Disney+ Upfront 2026 puts fandom, sport and ad innovation centre stage – Disney has used its ANZ Upfront in Melbourne to outline how its ad-supported Disney+ plan will bring premium entertainment, ESPN sport and new advertising tools together for local brands.
The Walt Disney Company Australia and New Zealand presented its 2026 plans to media buyers on 10 September, positioning Disney+ as the digital centre of its audience relationship across Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, Hulu and ESPN.
For viewers, the message is also a sign of how Disney+ is evolving in Australia: the service is pairing its familiar entertainment franchises with a growing live-sport offering through ESPN, while its $9.99 Standard with Ads plan creates another way to access the platform.
Disney+ with Ads expands its local pitch
Disney said its Standard with Ads plan, launched in Australia and New Zealand in April 2026, is attracting advertisers looking for premium, brand-safe and culturally relevant viewing environments. The company says the plan sits alongside its Standard and Premium options, giving subscribers more flexibility when selecting a Disney+ membership.
The Upfront also showcased Disney Advertising’s technology roadmap for the local market. Disney Audience Graph combines signals across the company’s platforms, while Disney Select is designed to turn those insights into audience segments beyond broad demographics.
Among the formats outlined were Ad Selector, which lets viewers choose the creative they see before a programme begins, and Video+ ads, which can send offers to a viewer’s phone without interrupting playback. Disney also flagged Disney Ad Creative Studio as a forthcoming tool to help advertisers create tailored assets at scale.
What is coming to Disney+
Disney highlighted a slate spanning returning series, major franchises, local originals and sport-led programming. Upcoming titles named during the presentation included Count My Lies, The Spot, Paradise season three, Only Murders in London, Marvel Television’s VisionQuest, Ahsoka season two, Alien: Earth season two, The Land and Australian Hulu Original The Artful Dodger season three.
ESPN’s presence on Disney+ remains central to the strategy, with US coverage of the NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB alongside the NBL, WNBL, WNBA and FIBA World Cup. Disney noted the service will carry at least six live NFL games each week, as well as the 2027 Super Bowl broadcast and the NFL Melbourne Game, while ESPN will continue to offer more than eight NBA games weekly plus major postseason events.
Disney’s ANZ managing director Kylie Watson-Wheeler said the combination of storytelling, technology and fandom gives the platform a strong proposition for advertisers. For audiences, it underlines a service that is increasingly aiming to be a home for both franchise television and appointment sports viewing.
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