Disney+ is officially entering the short-form video market. Following the massive success of TikTok and Instagram Reels, the company announced it will bring short-form video content to Disney+ in the U.S. this year. Disney revealed the move at its “Tech + Data Showcase” event during CES 2026.
CES 2026: Disney+ Enters the Vertical Video Era
The company stated in a blog post that this new feature aims to make Disney+ a “must-visit daily destination”. Consequently, the experience will be personalised and dynamic. It is designed to evolve as it expands across news and entertainment sectors.
Explicitly, this strategy targets younger users. These viewers are accustomed to watching quick clips on their phones rather than committing to long-form content like movies or TV shows. By introducing this format, Disney hopes to boost daily engagement significantly.
Content & Integration
Disney provided details to Deadline regarding the content mix. The feed could include original short-form content, repurposed social clips, or scenes directly from TV shows and movies. It may also feature a combination of these formats.
Erin Teague, EVP of Product Management for Disney Entertainment and ESPN, emphasised that the integration will feel natural. Teague told Deadline:
We’re obviously thinking about integrating vertical video in ways that are native to core user behaviors.
So, it won’t be a kind of a disjointed, random experience.
This is not Disney’s first experiment with the format. The company launched a personalised vertical video feed in the ESPN app last year. Furthermore, Disney+ is not the first streamer to adopt this trend. Netflix launched a vertical feed last year that allows users to scroll through clips from its original titles.
Keeping the Gen Z and Gen Alpha’s short attention spans in view, this move has the potential of making Disney+ a must-visit daily destination for the younger audience. Only time will tell what happens next.
