Disney opened D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event 2026 with a massive wave of announcements covering Marvel Studios, Pixar, Walt Disney Animation, Star Wars, Disney+, live-action movies and video games. The event, taking place in Anaheim from August 14 through August 16, delivered first looks at some of Disney’s biggest upcoming projects and confirmed several movies and series that had previously remained under wraps. Among the biggest announcements were Marvel Studios’ new X-Men cast, new footage from Avengers: Doomsday, major Kingdom Hearts 4 news, the first details about Frozen 3, Pixar sequels including Incredibles 3 and Coco 2, and a new look at Star Wars: Starfighter. Here are the biggest announcements from D23 2026 so far.
Marvel Studios Finally Reveals Its New X-Men
One of the biggest announcements of the entire showcase was Marvel Studios officially introducing the next generation of the X-Men.
The MCU reboot is being directed by Thunderbolts* filmmaker Jake Schreier and is currently scheduled for May 2028. Marvel also confirmed several members of the new team and its first major villain.
Sadie Sink will play Jean Grey, Kit Connor is Scott Summers/Cyclops, Christopher Abbott will portray Charles Xavier/Professor X, Maya Boyd is Ororo Munroe/Storm, Inde Navarrette will play Rogue, and Samara Weaving has been cast as Emma Frost.
Perhaps the biggest surprise was Adam Driver as Nathaniel Essex/Mister Sinister, establishing a major X-Men villain who has never previously received a central live-action movie role.
The story will explore the origins of the X-Men, Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters and the persecution mutants face because of the X-gene.
Avengers: Doomsday Brings Doctor Doom Back Into the Spotlight
Marvel also used D23 to continue building anticipation for Avengers: Doomsday, which arrives in theaters on December 18, 2026.
New material centered heavily on Robert Downey Jr.’s Victor von Doom, while the movie continues bringing together characters from multiple corners of Marvel history.
Doomsday already features an enormous ensemble incorporating the Avengers, Fantastic Four, New Avengers and legacy X-Men characters. Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, James Marsden, Rebecca Romijn, Alan Cumming and Kelsey Grammer are among the Fox-era X-Men actors previously confirmed for the crossover.
The movie will play an important role in Marvel’s larger multiverse storyline before Avengers: Secret Wars, making Doctor Doom one of the central figures of the MCU’s immediate future.
VisionQuest Gets an October Release Date
Marvel Television also provided an update on VisionQuest, the Disney+ series continuing the story of Paul Bettany’s Vision.
The series is scheduled to premiere on October 14, 2026, with Bettany returning as Vision and James Spader returning as Ultron.
VisionQuest is positioned as another continuation of the story that began with WandaVision, bringing Vision back into focus following his transformation and disappearance from the events surrounding Westview.
Kingdom Hearts 4 Returns With Major New Information
After years of limited updates, Kingdom Hearts 4 finally returned to the spotlight around D23.
The franchise has now surpassed $1 billion as a gaming property for Disney and has sold more than 38 million copies, demonstrating just how significant the Square Enix collaboration has become for the company.
D23 also brought new attention to Sora’s next adventure, including the reveal of Coco content for Kingdom Hearts 4. Reports from the event place the game in 2027, with the next chapter continuing Sora’s story and the new era established through Quadratum.
The inclusion of Coco brings Pixar’s Land of the Dead into Kingdom Hearts, giving Sora another dramatically different Disney world to explore.
Kingdom Hearts Is Also Getting an Animated Series
The surprises did not stop with Kingdom Hearts 4.
Disney also confirmed that an animated Kingdom Hearts series is being developed, expanding the franchise beyond video games.
The announcement represents a major step for Kingdom Hearts after years of speculation surrounding a potential television adaptation. The series has spent more than two decades combining Square Enix characters with Disney worlds, with Sora, Donald and Goofy traveling between different universes as part of a larger battle involving the Keyblade, Heartless and the forces of darkness.
Specific story and release details for the animated project remain limited.
Frozen 3 Reveals Anna and Kristoff’s Wedding
Disney Animation provided one of the first significant looks at Frozen 3, scheduled for November 2027.
The new chapter will feature Anna and Kristoff’s wedding, while the story also introduces a mysterious new female antagonist. Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel and Josh Gad appeared as part of the presentation, with new music from the movie also showcased during the event.
Frozen remains one of Disney Animation’s biggest modern franchises, and the third movie will continue the story of Anna, Elsa, Kristoff and Olaf after the enormous success of the first two films.
Incredibles 3 Is Coming in 2028
Pixar officially placed Incredibles 3 on its future theatrical calendar, with the sequel targeting summer 2028.
The third movie will shift attention toward the superhero children while continuing the Parr family’s story. Early material surrounding Bob Parr also suggests Mr. Incredible will be dealing with questions about his place and relevance as a superhero while the younger generation becomes increasingly important.
The movie marks the family’s first theatrical adventure since Incredibles 2 in 2018.
Coco 2 Is Officially Happening
Pixar also revealed new details about Coco 2, currently scheduled for November 2029.
