fans a first look at what's next
2:18
from across the worlds of Disney,
2:20
showcasing the full scope of our
2:22
creative storytelling and technological
2:24
innovation. As a lifelong Disney fan
2:27
myself, I couldn't be more excited for
2:29
what we have in the works for you. I
2:31
hope you enjoyed today's presentation
2:33
and I look forward to seeing you in
2:35
August at D23.
2:39
Please welcome Chief Marketing and Brand
2:42
Officer Assad Hayaz.
2:47
[applause]
2:50
Good morning. Great to see all of you.
2:52
Thank you so much for being here. So
2:54
happy the sun came out. It was pretty
2:56
dreary this morning, but um great to be
2:58
here with all of you today as we kick
3:00
things off for this year's D23, the
3:03
ultimate Disney fan event. We cannot
3:06
wait to welcome fans back to Anaheim
3:08
this August and tickets will officially
3:10
go on sale on April 2nd. At Disney,
3:14
everything begins with storytelling. For
3:17
more than a century, we've created
3:19
characters and worlds that move,
3:21
inspire, and connect generations. What
3:24
sets this company apart is not just the
3:26
quality and scale of what we produce,
3:29
but the depth of the relationship we've
3:31
built with fans around the world. We are
3:34
at the beginning of an exciting new
3:36
chapter for Disney with Josh Demaro
3:38
leading the company into the future. At
3:41
the center of our company is the
3:43
extraordinary connection we've built
3:45
with generations of fans. And as Josh
3:47
shared at our annual shareholder meeting
3:49
last week, we are focused on coming
3:52
together as one Disney to deliver a more
3:55
connected, personalized, and immersive
3:58
experience for our fans wherever and
4:00
whenever they engage with us. D23 will
4:04
be a powerful demonstration of that
4:06
model in action. D23 is where our
4:09
creative ambition and innovation is on
4:11
full display as we pull back the curtain
4:14
for our most passionate fans and give
4:16
them a first look at the incredible
4:19
things we have in the works across film,
4:21
television, streaming, sports, and
4:24
experiences.
4:26
We are shaping the future of
4:28
entertainment by investing in worldclass
4:30
creativity, bold ideas, and immersive
4:33
experiences that reach more people in
4:35
more ways than ever before. But for all
4:38
of us at Disney, just as important as
4:41
what comes next is what endures. If
4:44
you've attended D23 in the past, you
4:46
know that one of the most meaningful
4:48
moments of the weekend is the Disney
4:50
Legends ceremony when we celebrate the
4:53
gifted individuals who've made a lasting
4:55
impact on Disney. Animators, imagineers,
5:00
songwriters, actors, filmmakers,
5:03
entertainment leaders, and more. These
5:05
are individuals who have each earned a
5:08
special place in Disney history for
5:10
their tremendous contributions in
5:12
service of entertaining and delighting
5:14
our fans around the world. We have an
5:16
incredible class of Disney legends this
5:19
year and we're thrilled to have Ryan
5:20
Cris back with us again this year to
5:22
host this ceremony on August 16th. Thank
5:26
you again for joining us this morning
5:27
and now let's take a look at this year's
5:30
class of Disney legends. Thank you.
5:33
>> [applause]
5:34
>> Disney Legends. This is the company's
5:38
highest honor. A tradition reserved for
5:40
those who have pushed the envelope of
5:42
creativity and redefine excellence.
5:45
[music] Superstars of film, television,
5:49
and music and the visionaries of Disney
5:51
animation and Imagineering. And you're
5:54
not going to believe who's next. [music]
5:57
It's time to announce the 2026 honores.
6:01
[music] Starting with Chris Berman,
6:05
Jerry Brookheimimer,
6:07
[music] Susan Egan,
6:10
Eric Goldberg, [music]
6:12
Anne Hathaway,
6:15
Kim Irvine,
6:18
Dwayne [music] Johnson,
6:21
Jonas Brothers,
6:23
[music] Lynn Manuel Miranda,
6:28
Alan Tudin, [music] and Bob Iger.
6:32
and I am honored to return as your host
6:35
for this year's ceremony. The countdown
6:37
is on. I'll see you at the unforgettable
6:40
Disney Legends Awards [music] at D23,
6:43
the ultimate Disney fan event.
6:49
>> Please welcome the head of D23, Michael
6:52
Vargo.
6:55
>> Hi, good morning everyone.
6:58
Wow, what an amazing group of Disney
7:00
legends we have this year. What an
7:02
exciting lineup. What do you say? I'm
7:04
pretty excited about that lineup. Well,
7:06
it is my pleasure to be here with all of
7:08
you today in the very fitting Disney
7:11
Legends Plaza as we start the countdown
7:13
to D23, the ultimate Disney fan event
7:17
coming this August 14th, 15th, and 16th.
