Disney+ is reworking how viewers interact with its platform as the streaming service prepares to introduce short-form video content in the U.S. later this year, signaling a shift toward more frequent, everyday engagement.
The update was revealed at Disney’s Tech + Data Showcase during CES 2026, where executives outlined plans to add vertically oriented videos designed for quick viewing. The company says the feature is still evolving but will lean into personalization while blending entertainment and news-style content inside the Disney+ app.
In a blog post released alongside the announcement, Disney said the new format aims to create “a more personalized, dynamic experience that reinforces Disney+ as a must-visit daily destination.” The short videos may range from original productions to repackaged social clips, as well as brief scenes pulled directly from Disney’s film and television catalog.
Disney has emphasized that the rollout will be intentional rather than experimental for the sake of trend-chasing. “We’re obviously thinking about integrating vertical video in ways that are native to core user behaviors,” Erin Teague, EVP of Product Management for Disney Entertainment and ESPN, told Deadline. “So, it won’t be a kind of a disjointed, random experience.”
The strategy follows a similar initiative launched within the ESPN app last year, where Disney tested a personalized vertical video feed to encourage repeat visits. By expanding that approach to Disney+, the company is looking to appeal to younger audiences who increasingly favor short, scrollable clips over traditional long-form viewing.
Other streamers have already moved in this direction. Netflix introduced a vertical video feed in 2025, allowing users to discover shows through short previews, highlighting a growing push across the industry to blend streaming with social-style consumption.
