Disney has used its 2026 D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event to unveil a packed slate of upcoming films, television projects and franchise updates, giving fans a fresh look at some of the studio’s biggest plans for the years ahead. Held in Anaheim, California, from August 14 to 16, the event has placed nostalgia alongside major new developments from Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm.
Among the biggest attractions was Frozen 3, which brought back the voices and creative team associated with the beloved franchise. Disney also offered new details about its live-action Tangled, while Pixar revealed projects including Incredibles 3 and Coco 2. Marvel and Lucasfilm, meanwhile, delivered major updates on the next X-Men film, Avengers: Doomsday and Star Wars: Starfighter.
The announcements underline Disney’s strategy of combining familiar properties that already have enormous fan bases with new stories and adaptations designed to appeal to a new generation.
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Frozen 3 Becomes One of D23’s Biggest Highlights
One of the most anticipated moments of D23 2026 was the presentation of Frozen 3.
The return of Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel and Josh Gad created a major nostalgic moment for fans of Anna, Elsa and Olaf. The stars reunited on stage to preview the upcoming animated sequel and performed new songs from the film. A brief technical problem during the presentation did little to reduce the excitement inside the venue.
Disney has scheduled Frozen 3 for theatrical release on November 24, 2027. The film will continue the story of the characters introduced in the original 2013 movie and its 2019 sequel.
The new film is also expected to expand the emotional world of the franchise. Among the details revealed at D23 were elements involving Anna and Kristoff’s wedding, along with a mysterious new female antagonist. Olaf, meanwhile, reportedly finds himself dealing with romantic feelings of his own.
Jennifer Lee, who helped shape the earlier Frozen films, is returning as co-writer and executive producer, while the original songwriting team of Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez is also back.
That combination of familiar voices, creators and characters makes Frozen 3 one of Disney’s strongest nostalgia-driven projects.
Disney’s Live-Action Tangled Moves Forward
Another major announcement was the first look at Disney’s live-action adaptation of ** Tangled **.
The animated Tangled, released in 2010, introduced audiences to Rapunzel, Flynn Rider and the memorable world surrounding the kingdom of Corona. The new live-action version is scheduled to arrive in theatres on March 31, 2028.
The film will star Teagan Croft as Rapunzel and Milo Manheim as Flynn Rider. Kathryn Hahn will play Mother Gothel, while Diego Luna has been cast in a newly created role. Patrick and Hugo McPherson will portray the Stabbington brothers.
Michael Gracey, known for directing The Greatest Showman, is directing the project. The screenplay comes from Jennifer Kaytin Robinson and Michael Montemurro, with Lucy Kitada, Jessica Virtue and Kristin Burr among the producers.
The live-action project represents another attempt by Disney to bring a familiar animated story into a new visual format. The approach has become an important part of the studio’s strategy, allowing well-known stories to reach audiences who grew up with the originals while introducing them to younger viewers.
Why Disney Is Returning to Childhood Favourites
The combination of Frozen 3 and Tangled at D23 is significant because both projects tap into a powerful element of Disney’s identity: nostalgia.
For many viewers, Disney’s animated films were an important part of childhood. Characters such as Elsa, Anna, Olaf and Rapunzel have become recognisable across generations.
By returning to these properties, Disney is not simply relying on old characters. It is attempting to build new theatrical experiences around stories that audiences already understand and emotionally recognise.
This can give a film an advantage before its release because audiences already have a connection with the characters.
At the same time, sequels and remakes face a difficult challenge: they must offer something new without losing what made the original popular.
Incredibles 3 Announced for 2028
Pixar also had major news for fans at D23.
Incredibles 3 was confirmed for a summer 2028 theatrical release. The project will return audiences to the superhero family that first appeared in Pixar’s 2004 animated hit The Incredibles.
The new film is expected to place greater attention on the superhero children, continuing the franchise’s exploration of family life alongside superpowered adventures.
The announcement gives Pixar another major established property to develop alongside its newer original projects.
Coco 2 Brings Miguel Back
Pixar also confirmed ** Coco 2 **, scheduled for November 2029.
The sequel will return to the world of Miguel and the Land of the Dead. Reports from D23 indicate that the story will involve a teenage Miguel confronting the return of Ernesto de la Cruz, adding a new conflict to the emotional world established by the first film.
The original Coco became known for its themes of family, memory and cultural heritage. A sequel therefore carries considerable expectations, particularly because the first film developed a strong emotional connection with audiences.
Marvel Unveils New X-Men Cast
D23 was not limited to Disney Animation and Pixar.
Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige revealed the cast for the upcoming X-Men film, scheduled for May 2028.
The announced cast includes:
- Sadie Sink as Jean Grey
- Kit Connor as Cyclops
- Christopher Abbott as Professor X
- Inde Navarrette as Rogue
- Maya Boyd as Storm
- Samara Weaving as Emma Frost
- Adam Driver as Mister Sinister
The announcement represents an important step for Marvel’s plans to bring the X-Men into a new era.
