D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event 2026, formerly known as D23 Expo, is fast approaching. This biennial event, hosted right next to Disneyland, is jam-packed with huge announcements about Disney’s future, plus special presentations celebrating Disney history. We now know what some of that programming will look like.
Disney announced the lineup of panels coming to D23: The Official Disney Fan Event 2026. We have details about what to expect and celebrity guests in attendance. Mickey Visit brings you the latest Disney news and planning resources, including the new permanent location for a Disneyland fan-favorite restaurant and 19 new rides coming to Disney theme parks.
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D23 2026 Panels
D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event will take place in Anaheim, California, from August 14 to 16, 2026. The event splits its special programming between two very different locations: the Anaheim Convention Center and the Honda Center.
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At the Anaheim Convention Center, Disney will host fan-focused interactive events, presentations highlighting Disney history, and a show floor with activations and merchandise opportunities. Disney revealed lots of details for the Anaheim Convention Center programming, listed below.
At the Honda Center, a 13,000-seat arena, D23 will host a daily “showcase” featuring the Disney Legends ceremony and breaking news announcements. This includes the highly anticipated “parks panel” with theme park news on Saturday, August 15. We anticipate Disney sharing how and if the parks panel will be live-streamed as D23 gets closer. See our previous coverage for the Honda Center schedule.
Most D23 tickets that include Honda Center access are sold out. The following ticket types are still available:
- 3-Day D23 Ultimate Preferred Fan Pass
- Sunday D23 Fan Pass
- Friday, Saturday, and Sunday Afternoon Only D23 Fan Pass
Some of the Anaheim Convention Center panels provide alternative evening entertainment for attendees who have tickets for only the convention center rather than the Honda Center events.
As for the Anaheim Convention Center programming, Disney revealed the following presentations.
D23 2026 Convention Center Programming: Friday, August 14
Disney Rewind Concert
Don’t miss the ultimate throwback event showcasing the very best Disney hits of the ’80s and ’90s! Relive the magic of VHS vibes with this live mixtape concert spanning Powerline, Disney Afternoon, Muses, and more, brought to life by Disney Broadway and Animation stars, rock-concert lighting, and larger-than-life visuals. The show premieres at 7:00 PM on Friday, August 14, with an encore performance at 6:30 PM on Saturday, August 15.
The spectacular cast bringing these songs to life include Jared Dixon (Broadway’s “Simba”), Alyssa Fox (Broadway’s “Elsa”), Arielle Jacobs (Broadway’s “Jasmine”), Josh Strickland (Broadway’s “Tarzan”), and Raena White (Broadway’s “Sarabi”), with special appearances by Disney Legends Bill Farmer, Jodi Benson, and 2026 Legend recipient Susan Egan.
Walt Disney: 125 Years of Inspiration
Join D23 as we salute Walt Disney’s 125th birthday! Hear from those who knew him, legends who were inspired by Walt and continue his legacy, plus enjoy some special performances—all inspired by and in fun celebration of Walt Disney!
Ink & Paint at Disney Animation
Watch the magic behind the Ink & Paint Department at Disney Animation come together before your eyes—from an animator’s drawing to an inker transferring the image onto a cel, and then a painter bringing it to life with vibrant color, there is magic with every stroke of a pencil and brush.
20 Years of Enchanted: A Love Letter to Disney
Join co-hosts Nina West and Kevin Lima (director, A Goofy Movie, Tarzan, Enchanted) as we celebrate 20 years of Enchanted with a fast-paced, Easter egg-filled tribute featuring special guests and surprises from the Walt Disney Archives collection.
The Quests Ahead for Disney Lorcana Trading Card Game
The Disney Lorcana TCG team at Ravensburger can’t wait to tell fans about all-new events coming to Disney locations, upcoming set releases in 2027, and more stories to play into from the realm of Lorcana. Join the team as they cover all the highlights of bringing this amazing card game to life and wow the audience with exciting announcements!
Houses Walt Built: The Walt Disney Family Museum
See rare photos and hear intimate stories about Walt and Lillian Disney’s Woking Way, Carolwood, and Smoke Tree Ranch homes with museum executive director Kirsten Komoroske and Carolwood miniature model-maker Mark Hurt.
Disney Lorcana Speed Puzzling Team Events
Piece together a perfect pastime and participate in Ravensburger’s first-ever speed puzzling events at D23! Guests will race to put together one of three brand-new Disney Lorcana 300-piece puzzles, with each competitor also taking a puzzle home at the end. These one-hour-long speed puzzling events will take place on Friday, August 14, at the Ravensburger Gaming Area at three different times—9:30 AM, 11:30 AM, and 5:30 PM. Tickets will be available through Ravensburger and will be communicated to D23 event ticketholders at a later date.
D23 2026 Convention Center Programming: Saturday, August 15
Disney Rewind Concert
Don’t miss the ultimate throwback event showcasing the very best Disney hits of the ’80s and ’90s! Relive the magic of VHS vibes with this live mixtape concert spanning Powerline, Disney Afternoon, Muses, and more, brought to life by Disney Broadway and Animation stars, rock-concert lighting, and larger-than-life visuals. The show premieres at 7:00 PM on Friday, August 14, with an encore performance at 6:30 PM on Saturday, August 15.
