Disney has introduced dates & main points for the 2026 D23 Expo, together with when price ticket gross sales and pre-sales get started. This covers the whole thing we all know up to now in regards to the match, which is able to be offering a week-long birthday party in Anaheim and at Disneyland Lodge. Plus, house lodge suggestions and extra for the ‘Final Fan Match’ that’ll be held a brief stroll from the parks in Southern California.
As all the time, we’ll be attending the 2026 D23 Expo and are in point of fact having a look ahead to it. We’ve had fun at each and every of the previous Expos over the process the ultimate decade-plus, and experience creating a wishlist/predictions for the Parks & Inns presentation, which is what I care about maximum.
On the other hand, the D23 Expo completely isn’t for everybody. The development has its moments, but in addition the worst sides of each conventions (sitting round in convention rooms for hours on finish) and theme parks (status round in strains for hours on finish).
It’s nice for lovers of celebrities, historical past, hype, reveals, cosplayers, and random fandom a laugh. That’s an overly eclectic vary of pursuits, however such is the character of the D23 Expo. If it isn’t straight away obvious that the D23 Expo is for you…there’s an excellent chance it isn’t. Don’t attempt to power it, do Disneyland as a substitute–and select other dates.
Dubbed “The Final Disney Fan Match” and hosted by means of the corporate’s Authentic Fan Membership, the 2026 D23 Expo takes position in Anaheim, California from August 14 via 16, 2026, and celebrates the magic and pleasure of Disney leisure previous, provide, and long term.
How one can Acquire 2026 D23 Expo Tickets
All D23 Gold Contributors might acquire match tickets, matter to availability. For a restricted time handiest, Disney+ subscribers at the D23 Gold Per month plan too can benefit from a brand new Disney+ Perk, upgrading to a paid Gold Very important, Selection, or Whole plan for 20% off.
To prioritize probably the most devoted lovers and the core D23 group, price ticket get entry to will roll out in tiers. Tickets for the 2026 D23 Expo will pass on sale starting Tuesday, March 31, 2026 at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET for present D23 Gold Constitution Contributors right through an unique 24-hour window.
A concern acquire window for D23 Gold Contributors on Very important, Selection, and Whole plans will get started on Thursday, April 2, 2026 at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET. All different D23 Gold Contributors will probably be ready to enroll in the queue at 12 p.m. PT / 3 p.m. ET that very same day.
Every Gold Member might acquire 2026 D23 Expo tickets for themselves and as much as 5 (5) visitors, or six (6) tickets in overall. Visitors of D23 Gold Contributors don’t want to be D23 Gold Contributors themselves to wait.
2026 D23 Expo Price ticket Choices
This yr’s 2026 D23 Expo match is extra available than ever sooner than with expanded display ground hours on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. There’s additionally a brand new “D23 Fan Move – Afternoon Handiest” price ticket, providing later access to the Anaheim Conference Middle. Price ticket choices for the 2026 D23 Expo span a spread of reviews, together with:
- D23 Fan Move (Anaheim Conference Middle handiest), to be had for $49 (Afternoon Handiest), $99 (1‑Day), or $297 (3‑Day)
- D23 Final Fan Move, which incorporates get entry to to each the Anaheim Conference Middle and the Honda Middle showcases, with pricing starting at $99 for a 1‑Day and $297 for a three‑Day package deal
- The D23 Final Most well-liked Fan Move delivers 3 days of ground seating on the Honda Middle, 3 days of Anaheim Conference Middle get entry to, and unique Random Variety Procedure (RSP) alternatives for make a selection limited-edition pins, with pricing starting from $1,299 to $2,599 relying on location.
- Every price ticket is matter to a $11.25 carrier price, and each and every transaction is matter to a $16 transportation charge.
D23 Gold Contributors who’re not able to buy 2026 D23 Expo tickets might sign up for a limited-time waitlist after price ticket gross sales shut. Because of restricted availability, tickets don’t seem to be assured.
2026 D23 Expo Weekend Highlights
The 2026 D23 Expo will show off the whole power of Disney’s storytelling engine—bringing in combination liked franchises, daring new visions, and the inventive leaders shaping what’s subsequent. There will probably be a marquee presentation on the Honda Middle every day: the Disney Leisure Show off on Friday, the Disney Studies (Parks & Inns) Show off on Saturday, and the Disney Legends Award Rite on Sunday.