7:21
And we have so many exciting things to
7:24
tell you about today. But before we do,
7:26
I thought it would be fun to continue
7:29
the theme of Disney legends and welcome
7:32
a Disney legend and our D23 fan
7:34
ambassador, Jody Benson, to come help
7:37
share some news. Jody, come on up.
7:39
[cheering]
7:40
>> So,
7:41
>> good morning, everybody.
7:42
>> Look at this.
7:43
>> Oh my gosh, what an exciting day. I'm so
7:46
thrilled to be here.
7:47
>> Well, we are so thrilled to have you,
7:49
Jody. And you know, it's incredible to
7:50
think that it was actually a year ago,
7:53
not quite a year ago, but last last
7:55
fall, we at Destination D23 shared the
7:58
stage together and we shared the big
8:00
announcement about D23, the ultimate
8:02
Disney fan event coming to August uh
8:04
coming to Anaheim. And what a great year
8:07
to to kick it off. And this D23 is going
8:10
to be bigger and better than ever and
8:13
offering more fans uh you know, more
8:14
Disney fans of what they're looking for.
8:16
Everything from more panels, more
8:18
presentations, more shopping. We all
8:20
love to shop.
8:21
>> We love to shop, Michael. We love to
8:23
shop.
8:24
>> And more of everything that our fans
8:26
love from around the worlds of Disney.
8:28
And not only are we going to be
8:30
returning to the Anaheim Convention
8:31
Center, but we're going to be back at
8:33
the Honda Center for a full weekend of
8:36
the most spectacular shows. Starting off
8:38
on Friday, August 14th with the Disney
8:42
ex Entertainment Showcase, the Disney
8:44
Experiences Showcase on Saturday, August
8:47
15th, and of course, the iconic Disney
8:49
Legends Awards ceremony on Sunday,
8:52
August 16th, which you all got the
8:54
opportunity to have the very first look
8:56
at.
8:56
>> Incredible. And to announce our Legends
8:59
class today was amazing. I'm so excited.
9:02
Yes, we have amazing shows just like in
9:05
2024, which I have incredible memories
9:08
of. That was such a magical time. We're
9:11
going to feature many memorable
9:13
performances and lots and lots of
9:16
starstudded surprises. And you know how
9:19
much we love surprises.
9:20
>> I can't wait. We got lots to share. Lots
9:22
of surprises to come. And at the Anaheim
9:24
Convention Center, you're going to find
9:26
all the worlds of Disney under just one
9:29
roof. and fan favorite experiences are
9:31
going to be returning, including
9:33
opportunities to get up close with the
9:36
latest from Disney Experiences and Walt
9:38
Disney Imagineering. You're going to see
9:40
treasures from the Walt Disney Archives,
9:42
one of my favorites. You're going to
9:44
dive into the worlds of Disney, Pixar,
9:46
Marvel, Star Wars, and National
9:48
Geographic. And you're going to
9:50
experience your favorite movies and
9:52
series with Disney Plus and Hulu. And
9:55
you're going to explore the very best of
9:57
Disney shopping, products, and more. And
10:00
you're not only you also be able to find
10:02
some exciting new activations on the
10:05
show floor for the very first time.
10:07
Mundo Pixar is going to be coming to D23
10:11
as well as ESPN and the road to Super
10:14
Bowl. Bluey fan favorite, Camp Rock 3,
10:19
The Simpsons, Mickey F1 and the F1 car,
10:23
and so much more. And also new this
10:26
year, we're offering extended hours for
10:30
even more fun for fans to experience.
10:32
So, for the first time ever, we're
10:34
offering a special afternoon only fan
10:37
pass ticket, which offers guests
10:40
afternoon access to the Anaheim
10:42
Convention Center with entry starting at
10:44
400 p.m. on Friday, Saturday, and
10:47
Sunday. And we're extending the hour
10:49
till 8:00 each of those nights as well.
10:52
So, more fan fun.
10:53
>> We need that. We need more time for more
10:55
fun. This is all so exciting. It really
10:57
is. And the very best part is that we're
11:00
going to be celebrating all week long,
11:03
okay? Throughout the entire city of
11:05
Anaheim. And there's absolutely going to
11:08
be something for every single fan. So,
11:11
here we go. On Wednesday, August 12th,
11:14
you need to get ready to play ball
11:16
because D23 is teaming up with the
11:18
Anaheim Angels once again for our D23
11:22
night at Angel Stadium. That's going to
11:24
be super fun. The next day, Thursday,
11:27
August 13th, join D23 for another
11:31
fantastic D23 day at Disneyland Resort.
11:35
The official kickoff to our ultimate
11:37
Disney fan event weekend with a
11:39
giveaway. We love giveaways. We love
11:42
this complimentary Mickey Mouse ear hats
11:45
and the return of the Disney Legends
11:48
Cavalcade. And I was able to be part of
11:50
that last time. It is super fun to ride
11:53
on that trolley down Main Street. It's
11:55
unbelievable up there.
