Disney+ Announces Surprise Price Cut and Massive 2026 Marvel & Star Wars Line-Up

Walt Disney Co. is shaking up its streaming strategy again, and subscribers to Disney+ should prepare for higher monthly bills—but also for fresh bundle deals and a packed release calendar. Price hikes hit in October Disney has confirmed that on 21 October 2025 it will raise the U.S. price of the ad-supported Disney+ plan from $9.99 to $11.99 per month, while the ad-free Premium tier will jump from $15.99 to $18.99. Annual Premium memberships rise to $189.99, a $30 increase. This marks the fourth consecutive year Disney+ has become more expensive, a trend the company says is necessary to accelerate profitability for its direct-to-consumer unit. How the new Disney+ prices compare • Disney+ Standard with Ads: $11.99/mo • Disney+ Premium (ad-free, 4K): $18.99/mo or $189.99/yr • Duo Basic (Disney+ + Hulu with ads): $13.99/mo • Trio Premium (Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ ad-free): $28.99/mo Subscribers outside the U.S. are seeing similar adjustments; Disney has already extended its €6.99 “Standard with Ads” tier to Belgium and is expected to roll out ad-supported options in more European markets early next year. Limited-time 30 % annual discount To soften the blow—and entice lapsed members—Disney is offering 30 % off any annual plan for new and returning customers who sign up by 10 December 2025. The promo cuts the first year of Disney+ Standard (ad-free HD) to roughly $84, one of the best streaming deals this holiday season. Why Disney is betting big on ads CFO Hugh Johnston stated during the Q4 earnings call that ad-supported viewing hours on Disney+ grew “double digits quarter-over-quarter,” making the cheaper tier a key growth driver as password-sharing crackdowns cool net adds. Disney expects average revenue per user (ARPU) to rise sharply once the new rates take effect. What’s coming to Disney+ in late 2025 Despite the price jump, the Mouse House is loading its streaming slate: • Agatha All Along (Marvel Studios series) premieres 18 September. • Mufasa: The Lion King streams day-and-date with theaters on 20 December. • Star Wars: The Acolyte returns for Season 2 this November. • Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 begins production, with a late-2026 debut penciled in. Holiday family content—including Frozen-themed sing-alongs and a new Pixar SparkShort—is timed to keep subscribers glued through the expensive fourth quarter. Tips to save on Disney+ in 2026 1. Lock in a discounted annual plan before 10 December 2025. 2. Use a Disney Bundle if you already pay for Hulu or ESPN+. 3. Check wireless carriers; Verizon’s Unlimited Plus still includes six months of Disney+ Premium at no extra cost. 4. Students can slash Hulu’s ad-supported price to $1.99 and then upgrade to the Duo Basic bundle for less than standalone Disney+ Premium. Bottom line Disney+ remains the home of Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar and National Geographic, but streaming those worlds is about to cost more. If you plan to binge Agatha All Along, Mufasa or the latest Star Wars saga, act fast to grab Disney’s 30 % annual deal, otherwise be ready to budget nearly $19 a month for an ad-free experience in 2026. The higher fees signal Disney’s confidence that exclusive blockbusters and a beefed-up ad tier will keep the platform in the streaming big leagues—even as competition from Netflix, Amazon and Max intensifies.