Disney’s 2026 Upfront presentation takes place tomorrow May 12th, 2026, marking the company’s first major advertising showcase under new CEO Josh D’Amaro, with President and Chief Creative Officer Dana Walden shaping the creative vision alongside him. The presentation will highlight Disney’s reach of over 200 million monthly ad-supported viewers, the launch of the standalone ESPN streaming app, and a 2027 calendar that includes the Super Bowl, Grammys, College Football Playoff Championship, and Oscars all within weeks of each other.
Who is Josh D’Amaro? D’Amaro became Disney CEO earlier this year following Bob Iger’s tenure, bringing with him a background as the longtime chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products. He is the executive who oversaw major expansions across Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and international parks, and his elevation to CEO signals a new chapter for the company with someone who built his career on guest experience and operational excellence.
Rita Ferro, President of Global Advertising at The Walt Disney Company, outlined the advertising strategy ahead of the presentation. Disney now reaches over 200 million ad-supported viewers each month and leads premium streaming platforms in time spent per viewer. ESPN became the first sports platform to surpass one billion social views.
Is ESPN available without cable? Yes. The ESPN direct-to-consumer streaming app launched as a standalone product and is now available without a cable subscription. The app offers multiview, integrated stats, betting insights, fantasy tools, and a personalized SportsCenter for each user. It represents the biggest structural change in how Disney delivers sports content to fans in years.
What channel is the Super Bowl 2027 on? The Super Bowl is coming to ESPN and ABC in 2027 as part of a stretch that also includes the College Football Playoff Championship in January, the Grammys, and the Oscars in March. That means all four events will be available on the Disney+ streaming app in addition to broadcast. For cord-cutters who have been waiting to drop cable entirely, this 2027 lineup gives you every reason to make the move.
The Upfront itself features appearances from stars across Disney’s entertainment and sports portfolio, with programming announcements expected across Disney+, ABC, ESPN, Hulu, and National Geographic. We will continue covering major announcements as they come out on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. Stay with Fantasy Land News for all Disney news and entertainment coverage. Join the Realm at fantasylandnews.com/the-realm.
