Streaming services have quiet months and loud months. July 2026 on Disney+ is shaping up to be one of the loudest the platform has had in a while, packed with a Descendants sequel, the return of a beloved animated series, a genre-bending Simpsons exclusive, a full weekend dedicated to shark documentaries, and a 24-hour patriotic broadcast covering all 50 states. Whatever kind of viewer you are, there is a strong chance July has something built specifically for you.
The Big Three to Watch For
Descendants: Wicked Wonderland premieres July 17 and picks up after the Queen of Hearts has been redeemed and Cinderella has been kept safe, only for a brand new villain named Maddox Hatter to surface as a direct consequence of that altered timeline. Red and Chloe assemble a team to save the day, joined by Red's new sister Pink, Luisa Madrigal's son Luis, Captain Hook's daughter Hazel, and Maddox's own son Max in a rescue mission to save the Queen of Hearts and Wonderland itself.
The Simpsons takes its most unexpected swing in years on July 3 with Simpsley, a Disney+ exclusive billed as Simpsons noir. The plot sends con-artist Marge Bouvier to Italy to lure wealthy Seymour Skinner home, only for things to get complicated by Skinner's clingy, dim-witted houseguest, Homer Simpsley. Lies, lust, and Italian lira fuel a storyline that has nothing in common with a standard Simpsons episode.
July 4 brings Disney Celebrates America via ABC News Live, a sprawling 24-hour broadcast led by World News Tonight anchor David Muir, joined by an extensive list of ABC News talent including Diane Sawyer, Robin Roberts, George Stephanopoulos, Michael Strahan, Juju Chang, Byron Pitts, Deborah Roberts, Linsey Davis, and The View co-hosts Whoopi Goldberg, Sunny Hostin, and Sara Haines. The broadcast travels through all 50 states, exploring the people, places, and defining moments of America's 250-year history through live celebrations, immersive storytelling, and continuous reporting.
The Returning Favorites
X-Men 97 finally returns for its second season on July 1 with a three-episode premiere, followed by weekly new episodes on July 8, 15, 22, and 29. The team is scattered across different points in time, struggling to find their way home, while back in the 1990s, new strains of mutant intolerance rise in their absence.
Project Runway returns July 10 for its 22nd season, featuring the largest cast in the show's history, with 22 designers competing under host Heidi Klum. Law Roach and Nina Garcia return as judges, with Christian Siriano back as mentor. New episodes follow July 17, 24, and 31.
Nat Geo delivers two genuinely impressive specials this month. Hammerhead Sharks Up Close with Bertie Gregory premieres July 5, tracking the increasingly rare predator through Mexico's Pacific waters alongside leading shark scientists. Pompeii: Out of Time with Tom Hiddleston arrives July 23, blending cinematic drama with investigative documentary storytelling to recreate the hours leading up to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, reframing the disaster as a story of human resilience rather than pure destruction.
Everything Else Worth Knowing About on Disney+
The rest of the month brings a steady stream of additional content:
- July 1: the Hulu Original Abandoned premieres in full, alongside new King and Prince and Magicampers episodes
- July 5: the annual SHARKFEST event launches with seven brand new shark specials in a single weekend
- July 14: Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro premieres alongside new Marvel's Spidey and His Amazing Friends episodes
- July 16: The 2026 ESPYS air, presented by Capital One
- July 24: Soy Luna: Let's Roll Again premieres with every episode available immediately
- July 30 and 31: the Lollapalooza Livestream runs across two consecutive days
Sports programming runs throughout, with WNBA games airing nearly every Sunday in the Women's Sports Sundays block, Banana Ball matchups appearing regularly on ESPN platforms, and the WNBA All-Star Game on July 25.
The Simple Version
July is going to be one of the busiest months Disney+ has put together in a long time. Between a major movie premiere, a returning animated favorite, documentaries, sports, and a full day of patriotic programming, there is enough packed into 31 days to satisfy nearly anyone reaching for the remote this summer.