The sequel will feature an older, teenage Miguel and once again explore the world established in the original 2017 movie. Reports from D23 also indicate that Ernesto de la Cruz will factor into the new story despite the events of the original film.
The announcement arrives alongside Coco becoming relevant to another major Disney project through its inclusion in Kingdom Hearts 4.
Zootopia 3 Is Official
Disney also confirmed that Zootopia 3 is moving forward.
The announcement continues the animated franchise following the success of Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde’s adventures in Zootopia. Disney did not provide a release date alongside the initial announcement, leaving the sequel as one of the projects on its future slate without a firm theatrical window.
Ice Age Is Returning Again
The Ice Age franchise is also continuing with another movie.
D23 highlighted Ice Age: Boiling Point, extending the long-running animated series with another adventure. The movie is currently expected in 2027, adding another major franchise title to Disney’s upcoming animation slate.
Bluey Is Heading to Movie Theaters
The global success of Bluey is expanding to the big screen.
D23 included The Bluey Movie, a theatrical project scheduled for 2027. The movie will bring the enormously popular animated property into theaters after its success as a television series and streaming phenomenon.
Disney Announces New Animated Projects
Not every animation announcement involved an existing franchise.
Disney also highlighted new projects including Hexed, while Pixar showcased upcoming original movies such as Gatto and Ghost Market.
These projects will sit alongside the studio’s enormous collection of sequels, giving Disney and Pixar original properties to develop while continuing established franchises including Frozen, Zootopia, The Incredibles and Coco.
Tangled Is Getting a Live-Action Movie
Disney’s live-action remake strategy is also continuing.
A live-action Tangled adaptation was highlighted as part of the company’s future slate, with the movie currently targeting March 2028. Reports surrounding the production indicate filming in Spain.
The movie will bring Rapunzel’s story back to theaters in live action after the original animated Tangled became one of Disney’s defining films of the 2010s.
Lilo & Stitch 2 Is Moving Forward
Disney also confirmed another trip back to Hawaii with Lilo & Stitch 2, continuing its live-action version of the franchise.
The sequel is expected in 2028, further demonstrating Disney’s plans to turn successful live-action adaptations into continuing theatrical franchises rather than treating every remake as a standalone production.
Star Wars: Starfighter Gets Its First Footage
Lucasfilm brought Star Wars: Starfighter to D23, providing fans with an early look at the upcoming movie starring Ryan Gosling.
Gosling plays a pilot named Kade, with the film scheduled to arrive in May 2027, the same year Star Wars celebrates its 50th anniversary.
The project represents one of Lucasfilm’s major upcoming theatrical releases as Star Wars continues expanding beyond the Skywalker Saga.
Ahsoka Will Return
The Star Wars announcements also extended to Disney+.
Ahsoka Season 2 remains part of Lucasfilm’s upcoming plans, with the next season expected in 2027. The series will continue the story involving Ahsoka Tano and the characters introduced through the live-action continuation of storylines originating in Star Wars Rebels.
Disney’s Next Several Years Are Already Taking Shape
The first major wave of D23 2026 announcements makes Disney’s strategy for the next several years considerably clearer.
Marvel is preparing to transition from its current multiverse story into a new era built around the X-Men. Avengers: Doomsday is preparing one of the MCU’s largest crossovers. Star Wars is returning to theaters with Starfighter. Pixar is simultaneously developing original movies and sequels to The Incredibles and Coco. Frozen, Zootopia, Lilo & Stitch and Ice Age are continuing. And Kingdom Hearts is expanding simultaneously through Kingdom Hearts 4 and animation.
And D23 itself is not over yet. Disney’s 2026 event runs from August 14 through August 16, meaning additional panels and announcements can still emerge before the weekend concludes. The announcements above summarize the major entertainment reveals reported from the event so far rather than pretending the entire three-day D23 has already concluded.
FAQ
What were the biggest announcements at D23 2026?
Major reveals included Marvel Studios’ new X-Men cast, Avengers: Doomsday material, Frozen 3 details, Incredibles 3, Coco 2, Zootopia 3, Kingdom Hearts 4 news, a Kingdom Hearts animated project and footage from Star Wars: Starfighter.
Who is playing the new X-Men?
The announced lineup includes Sadie Sink as Jean Grey, Kit Connor as Cyclops, Christopher Abbott as Professor X, Maya Boyd as Storm, Inde Navarrette as Rogue, Samara Weaving as Emma Frost and Adam Driver as Mister Sinister.
When does Avengers: Doomsday release?
Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled to arrive in theaters on December 18, 2026.
What was announced for Kingdom Hearts?
D23 brought new attention to Kingdom Hearts 4, including Coco content, while Disney also confirmed an animated Kingdom Hearts project.
When does Frozen 3 come out?
Frozen 3 is scheduled for November 2027 and will include Anna and Kristoff’s wedding as part of its story.
Is D23 2026 finished?
No. D23 2026 runs from August 14 through August 16, so more announcements may still be made during the remaining panels.
