Several Panels, Programs, and Presentations Announced for D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event 2026

Mike

Published:

Last Updated On:

Several Panels, Programs, and Presentations Announced for D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event 2026

With less than two months before D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event kicks off on August 14, D23: The Official Disney Fan Club has announced afternoon offerings happening over the course of the weekend in Anaheim, California.

From a Disney Rewind Concert to a special musical experience with Disney Legend Alan Menken, D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event is the event of the year for Disney fans.

With Afternoon Only Fan Passes for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday still available, along with full-day Sunday D23 Fan Passes, there’s so much for Disney fans to discover at the Anaheim Convention Center, August 14 through 16!

Over all three days, D23 is bringing 50+ must-see panels, shows, and presentations across five stages.

FRIDAY
August 14 | 7:00PM

SATURDAY
August 15 | 6:30PM

Disney Rewind Concert: 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 p.m. on Friday, August 14, with an encore performance at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 15.

The 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.

SUNDAY
August 16 | 6:00PM

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 p.m. on Sunday, August 16.

In a special episode of D23 Inside Disney, see Head of D23 Michael Vargo chat about what’s coming to The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, and what he’s looking forward to, below:

Additional must-see panels available to all Fan Pass and Afternoon ticketholders will include:

Friday, August 14

Walt Disney: 125 Years of Inspiration:
A D23 salute to 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 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.

20 Years of Enchanted: A Love Letter to Disney:
Join co-hosts Nina West and Kevin Lima (director, A Goofy Movie, Tarzan, Enchanted) as 20 years of Enchanted is celebrated 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:
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 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 5:30 p.m. Tickets will be available through Ravensburger and will be communicated to D23 Event ticketholders at a later date. 

Saturday, August 15

Worlds of Tinker Bell: Never Land to Pixie Hollow:
Join host Ashley Eckstein (Ahsoka Tano, Star Wars: The Clone Wars) for the 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, 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!

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 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!

Located on the Show Floor, the popular Spotlight Stage Presented by Fandango also returns with 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.

Specific show times to be confirmed closer to the event.

Alongside these shows and presentations, ticketholders will have access to D23’s largest and most innovative show floor ever—featuring interactive experiences from across the worlds of Disney.

The Disney+ Hulu Experience brings fan-favorite streaming worlds to life like never before with a signature 4D theater, immersive photo experiences, exclusive merchandise, a collectible pin-hunting adventure, personalized subscription support, and more.

Additionally, Marvel Studios will again allow fans to join the Time Variance Authority (TVA) at their Marvel Studios’ TVA Experience: Your Next Assignment activation—an immersive walkthrough experience across the different worlds of the Marvel Cinematic Universe… while the Lucasfilm pavilion returns with an exciting array of photo ops, props, and costumes from current and upcoming stories set in a galaxy far, far away.

Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios will join forces for an animation experience (with previews of upcoming films like Disney’s Frozen 3 and Disney and Pixar’s Gatto), as well as Mundo Pixar: The D23 Experience, bringing guests a special preview of its globally touring immersive exhibition.

Disney Lorcana Challenge Championship Qualifier

Beloved brands and friends of Disney—including BoxLunch, Pandora, Loungefly, Crocs, Spirit Jersey, Citizen, Topps, Wizards of the Coast, Collectors Editions, RSVLTS, and Ravensburger (with their Disney Lorcana Trading Card Game)—will bring exciting activations, exclusive offerings, and special experiences to fans throughout the event. That includes the first Disney Lorcana Challenge Championship Qualifier (CCQ) of the next Challenge season on Saturday, August 15—with the top players competing on Sunday, August 16.

All D23 Gold Members—including those enrolled in a complimentary Gold Member plan via Disney+ Perks or on Gold Essential, Choice, and Complete plans—may purchase event tickets, subject to availability. Each Gold Member may purchase tickets for themselves and up to five (5) guests (six [6] tickets total). Guests of D23 Gold Members do not need to be D23 Gold Members themselves to attend. D23 Fan Pass (Anaheim Convention Center only) is available for $49 (Afternoon Only) on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, as well as $99 (1‑Day) on Sunday. For more information:

Many more details about D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event—including additional programming and shopping information—will be announced in the remaining months leading up to the event… so stay tuned to D23.com and D23’s social channels for all the news that’s fit to print!

Are you excited about D23? Let us know on social media!

For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on TwitterFacebook, and Instagram.