The Walt Disney Company Africa unveiled its 2026-2027 entertainment slate at a special showcase in Johannesburg, sharing what’s ahead across its businesses in Africa. From movies and television to streaming, consumer products, live sports and experiences, the showcase highlighted the breadth of Disney’s offering and the many ways its stories, characters and brands continue to connect with audiences across the continent.
The company shared a look into highlights from its Studios, Television, Streaming, Retail, Sports and Live Experiences businesses ahead to what promises to be a blockbuster year in entertainment.
Rochelle Knock, Vice President of Disney+ & Media Networks and Country Head, Sub-Saharan Africa for The Walt Disney Company EMEA,said: “For more than a century, Disney has brought stories and characters to life that audiences have grown up with and loved. We’ve been part of the entertainment landscape in Africa for over 60 years, and today’s showcase celebrates not only the powerful connection people have with Disney but also the incredible slate that lies ahead from across our diversified portfolio of businesses. Whether on the big or small screen, through streaming, retail or live events, Disney’s unique brand of exceptional storytelling and experiences offer fans of every age an opportunity to create shared memories that will live on from one generation to the next.”
DISNEY+
Over the last month, South African customers have been introduced to a brand-new Disney+ app, which offers more personalised recommendations, an enhanced ESPN viewing experience, new parental controls and the ability to watch while travelling internationally across Europe, the US and beyond – all whilst offering the same great movies and shows.
That content list continues to expand, adding brand new series, live events and more. Earlier in the year, Formula E, one of the world’s fastest-growing motorsport championships and the world’s only B Corp-certified sport, announced a multi-year deal that will bring all Formula E races to Disney+ beginning with the 2026/27 season. Starting on 18 December, Disney+ customers will have access to comprehensive coverage of every event including, preview and review shows, practice, qualifying and race sessions, along with race highlights.
New and returning series include Season 3 of “Percy Jackson and the Olympians”, Season 2 of Lucasfilm’s “Ahsoka”, the sixth season of the Emmy® Award-winning comedy series “Only Murders in the Building”, the next instalment of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives”, “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives: Orange County”, true-crime docuseries “Swipe Right on the Devil”, and a fourth season of “Tracker”, to name a few.
SOCIAL IMPACT
Disney Africa announced the twelfth year of the Disney Healthy Happy PlayProgram in collaboration with Sporting Chance. Expanding the reach, the 2027 program will include regional Champions, After-School Sessions and Play Days champions, and create incremental impact to reach over 300 000 South African school children since inception.
In addition, Disney Africa will be embarking on a third collaboration with local non-profit solar-powered media network Sunshine Cinema, this time bringing local language Disney Jr. content to early child development centres across the country. Parents, caregivers and their children will be able to enjoy a program that includes “The Lion Guard”, “Doc McStuffins”, “Spidey and His Amazing Friends” and “Sofia the First”, whilst also participating in fun-filled conversations and activities around the content.
STUDIOS
For more than 100 years, storytelling has been at the heart of The Walt Disney Company. Today, The Walt Disney Studios continues that legacy, bringing together some of the world’s most loved characters and stories from Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Lucasfilm, Marvel Studios, Searchlight Pictures and 20th Century Studios. From animated family favourites and brand-new adventures to epic big-screen spectacles, there’s plenty for cinema-goers of all ages to look forward to throughout the rest of 2026 and into 2027.
Coming to cinemas on 27 November is Walt Disney Animation Studios’ all-new magical coming-of-age adventure, “Hexed“, which follows an unconventional teenage girl who discovers secret magical abilities. Once unleashed, her powers take her on a spectacular journey through a hidden realm of witches.
In 2027, “Ice Age: Boiling Point” arrives on 5 February, reuniting Manny, Sid, Diego, Ellie, Buck and acorn-obsessed Scrat, joined this time by Baby Scrat and the enormous Jurassic Scrat, for a dinosaur-and-lava-filled adventure through never-before-seen corners of the treacherous Lost World.