The spectacular cast bringing these songs to life include Jared Dixon (Broadway’s “Simba”), Alyssa Fox (Broadway’s “Elsa”), Arielle Jacobs (Broadway’s “Jasmine”), Josh Strickland (Broadway’s “Tarzan”), and Raena White (Broadway’s “Sarabi”), with special appearances by Disney Legends Bill Farmer, Jodi Benson, and 2026 Legend recipient Susan Egan.
Worlds of Tinker Bell: Never Land to Pixie Hollow
Join host Ashley Eckstein (Ahsoka Tano, Star Wars: The Clone Wars) as we explore the magical evolution of Tinker Bell from Peter Pan (1953) to her own enchanting universe in this lively celebration of a favorite Disney fairy.
Disney | Marvel: A Legacy of Stories presented by M&M’S
Discover the rich legacy of Disney and Marvel storytelling through classic comics, unexpected crossovers, and production insights from Marvel creatives and Disney archivists.
Disney Style Around the World
Enjoy a showcase of iconic Disney fashion and some fan-favorite collaborations from around the globe, plus hear from panelist Bobby Kim, Vice President of Global Creative Director for Disney Consumer Products.
Great Moments with Walt Disney
Disney historian Tim O’Day and editor of Disney Files magazine Ryan March share humorous stories and rare video footage of Walt Disney, showing the comedic side of the man behind the magic!
D23 2026 Convention Center Programming: Sunday, August 16
A Whole New World of Alan Menken
Disney Legend and eight-time Academy Award winner Alan Menken shares the songs—and the stories behind them—in his rare one-man concert event, A Whole New World of Alan Menken. From “Beauty and the Beast,” “A Whole New World,” “Colors of the Wind,” and “Go the Distance,” to beloved stage and screen musicals that have become cultural landmarks, Menken’s music has shaped generations of audiences around the world.
His extraordinary body of work includes The Little Mermaid (1989), Beauty and the Beast (1991), Aladdin (1992), Pocahontas (1995), Hercules (1997), Enchanted (2007), Tangled (2010), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996), Newsies (1992), and many more. The show is written by Menken and directed by Richard Kraft with additional material by Kraft and Jennifer Lucy Cook. This show will take place at 6:00 PM on Sunday, August 16.
The Disney Experiences Auction – Rare and Remarkable Finds
Through live and online bidding, discover select, verified pieces from Disney’s theme parks and resorts that are ready for their next chapter with the fans who treasure them most. Hosted by Bret Iwan, Disney Fine Artist and the official voice of Mickey Mouse!
One Hundred and One Dalmatians 65th Anniversary
Celebrate Disney Animation’s pioneering feature film with a look back at rarely seen art from the Walt Disney Animation Research Library.
Searching for the Swiss Family Robinson Tree House
Join Disney artist Kevin Kidney as he shares about his journey to the tropical island to visit the original filming locations from Swiss Family Robinson (1960)—including the legendary tree house that inspired the Disneyland Park attraction!
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D23 2026 Show Floor
On the show floor, D23 2026 attendees can explore at their own pace and catch a few scheduled events. Here’s what Disney revealed for this year’s show floor.
Spotlight Stage Presented by Fandango
Entertainment throughout the weekend, hosting an array of musical performances, Disney trivia, one-on-one interviews with some beloved celebrities, and sing-alongs of some favorite Disney songs.
The Disney+ Hulu Experience
A signature 4D theater, immersive photo experiences, exclusive merchandise, a collectible pin-hunting adventure, personalized subscription support, and more.
Marvel Studios’ TVA Experience: Your Next Assignment
An immersive walkthrough experience across the different worlds of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, taking place in the Time Variance Authority.
The Lucasfilm Pavilion
Photo ops, props, and costumes from current and upcoming stories set in a galaxy far, far away.
Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios Pavilion
A must-see animation experience with previews of upcoming films like Frozen 3 and Gatto.
Mundo Pixar: The D23 Experience
A special preview of the globally touring immersive exhibition.
Throughout the show floor, attendees will also find activations from BoxLunch, Pandora, Loungefly, Crocs, Spirit Jersey, Citizen, Topps, Wizards of the Coast, Collectors Editions, RSVLTS, and Ravensburger.
Lorcana Championship
Disney Lorcana is an extremely popular trading card game from Ravensburger that was a huge focus of this past year’s EPCOT International Festival of the Arts.
The Disney Lorcana Challenge Championship Qualifier (CCQ) of the next Challenge season will take place at D23 on Saturday, August 15, with the top players competing on Sunday, August 16.
Tournament entry is available as a separate ticket on top of D23 admission. Tickets cost $75 and will launch on July 7.
See D23’s website for more information about purchasing tickets to D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event 2026.
We’ll be attending D23 in person and look forward to bringing you coverage all weekend long, from August 14 to 16, 2026. This includes the highly anticipated Disney Experiences Showcase, aka the “parks panel,” on August 15, when we expect major announcements about all the new rides coming to Disney theme parks.
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