Disney Jr. unveiled a slate of new series, specials, casting news and premiere dates today at its special “Disney Jr. Let’s Play” fan celebration event at Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim today.
Highlights included new series Cars: Lightning Racers, based on Pixar’s Cars films (with Owen Wilson and Larry the Cable Guy reprising their roles); Marvel’s Avengers: Mightiest Friends, the first-ever preschool Avengers series; and two new seasons of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+, which debuted July 22 on Disney+ as the biggest original Disney Jr. launch on the platform to date and was also the #1 streaming series in average audience for Kids 2-5 in its premiere week, per Nielsen.
“Our shows are often a child’s very first connection to the world of Disney, sparking the songs they sing, the characters they adore, and the adventures they want to live again and again,” Ayo Davis, the president of Disney Branded Television. “Today’s announcements build on that leadership, expanding the worlds kids already love and introducing new multiplatform stories that will capture the hearts of the next generation.”
Here is a quick look at what’s in store for preschool viewers on Disney Jr. and Disney+ in the months ahead:
- Cars: Lightning Racers will premiere in 2027 on Disney Jr., then Disney+. Produced by Disney TV Animation in assoc. with Piar, it’s exec produced by Travis Braun and Frank Montagna. Story editor is Dana Starfield and supervising director is Nathan Chew. The show follows Lightning McQueen as he gears up for all-new adventures in Radiator Springs alongside his hilarious best friend Mater and new friends thrill-seeking drag car Pipes and mud-loving monster truck Miles. The all-star cast returning to their original roles includes Owen Wilson as Lightning McQueen, Larry the Cable Guy as Mater, Tony Shalhoub as Luigi, Cheech Marin as Ramone, Bob Peterson as Chick Hicks and John Ratzenberger as Mack. Leah Lewis and Yuri Lowenthal join the cast as Pipes and Miles, respectively. Sheryl Lee Ralph will also voice a new character, Ms. Blinker.
- Marvel’s Avengers: Mightiest Friends debuts on Disney Jr., then Disney+ in 2027. The show is produced by Disney Jr. and Marvel Studios in assoc. with Atomic Cartoons. Sean Coyle, Bart Jennett and Harrison Wilcox are exec producers. Evolving from the new Marvel’s Iron Man and his Awesome Friends series (premiering Aug. 11 on Disney Jr., next day on Disney+), the series introduces kid versions of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes: Iron Man (Tony Stark), Captain America (Steve Rogers), Hulk (Bruce Banner), Black Panther (T’Challa), Black Widow (Natasha Romanoff) and Thor. Together, the young Avengers strive to be their best selves while facing off against classic Super Baddies.
- Marvel’s Spidey And Iron Man: Avengers Team Up! These two new 22-minute specials premieres on Disney Jr. and Disney+. The first premiers on Oct. 16; the second will arrive next year. They’re produced by Disney Jr. and Marvel Studios in association with Atomic Cartoons.Executive producers are Bart Jennett, Chris Moreno and Harrison Wilcox. Co-producer is Becca Topol. A second Halloween-themed special will premiere Fall 2026.
- Mickey & Minnie’s Holiday Songs: Halloween. These new stop-motion shorts will premieres on Sept. 29 on Disney Jr. and Oct. 2 on Disney+. Produced by Stoopid Buddy Stoodios in assoc. with Disney Jr., they’re directed/produced by David H. Brooks, with supervising producer/director John Harvatine IV. These new sing-along stop-motion music videos feature Mickey, Minnie and the gang as they get into the Halloween mood.
- Mickey & Minnie’s Holiday Songs: Christmas. These new stop-motion shorts will debut in December. Produced by Stoopid Buddy Stoodios in association with Disney Jr, with David H. Brooks as director/producer and John Harvatine IV as supervising producer/director. These sing-along stop-motion music videos feature Mickey, Minnie and the gang as they get into the Holiday spirit.
Returning series include: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+ (new season orders 2 and 3) and Superkitties (Season 3 debuts on Disney Jr. and Oct. 1 on Disney+).
- Sofia the First: Royal Magic. This new series produced by Disney TV Animation and created/exec produced by Craig Gerber will debut in 2026 on Disney Jr. and Disney+. As previously announced, Ariel Winter (Modern Family) will return in the titular role as the voice of Sofia in this new series featuring the beloved Sofia the First, set to debut in 2026 on Disney Jr., then Disney+. Announced today are additional returning cast members from the original series including Wayne Brady as Clover, Tim Gunn as Baileywick, Eric Stonestreet as Minimus, Sara Ramirez ”) as Queen Miranda and Travis Willingham ”) as King Roland. The new show follows Sofia as she attends The Charmswell School for Royal Magic, where she discovers she is the most magical princess in the realm and must learn how to master her powers while making new royal friends.
- Hey A.J.! This new show is set to debut in 2026, produced by Surfing Giant Studios. Exec producers are Martellus Bennett, Jeff “Swampy” Marsh and Michael Hodges. Inspired by former Super Bowl champion and children’s book author Martellus Bennett, the upcoming new family comedy series is described as a whimsical and music-filled family comedy about an imaginative young girl who, along with her stuffed bunny sidekick, uses her big imagination to make ordinary life moments extraordinary. Amari McCoy will star as lead character A.J., Martellus Bennett will voice her father, Marty, and Jhené Aiko voices her mom, Siggi. Rounding out the cast is Juliet Donenfeld as A.J.’s best friend Jessie, Innocent Ekakitie as Jazz, and David Mitchell as A.J.’s bunny sidekick Theo. Pop superstar Meghan Trainor will recur as A.J.’ s best friend Jessie’s mom.
- Disney Jr. Ariel: The Little Mermaid. This new 22-minute special premieres on Aug. 22 on Disney Jr. and Disney+. Produced by Wild Canary in association with Disney Jr., it’s exec produced by Lynne Southerland. The new special will debut Aug. 22 on Disney Jr. and Disney+, and will air in rotation as part of Disney Jr.’s World Princess Week programming line-up (Aug. 24-30). It follows Ariel as she and her friends use their special gifts to rescue her family after a glitch in Ursula’s crystal ball sends her, Triton and Sebastian into a mystical cavern.
- Firebuds. The third season of the show will premiere on Sept. 15 on Disney Jr. and Oct. 29 on Disney+. Produced by Disney TV Animation, the show is created by Craig Gerber.. “ The series follows a team of young kids who are the children of first responders, living in the fantastical world of Gearbox Grove and Motopolis, where humans and their talking vehicle sidekicks work and play together. Season 3 introduces a new “Aquabuds” story arc and finds the Firebuds crew back with some new friends and equipped with new gear to use in daring water rescues.
- Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. The third season of the show will premiere in the fall on Disney Jr. and Disney +.” Produced by Lucasfilm in collaboration with Wild Canary for Disney+ and Disney Jr., the show is exec produced by Michael Olson, James Waugh, Jacqui Lopez and Josh Rimes . Set 200 years before “The Phantom Menace,” during the High Republic era, “Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures” follows Jedi younglings as they study the ways of the Force, explore the galaxy, help citizens and creatures in need, and learn valuable skills needed to become Jedi along the way. Season 3 follows the young Jedi as they delve into the world of droid care, befriending a droid shop owner named Dotti and three new droids: Beepers, Dozer and Gigi.
