Disney fans gather at D23 as company unveils films, parks and Legends class

D23 2026 sets the stage in Anaheim

D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event returned to the Anaheim Convention Center and Honda Center from August 14 through August 16, 2026, drawing Disney fans for a series of showcases built around the company's films, series and parks. The Honda Center hosted the Disney Entertainment Showcase on Friday night, the Disney Experiences Showcase on Saturday night and the Disney Legends Award Ceremony on Sunday afternoon, making Anaheim the focal point of Disney's most fan-facing weekend of the year.

Theme parks take center stage

Parks announcements dominated the Experiences Showcase. At Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom, Disney unveiled the names of attractions in the upcoming "Cars"-themed expansion Piston Peak National Park: Ridge Run Rally, a rally attraction, and Miss Fritter's Daredevil Spin-Along. The Magic Kingdom will also gain a refresh of Tomorrowland and the officially named Villains Land, which will include a Maleficent coaster, a dark ride themed around the Evil Queen's Magic Mirror from Snow White, and characters including Cruella de Vil and Dr. Facilier.

Additional Walt Disney World projects include Antonio's Fiesta de Encanto, a new Encanto ride at Animal Kingdom featuring the film's original actors as the voices of the Madrigal family, a refreshed Journey Into Imagination With Figment at Epcot that restores the classic character Dreamfinder, the 2027 opening of Monstropolis at Hollywood Studios, the return of the Yeti inside Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom, and an updated Carousel of Progress at Magic Kingdom debuting in late spring 2027 with the voices of Jamie Lee Curtis and Bryan Cranston.

At Disneyland, the Remember Dreams Come True night spectacular is set to return in February 2027, and Tomorrowland is to be refreshed. At Disneyland Paris, Scar will debut as a new audio-animatronics figure inside The Lion King attraction at Disney Adventure World, depicting his final confrontation with Simba, while Hyperspace Mountain is scheduled to close at the end of 2027 and be restored to its original Space Mountain: De la Terre à la Lune form and music.

Bob Iger and the 2026 Disney Legends class

Former Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger was inducted as a Disney Legend, with current CEO D'Amaro calling him "one of the most consequential business leaders of our time." Tributes from Robert Downey Jr., Diane Sawyer, Harrison Ford, Ellen Pompeo and Al Michaels preceded Iger's remarks, in which he emphasized the executive's role in supporting creatives and cast members. The 2026 class also includes Anne Hathaway, Dwayne Johnson, Lin-Manuel Miranda, the Jonas Brothers, Jerry Bruckheimer, Susan Egan, Alan Tudyk, Eric Goldberg, Kim Irvine and Chris Berman.

Entertainment showcase in motion

A-list talent tied to Marvel, Star Wars and Disney projects appeared across the weekend's entertainment presentations, with the entertainment showcase framed as a platform for upcoming film and streaming announcements. Detailed slate information beyond the parks and Legends honors was not captured in the available reporting.

What remains to be seen

Follow-up milestones include the late spring 2027 debut of the updated Carousel of Progress, the February 2027 return of Remember Dreams Come True, the 2027 opening of Monstropolis, the late-2027 closure of Hyperspace Mountain at Disneyland Paris, and further detail on the entertainment slate unveiled during Friday's showcase.