The cast reveal immediately became one of the most discussed parts of the event, particularly because of the mix of established actors and younger stars.
Avengers: Doomsday Adds More Excitement
Marvel also showed new material connected to ** Avengers: Doomsday **.
The project remains one of Marvel’s major upcoming theatrical releases, with the D23 presentation giving fans another glimpse into the wider Marvel storyline.
Robert Downey Jr.’s return to the Marvel universe as Doctor Doom has already generated enormous interest, while Chris Evans is also returning as Captain America in the film’s developing storyline.
The appearance of X-Men-related material alongside Avengers: Doomsday further suggests how Marvel is preparing to bring different corners of its superhero universe together.
Star Wars: Starfighter Gives Fans a New Adventure
Lucasfilm also had a major presence at the event.
One of the highlights was new footage from ** Star Wars: Starfighter **, starring Ryan Gosling as Kade. The film is positioned as a new story within the Star Wars universe rather than simply another continuation of an existing trilogy.
The project adds another chapter to Disney’s long-term plans for the Star Wars franchise and demonstrates that the company is continuing to develop stories beyond the Skywalker family’s central saga.
Ahsoka Season 2 Also Gets Attention
Fans of Disney+ received an update on ** Ahsoka Season 2**.
Lucasfilm presented a trailer and further material from the upcoming season, keeping attention on one of the most popular characters to emerge from the modern Star Wars television universe.
The continued expansion of Star Wars through streaming series demonstrates how Disney is using both cinemas and Disney+ to develop its major franchises.
More Animation Projects on the Way
D23 also introduced or updated several other animation projects.
Among them was ** Ghost Market **, while other Pixar and Disney Animation announcements expanded the studio’s upcoming slate. The event also included news surrounding Gatto and Hexed.
The range of projects is important because Disney is not relying exclusively on sequels. Alongside established franchises, the company continues to develop original animated stories.
Bluey Gets a Big-Screen Moment
Another major family-focused announcement involved ** The Bluey Movie **.
The animated project received its first teaser at D23, with the movie expected to arrive in August 2027. The announcement comes after the extraordinary popularity of the Australian animated series among children and families.
The decision to bring Bluey to cinemas illustrates how streaming and television properties can eventually become theatrical franchises when their audiences become large enough.
Zootopia 3 Is Also in Development
Disney Animation is also looking beyond the next few releases.
** Zootopia 3 ** is now in early development following the strong performance of Zootopia 2.
The franchise’s return highlights another trend visible throughout D23: Disney is building long-term plans around properties that already have established audiences.
Disney’s Broader Nostalgia Strategy
Taken together, the announcements reveal a clear pattern.
Disney is bringing back characters and stories that audiences already love while adding new chapters, new actors and new formats.
Frozen 3 continues Elsa, Anna and Olaf’s story. Incredibles 3 returns to the Parr family. Coco 2 revisits Miguel. Zootopia 3 expands another popular animated world. The live-action Tangled adaptation, meanwhile, transforms a familiar animated story for a new generation.
This does not mean Disney is abandoning original storytelling. Projects such as Ghost Market, Gatto and Hexed demonstrate that new concepts remain part of the company’s plans.
Instead, the D23 slate suggests a balance between familiarity and innovation.
What D23 2026 Means for Disney Fans
The 2026 D23 event has effectively provided fans with a roadmap for Disney’s entertainment plans over the next several years.
The announcements stretch across animation, live-action cinema, Marvel, Star Wars and streaming. They also cover releases well into the late 2020s.
For audiences who grew up watching Disney films, the appeal is obvious. Characters from childhood are returning, but they are being presented alongside new stories and younger performers.
The challenge for Disney will be making each project feel more than a simple exercise in nostalgia.
A successful sequel or remake must preserve the emotional identity of the original while giving audiences a reason to experience the story again.
Disney Is Betting Big on Nostalgia and New Adventures
D23 2026 has demonstrated just how ambitious Disney’s upcoming entertainment slate has become.
From the return of Anna, Elsa and Olaf in Frozen 3 to the first major look at the live-action Tangled, the company is bringing some of its most recognisable childhood stories back into the spotlight. At the same time, Pixar is developing Incredibles 3 and Coco 2, Marvel is preparing a new X-Men generation, and Lucasfilm is expanding the Star Wars universe with Starfighter and Ahsoka Season 2.
The biggest takeaway from D23 is therefore not simply the number of announcements. It is the way Disney is connecting childhood nostalgia with new cinematic experiences.
For longtime fans, Tangled offers the opportunity to revisit the world of Rapunzel and Flynn Rider.The upcoming Tangled film could become one of Disney’s major nostalgia-driven theatrical releases of 2028.
And with releases continuing through 2027, 2028 and beyond, the magic revealed at D23 2026 is only beginning.
