Disney turned heads and lit up the Las Vegas strip as the studio closed out Disney CinemaCon 2026 with a showcase that ran the gamut from heartwarming animated adventures to blockbuster superhero spectacle. Theater owners, press, and industry insiders got a front-row seat to the next wave of theatrical releases, complete with star-studded stage moments, brand-new trailers, and a few surprises that will keep fans counting down the days until opening weekend.
From the Mandalorian’s jump to the big screen to the reveal of a massive Avengers ensemble, here’s everything Disney had cooking for moviegoers during its CinemaCon 2026 presentation.
A Theatrical Slate Built for the Big Screen
Alan Bergman, Co-Chairman of Disney Entertainment, opened the presentation by laying out the studio’s complete roadmap for the coming theatrical season. His message to exhibitors was simple: Disney is doubling down on cinemas, not away from them.
“Disney will continue to deliver must-see theatrical experiences that bring audiences to your cinemas,” Bergman told the CinemaCon crowd. “At all seven of our studios, it’s about high-quality storytelling with heart and humor that resonates around the world and stands the test of time, and there’s nobody that does it like Disney.”
The upcoming Disney theatrical slate stretches from summer 2026 well into early 2027, and it covers nearly every genre imaginable:
- Moana – July 10
- Super Troopers 3 – August 9
- The Dog Stars – August 28
- Whalefall – October 16
- Wild Horse Nine – November 6
- Hexed – November 25
- Avengers: Doomsday – December 18
- Ice Age: Boiling Point – February 5, 2027
- Gatto (Disney and Pixar) – March 5, 2027
It’s an ambitious calendar designed to keep families, franchise loyalists, and original-film fans all entertained month after month.
The Mandalorian and Grogu Lands on the Big Screen
Director Jon Favreau took the stage to officially introduce The Mandalorian and Grogu to CinemaCon audiences. The transition of the beloved Star Wars streaming series to theaters is one of the most anticipated releases of the next Disney slate, and Favreau made sure the room understood why.
Attendees were treated to roughly 17 minutes of footage from the film, followed by the debut of the final trailer. Tickets went on sale the Friday immediately following the presentation, signaling that Disney is confident this chapter of the Star Wars saga will pack theaters.
A New Kind of Star Wars Adventure
What made the presentation particularly noteworthy is how clearly Disney is positioning the film as a theatrical event rather than just an extended episode. With a director of Favreau’s caliber steering the project, the move signals Star Wars’ continued commitment to dominating the cinema landscape.
Toy Story 5 Brings Back Two Icons
Tom Hanks and Tim Allen returned to the CinemaCon stage together, marking one of the most warmly received moments of the entire presentation. The duo introduced brand-new material from Toy Story 5 and confirmed the film’s release date.
“We will all see you at the movies… June 19,” Hanks told the audience, drawing cheers from exhibitors who know just how powerful this franchise has been for decades.
Allen and Hanks have been synonymous with Woody and Buzz Lightyear since the first Toy Story arrived in 1995, and seeing them share a CinemaCon stage ahead of a fifth installment felt like a passing of the torch moment for longtime fans.
Moana Sets Sail Again , This Time in Live Action
One of the more emotional presentations of Disney CinemaCon 2026 came courtesy of Dwayne Johnson and newcomer Catherine Laga’aia, who together introduced new footage from the upcoming live-action Moana. The young actress is stepping into the iconic role previously voiced by Auli’i Cravalho, and her appearance alongside Johnson signaled the studio’s confidence in the next chapter of this oceanic adventure.
Johnson used his moment at the microphone to talk about the deeper meaning behind Moana’s journey, framing the heroine as a warrior rather than a princess.
“The hero of our story is not a princess, she’s a warrior. All men of all ages, we should empower and support and champion all women. That’s what real masculinity looks like,” Johnson said.
Set for a July 10 release, the live-action Moana is positioned as one of the summer’s biggest family-friendly events.
