Disney and National Geographic are kicking off April 2026 with a company-wide Earth Month initiative called “Step into Wonder,” bringing new streaming premieres, in-park activations, network programming, and a free Disney+ subscriber perk all under one campaign built around the natural world. The monthlong celebration runs through April 30 and is anchored by National Geographic’s 138-year legacy of exploration and storytelling.
National Geographic President Courteney Monroe described the campaign as a platform designed to open hearts as much as it expands minds, building on the spirit of exploration that has defined the brand since its founding. For Disney fans, that translates into an unusually dense stretch of nature content across Disney+, linear TV, social media, and Disneyland Resort experiences.
Two Global Premieres Anchor the Month
The centerpiece content for Earth Month 2026 comes in two forms. The first is National Geographic’s “Secrets of the Bees,” a two-part series now streaming on Disney+ and Hulu, executive produced by Disney Legend James Cameron. Hosted and narrated by Emmy and BAFTA Award-winning National Geographic Explorer Bertie Gregory, the series uses groundbreaking filming technology to go inside the hidden world of bees, uncovering their architecture and collective intelligence alongside entomologist and National Geographic Explorer Dr. Samuel Ramsey. The result is a series that includes never-before-filmed moments from inside bee colonies.
The second premiere is Disneynature’s “Orangutan,” arriving on Disney+ on April 22, Earth Day. Narrated by Disney Legend Josh Gad, the film follows Indah, a young orangutan in the rainforest canopy of Southeast Asia, as she prepares to leave her family and venture out on her own for the first time. In connection with the film, the Disney Conservation Fund is supporting Wildlife Conservation International and Forum Konservasi Leuser to protect Sumatran orangutans across more than 5 million acres of forest habitat and to help rebuild the Ketambe Research Center following catastrophic flooding in the region.
For 138 years, National Geographic has been guided by a spirit of exploration that opens hearts as much as it expands minds. With ‘Step into Wonder,’ we’re putting that spirit at the center of Disney’s Earth Month, creating a platform for stories that spark a love for our planet and inspire families to step outside and celebrate the everyday wonders of our world. Courteney Monroe, President, National Geographic
The Wonder List and Digital Activations
Running throughout April, the Wonder List is a digital hub, a Kids YouTube series, and a printable PDF designed to encourage families to explore the world around them at home. Each week in April focuses on a specific theme: stars, clouds, trees, and rocks. Daily prompts give families hands-on ways to discover nature in their own backyards.
From April 17 to 23, the Wonder List gets a physical counterpart at the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles. The event features large photo-worthy Nat Geo Yellow Border frames, interactive medium frames, and smaller discoverable frames placed throughout the site, all designed around the four weekly themes.
Earth Moods, a meditative ambient livestream, will run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week all month long on National Geographic’s YouTube channel, featuring curated Earth Moods episodes and music from Maejor’s Earth Moods: Frequencies Vol. 1 album. Special Earth Day livestreams will also go live on Facebook and TikTok on April 22.
A daily “Step into Wonder” social video series will feature National Geographic and Disney talent, including Piper Curda, Kermit the Frog, Antoni Porowski, National Geographic Explorer Joel Sartore, and Will Smith, each sharing their personal moments of wonder. National Geographic, which reaches more than 801 million followers across its global social accounts, will carry the campaign across Instagram, Facebook, X, Threads, YouTube, and TikTok throughout the month.
National Geographic is also running its YourShot Earth Month Challenge, inviting the global photography community to capture images that reflect the wonder of the natural world. Participants can tag their images with #NatGeoYourShot by April 22 for a chance to be featured on @NatGeoYourShot on Instagram.
Disney+ Is Offering a Free Six-Month Nat Geo Subscription
Disney+ subscribers can claim a no-strings-attached six-month National Geographic digital subscription for free through April 30, 2026. This is a brand-new Disney+ Perk available to eligible subscribers through the Disney+ Perks program. Once the digital subscription is activated, subscribers can also unlock an add-on offer for three complimentary National Geographic Kids magazines. No credit card is required to redeem. Residents of the U.S. with an active Disney+ subscription can find the offer at disneyplus.com/perks.
