Disney’s D23 fan event just handed the entertainment industry a two-year programming calendar, and if you work in collection development or readers’ advisory, you’re probably paying close attention.
The 2026 showcase confirmed sequels, remakes, and new series for some of the most beloved family franchises of the last three decades, from Pixar favorites to a cult ’90s comedy nobody really ever expected to see again. And every one of these announcements is a signal flare for your original titles.
There’s a pattern worth noting here: every time a studio confirms a sequel or a live-action remake, search interest and demand for the original spike months, sometimes years, before the new release ever hits a screen. Trailers reignite it again. Premiere week sends it into overdrive.
Libraries that get ahead of that curve by keeping the classics visible, well-stocked, and easy to find, can turn a Disney press event into their own programming opportunity. Here’s what was announced, and what it means for the titles your patrons already love.
Incredibles 3 (2028)
Pixar confirmed the long-awaited third chapter, with the original creative team returning and Violet and Dash finally stepping up as full-fledged Supers. It’s been over six years since Incredibles 2, so a huge slice of your current patron base has never seen the original 2004 film or its 2018 follow-up on a big screen…or possibly at all. Expect renewed interest in the original and the follow-up as concept art and casting news roll out over the next two years.
Frozen 3 (Fall 2027)
Anna and Elsa are headed into new territory, and Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, and Josh Gad are all confirmed to return. Frozen remains one of the most requested franchises in youth collections a decade after the original, and a wedding-and-honeymoon storyline for Anna all but guarantees a fresh round of “let’s rewatch Frozen and Frozen 2 before the new one” requests from families.
Coco 2 (November 2029)
Benjamin Bratt is back as Ernesto de la Cruz in a sequel that follows a teenage Miguel deeper into the Land of the Dead. The original Coco already holds a special place in library programming around Día de los Muertos and heritage months, and a confirmed sequel gives staff a natural hook to reintroduce the 2017 film to a new generation of patrons well before 2029 arrives.
Zootopia 3 (release date TBA)
Disney Animation confirmed a third Zootopia film is officially in the works, with Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde’s world expanding once again. No release window yet, which actually works in your favor: there’s runway to build interest in the first two films now, rather than scrambling once a trailer drops.
Tangled (live action) (March 2028)
Kathryn Hahn joins the cast as Mother Gothel in Disney’s live-action reimagining of Rapunzel’s story. Live-action remakes reliably send patrons back to the animated originals for comparison, and Tangled‘s 2010 debut is old enough now that plenty of younger patrons have only encountered it through clips and merchandise.
Kingdom Hearts (game series and Disney+ series) (release date TBA)
Kingdom Hearts fans got a full plate: Kingdom Hearts IV continues its development toward a late-2027 window, with a world inspired by Coco, and a separate Kingdom Hearts series was confirmed for Disney+ and Disney Channel. For a franchise that spans two decades of games, this is the moment to remind patrons that the earlier entries and their soundtracks, art books, and strategy guides are still very much circulating material worth featuring.
Lilo & Stitch 2 (live action) (May 2028)
Following last year’s live-action Lilo & Stitch, a sequel is already confirmed, bringing Stitch’s love interest Angel into the mix. The original animated 2002 film and last year’s remake give you two natural entry points to promote together.
Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion 2 (release date TBA)
Lisa Kudrow and Mira Sorvino are confirmed to return nearly thirty years after the original cult comedy, with the characters stepping into a new phase of life. This is a great reminder that nostalgia sequels aren’t limited to animated franchises. Romy and Michele boasts a devoted adult fan base, and a confirmed follow-up is the kind of pop culture news that gets people talking—and searching—for the 1997 original.
And More
D23 also touched on a Princess Diaries third film with Anne Hathaway, a sixth Ice Age movie, and a Bluey feature, among a wave of other announcements. Every one of these follows the same track: a beloved property from years or decades past gets new life, and audiences want to revisit the source material first.
What This Means for Your Shelves
None of these titles arrive tomorrow. That’s good news.
Studios have given the entertainment industry, and libraries, a rare gift: 2-3-year runway to reintroduce classic titles before demand peaks. Whether it’s refreshing a Frozen display ahead of the holidays, building a Kingdom Hearts retrospective for gaming patrons, or simply making sure Coco and Tangled are on your shelves when the first wave of announcement buzz hits, staying a step ahead of Hollywood’s sequel calendar is one of the simplest ways to keep your collection feeling current, even when the titles themselves are years old.
