Disney+ is gearing up to introduce vertical videos on the subscription platform in 2026, a ploy to younger generations with shorter attention spans.
While Disney+ today houses the likes of Star Wars and The Incredibles, it could soon host your favorite TikTokers too.
Announced on January 7, 2026 at CES, Disney+ is preparing to implement vertical video “later this year.” This means not only will you find the existing, traditional content, but also a range of shorter material designed for digestion primarily on mobile devices.
As EVP of Product Management, Erin Teague put it when speaking with Deadline, Gen Z and Gen Alpha “Are not necessarily thinking about sitting down, watching a long-form, two-and-a-half-hour piece of content on their phones.”
Disney+ introducing vertical video to capture younger generations
There’s no quite telling exactly when vertical videos will start appearing on Disney+, nor the exact form they might take. However, we do know the plan isn’t to merely promote long-form content in this vertical format.
So, don’t expect to only see trailers for a new show or clips from a new film when swiping through vertical videos. But rather, Disney is considering all manner of distinct content for the new format.
Disney is eager to compete in the short form space alongside TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and others.
“Everything’s on the table,” Teague said. This could span dedicated short-form content designed just for the mobile experience, to highlights from your favorite shows edited down into bite-sized clips.
“We’ll look to evolve the experience over time,” Disney’s announcement declared. The goal is to “explore its use in a variety of ways across categories and content types, for a personalized and dynamic feed.”
This also opens the door for expansion in new categories like”news and entertainment, turning Disney+ into a must-visit daily destination.”
It’s still early days yet, but Disney clearly has its sights set on capturing a younger, TikTok-coded audience. Given TikTok reportedly has over 1.5 billion monthly active users, it’s no surprise why. However, it certainly has its downsides, as studies have shown the negative ‘rotting’ effects of bite-sized content consumption.
