Mention the word “D23” to any Disney fan, and chances are their eyes will light up with glee, and for good reason. For years, D23, which is a reference to when Walt Disney opened his first studio in Hollywood in 1923, has been the go-to place for Disney fans as the company’s first fan club, and which has since morphed into a major convention and experience all in one. From Disney to Pixar, Marvel to Star Wars, and more, the company rolls out a stacked line-up of announcements for their movies, shows, parks, and more every year.
For the 2026 edition, the three-day fan experience in Anaheim, California, was a showcase of stars, storytellers, sneak peeks, surprises, behind-the-scenes moments, thrilling performances, and more. Below, check out some of the biggest highlights you need to see from D23 2026.
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Lea Salonga Channels Her Inner Disney Princess
In the lead-up to the actual event, Disney held a special celebration titled Disney Princess: The Ultimate Concert Celebration featuring the Disney princesses, both from the live-action films and the actresses who voiced them in the animated movies, across generations. From Jodi Benson, the original voice of Ariel from The Little Mermaid, to Catherine Laga’aia, who played Moana in the live-action 2026 remake, they were all there, including our very own Lea Salonga.
Dressed in an outfit that married Mulan’s culture and aesthetic and Princess Jasmine’s signature light blue color, Salonga brought everyone back to their childhood as she performed Reflection and joined the rest of the princesses for a rendition of When You Wish Upon A Star.
Anne Hathaway Is Now a Disney Legend
Anne Hathaway has been having a stellar 2026. And as if her year couldn’t get any better, the Oscar-winning actress was named a Disney Legend during D23 in honor of her work and undeniable impact in Disney projects such as The Princess Diaries and The Devil Wears Prada. A generation grew up with her characters, so it only feels fitting that Hathaway was finally given the status of Disney Legend.
KATSEYE Covers a Hercules Classic
One of this year’s inductees during the Disney Legends Awards Ceremony is Susan Egan, who voiced Meg in Hercules. As a tribute to her, KATSEYE took the stage to perform a special version of I Won’t Say (I’m In Love). Lara, Megan, Daniela, and Eunchae looked amazing in their all-white ensembles as they channeled the muses and sounded great in their exceptional cover. It’s a moment we wished Sophia could have joined because we know she would do so well covering a Disney song. Fingers crossed they might do the cover again but this time with Sophia on their tour.
Animation Has a Big Presence at D23
If there’s one thing you can count on at D23, it’s the new movie reveals and first looks at some of the company’s most anticipated titles. And that was the case here, especially on the animated front. From Pixar, the studio shared a first look at concept art for Incredibles 3, which will focus on Violet, Dash, and Jack-Jack and has a release date of June 2028, Coco 2, which notably features a teenage Miguel and will see him return to the Land of the Dead, and their upcoming original titles Ghost Market, coming in March 2028, and Gatto, which releases on March 2027.
For Walt Disney Animation Studios, they confirmed that Zootopia 3 is officially in early development and, as teased during the post-credits scene of Zootopia 2, will center on the arrival of birds to the city, and shared a look at Frozen 3 that hinted at a new villainess whose powers rival those of Elsa’s. Needless to say, the next few years are going to be busy with new animated movies in the pipeline from Disney and Pixar.
Meet the Cast of the MCU’s X-Men
Kevin Feige had surprises up his sleeve during Marvel Studios’ showcase presentation at D23. Aside from debuting a new look at Avengers: Doomsday, he officially revealed who will be playing the core cast of mutants in the MCU’s highly-anticipated X-Men movie coming in May 2028. Joining Sadie Sink’s Jean Grey are Kit Connor as Scott Summers/Cyclops, Christopher Abbott as Professor Charles Xavier, Samara Weaving as Emma Frost, Inde Navarrette as Rogue, and Maya Boyd as Storm.
As a cherry on top, it was revealed in a special video greeting that Adam Driver will finally be joining the MCU as Nathaniel Milbury, more commonly known as the X-Men villain Mr. Sinister. It really is a new era for the MCU after Secret Wars, and it looks like they’re focusing on a new generation of X-Men to lead this new chapter.
The Trailer Debut For VisionQuest
A fan-favorite trilogy that started with WandaVision and continued with Agatha All Along is coming to a close with VisionQuest. In the upcoming series, Vision, rebooted and having escaped from those who sought to weaponize him, has been in hiding. Searching for new meaning, he consults the AI personas embedded in his programming, including F.R.I.D.A.Y., E.D.I.T.H., J.A.R.V.I.S., and the infamous Ultron.
His discreet existence ends when a bounty placed on his head thrusts him on the run with Thomas Shepard, a mysterious boy who may be Vision’s son Tommy reincarnated. As Vision evades capture, he must confront his nature, resist Ultron’s influence, and unravel the enigma that is his young companion if he’s to survive. The series comes to Disney+ on October 14.
Ahsoka Returns For Season 2
After a long three-year wait, Ahsoka’s story finally continues with the reveal of the teaser trailer for Season 2, which arrives in January 2027. The new season, which once again stars Rosario Dawson in the titular role, is set after the fall of the Empire and the rise of the New Republic, which has Ahsoka confronting what it means to be a Jedi, while the galaxy faces a formidable opponent in Grand Admiral Thrawn.
Season 2 continues Ahsoka Tano’s story and her journey beyond the known galaxy. As Ahsoka and her Jedi apprentice, Sabine Wren, travel across a mysterious and perilous world to find their way home, their friends Hera, Ezra, Zeb, and Chopper must face the powerful Grand Admiral Thrawn and his sinister allies, who seek to plunge the New Republic into war.
A Kingdom Hearts Series Is Coming
In one of the more surprising announcements at D23, it was announced that Kingdom Hearts is getting its own anime series. Tentatively titled Kingdom Hearts, the show is coming to Disney Channel and Disney+ and is developed in partnership with legendary video game creator Tetsuya Nomura and the creative team at SQUARE ENIX.
It reimagines the iconic adventure with a brand-new story that will expand on the universe of Kingdom Hearts while celebrating the characters that have captured the hearts of fans around the world. With the fourth mainline entry in the game series coming in 2027 and now an anime series, Kingdom Hearts fans will have a lot to look forward to in the future.
Featured Image: THE DISNEY PRINCESSES (via Instagram)
Photos: PIXAR (via Instagram), MARVEL STUDIOS (via Instagram) Courtesy of DISNEY
Frequently Asked Questions
Anne Hathaway was named a Disney Legend at D23 2026, honoring her work and impact on Disney projects including The Princess Diaries and The Devil Wears Prada.
The MCU’s X-Men cast, revealed at D23 2026, includes Sadie Sink as Jean Grey, Kit Connor as Cyclops, Christopher Abbott as Professor X, Samara Weaving as Emma Frost, Inde Navarrette as Rogue, and Maya Boyd as Storm. Adam Driver will play villain Mr. Sinister, known as Nathaniel Milbury.
VisionQuest, the next installment in the WandaVision and Agatha All Along trilogy, premieres on Disney+ on October 14. The series follows a rebooted Vision confronting his identity while evading capture.
Ahsoka Season 2 arrives in January 2027, continuing Rosario Dawson’s story as Ahsoka Tano confronts Grand Admiral Thrawn following the fall of the Empire and rise of the New Republic.
D23 2026 revealed first looks at Incredibles 3 (June 2028), Coco 2 featuring a teenage Miguel, and original Pixar titles Ghost Market (March 2028) and Gatto (March 2027). Zootopia 3 and Frozen 3 were also teased for Walt Disney Animation Studios.