On Thursday, August 13, D23 Day at Disneyland Lodge formally kicks off the weekend with a Disney Legends Cavalcade, giveaway of complimentary Mickey Mouse ear hats (whilst provides ultimate), surprises, and extra. Plus, Disney Jr. Let’s Play! Birthday party returns for a one-day particular match adapted to households with babies at Disney California Journey that includes reside leisure, Disney Jr. characters and actions, and a laugh photograph alternatives.
All over the weekend, the Anaheim Conference Middle will host greater than 50 panels and shows created solely for lovers, providing behind-the-scenes insights, first appears, and conversations with the storytellers in the back of a few of Disney’s maximum iconic worlds. One spotlight is the premiere of a brand new feature-length documentary from acclaimed filmmaker Leslie Iwerks, providing lovers an unique first have a look at a formidable new Disney tale instructed via her lens.
D23’s biggest display ground ever will function Disney Studies and Walt Disney Imagineering; Disney, Pixar, Wonder, Big name Wars, and Nationwide Geographic; favourite motion pictures and collection with Disney+ and Hulu; Disney buying groceries, merchandise, and extra.
All-new reviews come with Mundo Pixar: The D23 Enjoy; ESPN and the Street to the Tremendous Bowl; activations impressed by means of Bluey, Camp Rock 3, The Simpsons; and a standout show that includes Mickey F1 and a Method 1 automobile. Lovers too can compete within the Disney Lorcana Problem Championship Qualifier, the place the winner earns a assured seat on the 2027 Disney Lorcana North American Championship.
Walt Disney Archives: Uncrated is an all-new exhibition at the display ground that invitations intrepid lovers to discover an unforgettable adventure into the huge and hidden warehouses of the Walt Disney Archives. Visitors could have the danger to discover themed presentations that includes shipments of iconic props, costumes, and puppets from some liked motion pictures, tv collection, and theme parks, which span generations of historical past at The Walt Disney Corporate.
Town-Broad Celebrations in Anaheim
The 2026 D23 Expo is greater than a weekend, it’s a town‑large birthday party that extends the thrill all through the week. The festivities start on Saturday, August 8, with the hole of the Walt Disney Archives’ latest exhibition on the Muzeo Museum and Cultural Middle, Shooting Lifestyles, Growing Personality: The Artwork of Reside‑Motion, that includes uncommon pictures, dress items, paintings, and interactive components exploring the relationship between live-action efficiency and animation. Tickets pass on sale Friday, March 27, at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET on D23.com.
The birthday party continues Tuesday, August 11, with D23 Evening on the Anaheim Packing District, that includes track, minutiae, fan actions, and the 6th annual International Style of the Packing District. All over the week, Downtown Disney will even function particular provides, reductions, and themed a laugh main as much as D23: The Final Disney Fan Match from August 14-16, 2026.
On Wednesday, August 12, lovers can attend D23 Evening at Angel Stadium to cheer for the house group because the Angels take at the Texas Rangers. The primary 23,000 attendees coming into the stadium will obtain a themed D23 Mickey Mouse Bobblehead, with 2,300 of those being an unique gold variant. D23 Contributors can obtain a cut price on tickets, get entry to to important D23 match areas on gameday, and a commemorative match present.
Further main points on D23: The Final Disney Fan Match together with programming and buying groceries knowledge will probably be introduced within the months main as much as the development.
2026 Disney Legends
Disney printed the lineup of people who will obtain the distinguished Disney Legends Award, the corporate’s perfect honor. As famous above, the Disney Legends Award rite will mark the general day of the D23 Expo, on August 16, 2026.
“D23: The Final Disney Fan Match is the place we come in combination to present our unbelievable lovers an early have a look at what’s coming subsequent throughout our corporate, whilst celebrating the legacy of the unusual other folks whose creativity has formed Disney into what it’s nowadays,” mentioned Josh D’Amaro, Leader Government Officer of The Walt Disney Corporate. “It’s an honor to have fun our Disney Legends — their affect is felt in the whole thing we do and spotting them along the lovers who love their paintings is what makes this match so significant.”
Ryan Seacrest will go back because the host of the rite that can happen on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. PT on the Honda Middle. The development will probably be full of tributes and unforgettable moments to honor and have fun the icons in the back of the magic who’ve made an enduring affect on Disney. The rite will as soon as once more be to be had on Disney+, permitting lovers world wide to enjoy the magic anyplace they’re.
The 2026 Disney Legends Award honorees constitute the unusual breadth of skill and storytellers who’ve outlined Disney throughout leisure, storytelling, and reviews for generations. From efficiency and animation, to track and sports activities, to management and Imagineering, those honorees have formed how audiences world wide connect to Disney tales.
