The Walt Disney Company officially took over New York City today during its massive 2026 Upfront presentation, unveiling new programming, sports partnerships, streaming expansions, and several surprise announcements across Disney+, Hulu, ABC, ESPN, and FX.
One of the biggest surprises of the presentation involved the wildly popular Savannah Bananas, as Disney announced an expanded partnership with the viral baseball entertainment team. Disney revealed a 25-game streaming package that will air across Disney+, ESPN platforms, and even ABC, marking the first Banana Ball game to air on the network.
The partnership doesn’t stop there. Disney also announced a special Savannah Bananas event taking place at Walt Disney World Resort later this month, further blending sports entertainment with Disney’s theme park experiences.
Adding even more Bananas madness to the presentation, Disney confirmed Savannah Bananas second baseman Jackson Olson will officially join Season 35 of Dancing with the Stars. Olson becomes one of the first celebrity contestants announced for the upcoming season, bringing the team’s viral popularity directly to ABC and Disney+.
FX also made headlines during the event with updates tied to American Horror Story, continuing Disney’s push to spotlight major franchise programming under the FX banner.
The presentation also featured appearances from Disney CEO Bob Iger, Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro, tennis legend Billie Jean King, and several stars from Disney’s upcoming television slate.
Another major announcement confirmed the Grammy Awards will officially move to ABC beginning in 2027 while simultaneously streaming live on Disney+ and Hulu. Disney also extended its partnership with the Country Music Association through 2032, with the CMA Awards set to livestream on Disney+ for the first time ever.
The company heavily emphasized ESPN’s future throughout the event as Disney continues integrating sports, streaming, and live entertainment into one ecosystem across its platforms. Executives highlighted the growing importance of live programming and real-time experiences as streaming competition continues to intensify.
To close out the presentation, Grammy-winning superstar Olivia Rodrigo delivered a surprise live performance that quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of the entire event.
Between new streaming deals, franchise updates, sports integrations, and major live-event announcements, Disney made one thing very clear during this year’s Upfront presentation: the company is betting big on creating one connected entertainment experience across every platform under the Disney umbrella.