The Earth Month Collection on Disney+ will spotlight a curated lineup of acclaimed National Geographic content alongside the two new premieres, including “Ocean with David Attenborough” from 2025, “Cheetahs Up Close with Bertie Gregory” from 2026, and the second season of “A Real Bug’s Life” from 2025.
Earth Month Comes to Life at Disney Experiences
At Disneyland Resort, Earth Month will be visible across the property in several ways. During the Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival, National Geographic Explorer Dr. Sammy Ramsey will host a special “Secrets of the Bees” weekend activation on April 4 and 5, featuring on-the-ground interactions and social content opportunities. Across Disneyland Resort hotels, guests will encounter a National Geographic-themed experiential pop-up complete with an iconic Nat Geo Yellow Border photo opportunity, lawn games, California wildflowers, and more. Guests visiting Disneyland Resort may also receive the April issue of National Geographic magazine during their visit.
Programming Across Disney’s TV Portfolio
Earth Month content extends well beyond streaming. The ABC News Weather, Climate and Science Unit, led by chief meteorologist and chief climate correspondent Ginger Zee, will air dedicated programming throughout April across “Good Morning America,” “World News Tonight with David Muir,” ABC News Live, and digital platforms. Coverage will include a partnership with the ABC News Investigative Unit examining whether public-facing FEMA maps and flood zones tell the full story for homeowners, a segment called “Ginger’s Climate Makeover” helping a local family live more sustainably, and additional everyday green-living stories.
ABC Owned Television Stations will mark Earth Month with local stories, profiles, and community events across all eight markets, as well as original programming from “On the Red Carpet” at Disneyland and new “Localish” episodes tied to the themes of “Secrets of the Bees.”
Disney Channel will air themed episodes of “Big City Greens,” “Kiff,” “Phineas and Ferb,” “Hamster and Gretel,” and “Primos,” while Disney Jr. will air wonder-themed interstitials from Nat Geo Kids in front of episodes throughout the month.
Disney Conservation Fund Marks Its 30th Anniversary
Earth Month 2026 also marks the 30th anniversary of the Disney Conservation Fund. Over three decades, the DCF has directed more than $141 million toward conservation initiatives that have helped protect more than 300 million acres of habitat, supported more than 1,000 species, provided more than 18 million nature experiences for kids, and positively impacted more than 20 million people worldwide. This year, the Disney Conservation Fund is backing 25 organizations across 16 countries to protect 120,000 square miles of wildlife corridors globally.
The anniversary celebration began in March with the launch of Disney and Pixar’s “Hoppers” kids and nature initiative alongside Jane Goodall’s Roots and Shoots program, encouraging youth to take action in their communities. Ten young leaders will be selected to attend the DCF 30th Anniversary event later this year.
Disney has also launched “30 Days of Stories,” a storytelling initiative featuring a new conservation or sustainability story each day counting down to Earth Day on April 22. The initiative is part of Disney Planet Possible, the company’s framework for taking measurable action for a healthier planet for people and wildlife.
Disney’s Long Legacy of Nature Storytelling
Disney has been telling nature stories on screen since 1948, when the True-Life Adventures series brought real-world wildlife storytelling to audiences in a creative way for the first time. Animated classics, including “Bambi” from 1942 and “The Lion King” from 1994, carried that spirit forward, as did park attractions like the Jungle Cruise at Disneyland Resort. Walt Disney’s belief that exploration and storytelling could inspire audiences to better understand the world around them remains a foundational idea for how the company approaches its nature content today.
That tradition continues through National Geographic and Disneynature with titles like “Secrets of the Penguins” from 2025, “Sea Lions of the Galapagos” from 2025, “Secrets of the Octopus” from 2024, “A Real Bug’s Life” from 2024, “Polar Bear” from 2022, “Secrets of the Whales” from 2021, “Elephant” from 2020, “Dolphin Reef” from 2020, and “Penguins” from 2019. Earth Month 2026 adds “Secrets of the Bees” and “Orangutan” to that catalog.
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Disney’s Earth Month 2026 Includes Two New Disney+ Premieres, a Free Nat Geo Subscription, and the DCF’s 30th Anniversary