Throughout his twenty years on the helm of The Walt Disney Corporate, former Chairman and CEO Bob Iger led Disney to remarkable inventive and trade luck, development on Disney’s wealthy historical past of unforgettable storytelling and serving as steward of the sector’s most valuable and liked manufacturers.
Susan Egan, Dwayne Johnson, Anne Hathaway, and Alan Tudyk introduced unforgettable characters to existence on-screen and on-stage, lending their voices, performances, and megastar energy to motion pictures, collection, and musical moments that experience turn out to be a part of the cultural material.
From the Jonas Brothers shaping a technology of Disney track to Lin‑Manuel Miranda’s groundbreaking songwriting for contemporary Disney favorites, along Eric Goldberg’s artistry and animation that introduced liked characters to existence, those contributions have frequently driven Disney storytelling ahead with innovation and center.
In combination, those inventive forces are joined by means of visionaries whose affect extends past person performances to the very basis of Disney’s legacy and long term. Jerry Bruckheimer’s prolific generating profession has delivered cinematic spectacles that proceed to outline blockbuster storytelling, whilst Chris Berman’s pioneering voice and presence contributed to shaping ESPN into a world sports activities and leisure powerhouse.
Kim Irvine ’s a long time of management at Walt Disney Imagineering left an indelible mark on Disney parks and reviews, holding heritage whilst championing creativity. Jointly, the 2026 Disney Legends Award honorees include the inventive excellence, daring imaginative and prescient, and enduring affect that proceed to form Disney’s previous, provide, and long term.
The Disney Legends Awards program is a 39-year custom of The Walt Disney Corporate, which started when Fred MacMurray (The Shaggy Canine, The Absent-Minded Professor, The Happiest Millionaire) was once commemorated in 1987. Together with this yr’s honorees, a complete of 329 Disney Legends has been named.
Previous Disney Legends come with Tim Allen, Dame Julie Andrews, Angela Bassett, Tony Baxter, Kristen Bell, James Cameron, Jamie Lee Curtis, Miley Cyrus, Marc Davis, Robert Downey Jr., Harrison Ford, Annette Funicello, Josh Gad, Whoopi Goldberg, Jonathan Groff, Steve Jobs, Sir Elton John, Dame Angela Lansbury, Stan Lee, George Lucas, Steve Martin, Burny Mattinson, Alan Menken, Idina Menzel, Hayley Turbines, Fess Parker, Ellen Pompeo, Robin Roberts, the Sherman Brothers, Marty Sklar, Dick Van Dyke, Barbara Walters, Betty White, John Williams, Robin Williams, and Oprah Winfrey, amongst many others.
Be expecting Sky-Prime 2026 D23 Call for
Again in 2024, the D23 Expo was once reimagined to be larger than ever sooner than. That’s the case as soon as once more in 2026, with the extremely expected match held at each the Anaheim Conference Middle and the Honda Middle.
This cut up venue way labored in point of fact smartly ultimate time. I used to be skeptical getting in, and feared transportation can be a nightmare, however our enjoy was once flawless. Typically, operations had been some distance higher than ever sooner than, inexplicably so, for the reason that the development was once a lot larger.
Regardless of expanding in measurement fairly considerably and, probably, freeing extra tickets on the market than ever sooner than thank you to bigger venues and splitting ticketing, the former D23 Expo offered out in document time. The similar happened with this yr’s Vacation spot D23. Prior to now, there have been instances when neither of those occasions offered out in any respect.
We’d anticipating the 2026 D23 Expo to as soon as once more have sky-high call for, so stay on eye on price ticket sale get started dates. It’ll most likely be high-quality to be a paid member to D23 and probably being eligible for presales.
The ultimate D23 Expo was once a easy match with a variety of sure phrase of mouth, so we wouldn’t be stunned if tickets are much more aggressive for the 2026 D23 Expo. Plus, FOMO is a formidable driving force.
Technically, they’re as soon as once more no longer calling it the D23 Expo for some reason why. The respectable title is “D23: The Final Disney Fan Match.” Nobody goes to name it that. When you say, “I’m attending D23 colon without equal Disney fan match” for your buddies or fellow lovers and they would reply that you just’re the “final Disney colon dweeb.”
It’s simply the D23 Expo. I don’t know why they made up our minds to rename it, however I’m guessing it required a number of brainstorming periods to conclude that ‘expo’ had some kind of adverse connotation or one thing. That, or it was once simply too concise and didn’t have 4-17 phrases and no less than one punctuation mark, as is needed pursuant to Disney naming conference mandates. However I digress.
