Disney+ Gets Big Update, Streaming App to Permanently Shut Down in 2026

A massive update is coming to Disney+ along with the shutdown of a popular app.

Related: Massive Multi-Billion Dollar Overhaul Coming to Disney World After Record Earnings

Disney continues to update and upgrade its Disney+ streaming app with each passing year, but 2026 is shaping up to be one of the biggest in the platform’s history. During a company earnings call Wednesday morning, CEO Bob Iger confirmed that Hulu will be merging with the Disney+ app in 2026.

“We are building on Disney’s value proposition in streaming by combining Hulu into Disney+ to create a unified app experience featuring branded and general entertainment, news, and sports,” said Iger. “[This merger] will be a one-of-a-kind entertainment destination for subscribers.”

This news follows years of speculation about what would happen between Disney+ and Hulu. In 2023, Disney began adding Hulu content to Disney+. After holding an initial stake in the company, Disney took full control of Hulu in 2025.

This news means that Disney+ users can see all of their Hulu content on the Disney+ app. The standalone Hulu app will shut down by the end of 2026.

It’s unclear what exactly this merger will look like. Currently, Disney+ features separate panels for different channels, such as Marvel, National Geographic, Star Wars, and Pixar. Hulu will possibly get its own section on the main menu.

Related: Disney Begins Marvel Transformation of Classic Space Mountain Coaster

Disney+ launched on November 12, 2019. Despite Disney’s rather late arrival to the streaming party compared to competitors like Netflix and Prime Video, Disney+ managed to carve out a corner of the market. Today, Disney’s streaming platform has over 120 million users.

Disney, as a company, is tailor-made for its own streaming service. Not only does Disney have an extensive catalog of classic animated films at its disposal, but it also has the worlds of Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe at its fingertips. This makes Disney+ the go-to hub for all things Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, and Disney Animation.

The company also uses Disney+ as a way to keep interest in its newer films high.

Moana 2 (2024) made big waves when it was added to the service earlier this year. Disney can likely expect even bigger fanfare when its live-action Lilo & Stitch (2025) remake drops on the platform this September.

Disney’s earnings call didn’t focus solely on the streaming side of things. Disney also saw big wins with its theme parks, revealing massive figures for the company. Specifically, Disney’s Parks and Experiences brought in a whopping $9 billion in revenue.

Do you use Disney+? What is your favorite streaming service?