Disney and Pixar’s original animated adventure “Gatto” pounces into cinemas on 5 March. Set against the canals of Venice, the film follows Nero, a scrappy black cat indebted to a ruthless local feline mob boss, who finds himself forming an unexpected friendship that could finally help him discover his purpose.
Star Wars: Starfighter” is an all-new standalone adventure, telling an original story set in a period never before explored in the Star Wars galaxy. Starring Ryan Gosling and directed by Shawn Levy, the film arrives in cinemas on 28 May 2027.
“The Bluey Movie” comes to the big screen on 6 August 2027! Based on the beloved series, the CG-animated film follows Bluey, her little sister Bingo and their family on an action-packed day when a big surprise changes everything.
And finally, the countdown to Doomsday is on. Marvel Studios’ “Avengers: Doomsday” brings beloved heroes from three distinct universes together as they face an existential threat unlike anything they’ve encountered before. Featuring an all-star cast and directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, the film arrives in cinemas on 16 December 2026.
MEDIA NETWORKS
Disney Africa operates six linear channels across Africa reaching millions of viewers, bringing them the latest and greatest family, tween, factual and sports programming ensuring every member of the family has something to enjoy.
Disney Channel premieres a brand-new animated series “Doomies” this month, bringing epic spooky comedy that combines thrills, chills, and emotional spills from two ordinary teens engulfed by an extraordinary mystery. After production wrapped in South Africa, fans will be able to catch the music-driven movie “The Cheetah Girls: Next Gen” that picks up when Cheetah Girls Galleria and Chanel, alongside Galleria’s daughter Faith and her three friends, travel to Africa to volunteer at a wildlife sanctuary. New seasons and episodes from “Big City Greens”, “Vampirina Teenage Vampire”, “Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir”, “Phineas and Ferb” and “Dragon Striker” will premiere over the new few months.
Often the first experience of Disney for many children, Disney Jr. will continue to introduce a whole new generation to magical stories and characters, creating the ultimate Disney experience filled with magical, musical and heartfelt stories and characters. Audiences can look forward to the brand new “Cars: Lightning Racers,” following Lightning McQueen as he gears up for all-new adventures in Radiator Springs alongside his hilarious best friend Mater, and “Marvel’s Avengers: Mightiest Friends” which will introduce kid versions of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes: Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, Black Panther, Black Widow and Thor.
Representing the largest brand on social media with over 800 million followers and over 1 billion impressions each month, National Geographic Content’s award-winning and critically acclaimed storytelling inspires fans of all ages to connect with, explore and care about the world through factual storytelling.
Coming in December, “Animal Oddballs” sees Ryan Reynolds shine a spotlight on nature’s quirkiest creatures and their unusual behaviour, proving there’s more than one way to thrive in the wild. From rock-sliding penguins to vegetarian spiders, these remarkable animals show that doing things differently can be a superpower.
Coming in 2027 is “Everest: The Other Side”, an intimate portrait of two people bound by love, ambition and the pursuit of the impossible, from National Geographic Documentary Films and Oscar®-winning filmmakers Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin.
“Wolves Up Close With Bertie Gregory” sees the world-renowned National Geographic Explorer travel to Canada for his most remote and challenging mission yet, filming a wolf pack taking on its biggest and most dangerous prey: the moose.
Sports fans can look forward to the very best of US and international sporting leagues in the months ahead, on both ESPN and ESPN 2’s linear channels and on the brand-new ESPN hub on Disney+ in South Africa. Rugby fans can follow one of the world’s premiere club competitions with France’s TOP 14, and soccer fans are spoilt for choice as ESPN brings live action from the Roshn Saudi Pro League, the UEFA Women’s Champions League and a broad selection of European soccer leagues including Süper.Lig, the Scottish Professional Football League, the English Football League and more. ESPN is also the exclusive English language home of the NBA finals in sub-Saharan Africa and American Football fans can follow the journey towards the NFL Super Bowl.