Disney Plans 2026 Hulu App Shutdown, Content Integrates Into Disney+

Disney announced plans to shut down the standalone Hulu app by 2026 and fully integrate its content into the Disney+ streaming platform, creating a unified streaming experience. CEO Bob Iger and CFO Hugh Johnston emphasized that the integration will combine Hulu's general entertainment, news, family programming, and live sports with Disney+’s existing offerings, improving consumer convenience, personalization, and engagement while reducing churn. Although Hulu will no longer exist as a separate app, the brand itself will continue globally, replacing the Star brand on Disney+ outside the U.S. Subscribers will still have the option to purchase standalone subscriptions for Hulu and Disney+. The move follows Disney's recent acquisition of Comcast's one-third stake in Hulu and is expected to generate operational efficiencies and new advertising revenue opportunities. Additionally, Disney will cease reporting separate subscriber numbers for Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ starting in fiscal 2026, reflecting a shift in how the company measures streaming performance.