D23 has revealed a new wave of afternoon programming for D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, running August 14 through 16 at the Anaheim Convention Center, with the headline additions being a Disney Rewind Concert and a rare one man show from Disney Legend Alan Menken.
Disney Rewind Concert
The Disney Rewind Concert is a live mixtape style throwback covering Disney hits of the 80s and 90s, spanning Powerline, Disney Afternoon, and the Muses, performed by a cast of Broadway veterans including Jared Dixon, Alyssa Fox, Arielle Jacobs, Josh Strickland, and Raena White. Disney Legends Bill Farmer and Jodi Benson, along with newly named 2026 Legend Susan Egan, are set to make special appearances. The show premieres Friday, August 14 at 7 p.m., with an encore performance Saturday, August 15 at 6:30 p.m.
A Whole New World of Alan Menken
Eight time Academy Award winner Alan Menken is bringing a rare solo concert event to D23, sharing songs and the stories behind them from a catalog that spans “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin,” “Pocahontas,” “Hercules,” “Tangled,” and “Newsies,” among others. The show is written by Menken himself and directed by Richard Kraft, set for Sunday, August 16 at 6 p.m.
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday Panels
Friday’s panel lineup includes a tribute marking Walt Disney’s 125th birthday, a behind the scenes look at the Ink and Paint department at Disney Animation, and a 20th anniversary celebration of “Enchanted” co-hosted by Nina West and director Kevin Lima. The Disney Lorcana TCG team also has a panel covering 2027 set releases, alongside speed puzzling events on the show floor, and there’s a separate look at Walt and Lillian Disney’s personal homes presented with the Walt Disney Family Museum.
Saturday brings a Tinker Bell retrospective hosted by Ashley Eckstein, a Disney and Marvel storytelling legacy panel, a Disney fashion showcase featuring Disney Consumer Products’ Bobby Kim, and a historical panel on Walt Disney’s lighter side with rare footage.
Sunday closes things out with a Disney Experiences memorabilia auction hosted by Bret Iwan, a 65th anniversary look back at “One Hundred and One Dalmatians,” and a panel from Disney artist Kevin Kidney on tracking down the real-world filming locations behind “Swiss Family Robinson.”
Show Floor and Activations
Beyond the panels, the show floor brings back the Disney+ Hulu Experience with its 4D theater, the Marvel Studios TVA walkthrough, and the Lucasfilm pavilion, alongside a joint Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios space previewing “Frozen 3” and “Gatto.” A preview of the touring Mundo Pixar exhibition is also part of the floor for the first time. Brand activations from BoxLunch, Pandora, Loungefly, Crocs, and others round things out, along with the first Disney Lorcana Challenge Championship Qualifier of the new season.
Tickets
Afternoon Only Fan Passes remain available for $49 across Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, along with a full day Sunday Fan Pass for $99. Tickets are limited to D23 Gold Members. For everything else on tap this August, our complete D23 2026 guide is being updated as new details land.
Friday, August 14
- Walt Disney’s 125th Birthday Tribute: A celebration of Walt Disney’s legacy featuring guests who knew him and performances inspired by his life.
- Ink and Paint at Disney Animation: A behind the scenes look at how a hand drawn cel goes from pencil sketch to inked line to finished color.
- 20 Years of Enchanted: Co-hosts Nina West and director Kevin Lima mark the film’s 20th anniversary with guests and archive material.
- Disney Lorcana TCG Panel: The Ravensburger team previews 2027 set releases and new events coming to Disney locations.
- Houses Walt Built: The Walt Disney Family Museum shares rare photos and stories about Walt and Lillian Disney’s homes.
- Disney Lorcana Speed Puzzling: Timed puzzle races held three times throughout the day at the Ravensburger Gaming Area.
Saturday, August 15
- Worlds of Tinker Bell: Host Ashley Eckstein traces Tinker Bell’s evolution from “Peter Pan” to her own franchise.
- Disney/Marvel: A Legacy of Stories: A look at the shared history between Disney and Marvel through comics and crossovers.
- Disney Style Around the World: A showcase of global Disney fashion collaborations featuring Disney Consumer Products’ Bobby Kim.
- Great Moments with Walt Disney: Historian Tim O’Day and editor Ryan March share rare footage and stories about Walt’s lighter side.
Sunday, August 16
- The Disney Experiences Auction: A live and online bidding event for verified Disney parks and resorts memorabilia, hosted by Bret Iwan.
- One Hundred and One Dalmatians 65th Anniversary: A retrospective featuring rarely seen art from the Walt Disney Animation Research Library.
- Searching for the Swiss Family Robinson Tree House: Disney artist Kevin Kidney shares his trip to the real filming locations that inspired the attraction.