11:56
>> I mean, I was like a little kid. I waved
11:58
so hard. It was unbelievable. Plus, we
12:00
have Disney Junior Let's Play Party.
12:03
Love that. returns for a one-day special
12:05
event tailored to families with young
12:08
children at Disney California Adventure
12:10
Park. So, all week long, all of our
12:14
incredible fans will be enjoying
12:16
Downtown Disney. You're going to find
12:18
all sorts of great D23 themed offers.
12:21
It's going to be amazing.
12:23
>> That's all.
12:24
>> We got more.
12:26
>> We have so much more. And speaking of
12:27
the fans, one of their favorite shows is
12:30
going to be returning this year. D23
12:32
mouse parade, the ultimate Disney
12:35
costume contest. It is fashion and
12:38
fandom colliding together at this
12:40
memorable competition. And the
12:42
submission window opens today. It's one
12:45
of my favorite shows. The costumes and
12:47
the dedication, the work that goes into
12:49
it.
12:49
>> Unbelievable creativity. So today, got
12:52
to make that happen today.
12:53
>> Yes. And we're actually going to have
12:55
more shows and presentations to be
12:57
announced very soon. Over 50 in total,
13:00
including the premiere of a new
13:03
featurelength documentary from acclaimed
13:05
filmmaker Leslie Eyeworks, offering fans
13:08
an exclusive first look at a powerful
13:11
new Disney story told through her
13:13
singular lens. Pretty excited about that
13:16
one.
13:16
>> She's incredible.
13:17
>> She is. And but that's not all. This
13:19
year, we're also going to see the return
13:21
of our D23 fantastic prizes sweep stakes
13:25
and the chance for fans to win 23
13:28
amazing once in a-lifetime grand prizes.
13:32
>> What do you say?
13:33
>> These are great prizes. Okay.
13:35
>> Should we give them a sneak peek?
13:36
>> Yes, please do cuz I'm signing up.
13:38
>> All right. Which which one of these are
13:39
you going to do?
13:39
>> Oh, I already know. I already know which
13:41
one I want.
13:42
>> All right. First of all, you're going to
13:43
have an opportunity to be one of the
13:45
very first to sail during the inaugural
13:47
season of Disney Cruise Line's newest
13:49
ship, the Disney Believe.
13:52
>> Right. Not too bad.
13:54
>> The chance to embark on a National
13:56
Geographic Journeys trip to Kenya,
13:58
Africa, and experience all that it has
14:01
to offer.
14:01
>> That's mine.
14:02
>> You're on that one?
14:03
>> Sorry, I'm taking that one.
14:04
>> All right. I'm excited for this one.
14:05
It's a trip to attend the star-studded
14:08
red carpet world premiere of Marvel
14:10
Studios Avengers Doomsday.
14:12
>> That's yours, Michael. That's yours.
14:15
>> How fantastic is that, right?
14:17
>> That's going to be amazing.
14:18
>> All right. Well, more prizes to be
14:20
announced at a later date. So, be on the
14:21
lookout.
14:22
>> Okay. This is all so incredible. Thank
14:24
you, Michael, for sharing all of this,
14:26
all of these magical announcements. And
14:29
we are so very, very excited to welcome
14:33
all of you this August to D23, the
14:37
Ultimate Disney fan event in Anaheim.
14:40
And we can't wait for all the fun that
14:42
we are going to have together.
14:43
>> That's right. And you know, don't forget
14:45
tickets go on sale to all D23 Gold
14:48
members April 2nd. You can get all the
14:51
details at d23.com.
14:53
Jody, thank you always for being a part
14:56
of our world. and here at D23 and we
14:59
just adore having you here with us and
15:01
we can't wait to see you again in
15:02
August.
15:02
>> I am so excited. I love all of you D23
15:05
to be here in Legends Plaza with all of
15:07
you this morning. This is a magical
15:10
morning. We are so excited. Thank you
15:12
all so much for taking time out of your
15:14
day to come and hang out with us and we
15:16
are going to see you real soon.
15:19
>> Thanks for coming everybody. Talk to you
15:20
soon.
15:23
[applause]
15:28
All right, just wanted to thank all of
15:29
you guys for coming out. You guys are
15:31
really the reason, you know, why we're
15:32
all here. You guys help tell the D23
15:35
story. Um, so with that said, I know a
15:39
lot of information today. Um, we're
15:41
going to have Michael head of D23, Mitch
15:44
head of D23 GM, and then we have a
15:48
director of marketing, Nan, to answer
15:49
any questions that you guys have today.
15:52
And once again, want to make sure that
15:54
you guys uh check out at the check-in
15:55
booth for a special gift for you guys.
15:57
Thanks again. [applause]