Ridley Scott Returns with The Dog Stars
Legendary filmmaker Ridley Scott was represented at CinemaCon through his upcoming thriller The Dog Stars, which arrives in theaters August 28. The film stars Jacob Elordi, Margaret Qualley, and Josh Brolin, and the footage screened for exhibitors teased a tense, atmospheric story that marks another pivot toward grounded, character-driven storytelling in Disney’s lineup.
Fresh Faces for Hexed and a Welcome Return for Familiar Voices
Disney used the CinemaCon platform to lock in some major casting news. Hailee Steinfeld and Rashida Jones were officially announced as the stars of Hexed, set for release November 25.
Meanwhile, fans of the long-running Ice Age franchise got a major reason to celebrate. Queen Latifah, Denis Leary, and Ray Romano are all confirmed to return for Ice Age: Boiling Point, which slides into theaters February 5, 2027. The gang’s still together, and so is the appetite for more prehistoric adventure.
Avengers: Doomsday Steals the Show
No Disney CinemaCon 2026 moment was bigger than the Marvel showcase for Avengers: Doomsday. Robert Downey Jr. took the stage alongside directors Joe and Anthony Russo, Marvel boss Kevin Feige, and a returning Chris Evans, who appeared on screen via Chris Evans.
According to the official synopsis, “In Avengers: Doomsday, beloved heroes from three distinct universes will be set on a deadly collision course and face an existential threat unlike anything they’ve ever encountered.”
A Stacked Ensemble Cast
The cast list for Marvel Avengers Doomsday is one of the most expansive in the genre’s history, featuring Downey Jr. and Evans alongside Chris Hemsworth, Pedro Pascal, Paul Rudd, Anthony Mackie, Florence Pugh, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Wyatt Russell, Channing Tatum, Simu Liu, Ian McKellen, Tom Hiddleston, James Marsden, Patrick Stewart, Joseph Quinn, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour, Letitia Wright, Lewis Pullman, Kelsey Grammer, Danny Ramirez, Winston Duke, Alan Cumming, Wesley Holloway, Hannah John-Kamen, Rebecca Romijn, Alex Livinalli, Mabel Cadena, and Tenoch Huerta Mejia.
Trailer Footage That Wowed the Room
Marvel screened a sneak peek of the Doomsday trailer that has yet to be released to the public. According to those in attendance, the footage included scenes featuring Doom and Thor, Mystique, Gambit and Shang-Chi, and the mysterious return of Evans as Captain America, including a scene between him and Thor. The Russo Brothers and Feige are pulling out every stop to make this the most ambitious Marvel event yet.
Infinity Vision: A New Premium Format for Movie Theaters
Perhaps the most consequential announcement for exhibitors wasn’t a film at all, but a new theatrical standard. Disney unveiled Infinity Vision, a new premium large-format certification designed to help audiences identify the very best screens in their area for blockbuster viewing.
“Disney’s standards for production quality are second to none, with every single detail of a film finely tuned for an immersive experience,” said Andrew Cripps, Head of Theatrical Distribution for The Walt Disney Studios, in a statement. “Infinity Vision certification extends that commitment to the theaters themselves, representing a shared effort between The Walt Disney Studios and the exhibition community to help audiences quickly find the very best screens in their area to experience our films in exactly the way they’re designed to be seen , on a huge screen with the sharpest, clearest color and sound.”
Infinity Vision will officially launch with the re-release of Avengers: Endgame on September 25, giving fans a fresh reason to revisit one of the Marvel saga’s most celebrated chapters before Doomsday arrives in December.
Final Thoughts on Disney CinemaCon 2026
Disney’s CinemaCon 2026 presentation made one thing abundantly clear: the studio remains firmly committed to theatrical exhibition as the heart of its storytelling business. From animated family adventures like *Moana* and *Gatto* to the massive scope of *Avengers: Doomsday*, from the nostalgic return of Woody and Buzz to the launch of the *Mandalorian and Grogu* on the big screen, the next 18 months of Disney releases are shaping up to be among the most ambitious in the studio’s history.
With the addition of Infinity Vision as a new premium format standard, Disney is also investing in the theatrical experience itself, ensuring that audiences have both the films and the screens worthy of them. If CinemaCon 2026 proved anything, it’s that the magic of Disney is heading back to theaters in a very big way.