One of the crucial neat issues in regards to the display ground is the danger to have one-on-one time with Imagineers, animators, and filmmakers who paintings their respective cubicles. Then there’s the 7,000-seat Corridor D23 that performs host to the most important panels, which will probably be joined this yr by means of the three,000-seat Premiere Level, and the 1,200-seat Backlot Level.
At the primary display ground, the D23 Expo Reside! Level will function performances, appearances, demonstrations, and extra all weekend lengthy. Many of those and different panels will probably be livestreamed to audiences at house, so it’s no longer crucial to wait if you wish to stay alongside of what’s taking place. On the other hand, so much is no longer live-streamed, together with just about anything else with archival content material, thought artwork, or prolonged trailers.
Visitors too can experience buying groceries, many that includes D23 Expo-exclusive collectibles, at an collection of Disney and spouse pop-up retail outlets together with the D23 Expo Emporium, the place without equal Disney lovers can wait within the final strains. Significantly, the strains are all the time multi-hour for those shops. I’ve by no means even set foot in Mickey’s of Glendale right through any of the Expos I’ve attended.
As all the time, there will probably be numerous celebrities from the Wonder and Big name Wars collection and flicks, along side the ones showing in Disney+ content material. Prior to now, the ones celebrities have integrated Robert Downey Jr., Christina Aguilera, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Emily Blunt, Angelina Jolie, Robin Roberts, Salma Hayek, Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, and the casts of Big name Wars stuff and Wonder motion pictures.
We’d strongly suggest reserving your lodge for the 2026 D23 Expo now when you’re making plans on attending. That’s proper–e book it presently, sooner than tickets even pass on sale. Simply e book one thing that’s refundable if you happen to get close out.
If previous precedent is any indication, charges will handiest building up as the development date attracts closer–and a few motels close to the Anaheim Conference Middle have already observed their charges skyrocket. When you’re seeing this information proper because it’s breaking, it’s possible you’ll even be capable of beat the inevitable dynamic pricing will increase when they be told in regards to the match dates.
Seek advice from our Disneyland Space Resort Ratings & Opinions for a rundown of the most efficient (and worst) choices. Be aware that it’s no longer strictly essential that you just e book a ‘conference heart’ lodge, as just about anything else on or round Harbor Side road goes to be inside an affordable strolling distance.
You’ll be paying an important top rate for the motels on the ACC. With that mentioned, we’d strongly discourage you from reserving one thing that calls for riding to the conference heart–parking within the morning is usually a actual ache.
We’re already having a look ahead to the 2026 D23 Expo.
Like we mentioned on the best, this match isn’t for everybody, and when you’re at the fence, it most probably isn’t for you. It’s a tradition. A thrilling conference aimed squarely at Disney geeks with one thing for everybody within the fandom, together with some really deep cuts. However on the finish of the day, nonetheless a tradition.
When you’re most commonly excited for blockbuster bulletins (and in contrast to Vacation spot D23, we now have extremely excessive hopes for the 2026 D23 Expo), you must most probably ask whether or not you need to be there within the room the place the scoop breaks and really feel the power and pleasure of the target market–one thing I reside for–or are k staring at alongside from house. Even though you’ll all the time tack-on a talk over with to Disneyland right through D23 Expo, it’s usually no longer the most efficient time for a travel to the parks.
This isn’t to deter somebody as a result of, once more, the D23 Expo is likely one of the highlights of our complete yr. I’m already excited, however we are also a different breed of Disney geeks (the convention-going type), and no longer everyone seems to be us. Possibly you might be, by which case, we extremely suggest attending. We’ll see you there!
Making plans a Southern California holiday? For park admission offers, learn Guidelines for Saving Cash on Disneyland Tickets. Know about on-site and off-site motels in our Anaheim Resort Opinions & Ratings. For the place to devour, take a look at our Disneyland Eating place Opinions. For distinctive concepts of items that’ll beef up your travel, take a look at What to Pack for Disney. For complete recommendation, seek the advice of our Disneyland Holiday Making plans Information. After all, for guides past Disney, take a look at our Southern California Itineraries for day journeys to Los Angeles, Laguna Seaside, and lots of alternative puts!
Your Ideas
Do you propose on attending the 2026 D23 Expo? Excited that the Final D23 Fan Match is returning to Anaheim, California from August 14-16, 2026? Do you compromise or disagree with our recommendation for the D23 Expo? What had been your reviews with crowds and contours at previous D23 Expos? Any questions we will will let you solution? Listening to your comments–even whilst you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please proportion your ideas underneath within the feedback!
