The Walt Disney Company has confirmed that it will shut down Hulu as a stand-alone app in 2026, folding the streaming service’s content into Disney+ in a sweeping overhaul of its digital strategy, according to media reports.
From autumn 2025, Hulu will replace the Star hub within Disney+ in international markets. A unified Disney+ and Hulu app is set to roll out globally in 2026, though subscribers will still be able to purchase each service individually.
Comprehensive entertainment package
In a quarterly earnings commentary, Disney chief executive Bob Iger and chief financial officer Hugh Johnston described the integration as a “comprehensive entertainment package” that will combine Disney’s family-oriented programming and major franchises with Hulu’s general entertainment, live sports, and news.
Iger told investors the consolidation would improve user experience, curb subscriber churn, and deliver operational efficiencies by bringing both services onto a single technology platform. The merged offering is also expected to open up new advertising opportunities, building on Disney’s existing cross-platform sales network.
Hulu’s live TV service is set for a parallel shake-up. The company plans to merge Hulu + Live TV into a joint venture with sports streaming platform Fubo, in which Disney will hold a majority stake. While Hulu + Live TV and Fubo will remain separate in the short term, the live TV product will be incorporated into Disney+ in 2026.
What happens to the Hulu shows?
Disney began moving towards integration in early 2024, when it started offering full Hulu content access within Disney+ to encourage bundled subscriptions.
In line with a recent industry trend led by Netflix, Disney will stop reporting separate subscriber counts for Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+. The company also announced that its stand-alone ESPN streaming service will launch on August 21, priced at $29.99 per month.
According to multiple media reports, all Hulu programming, including original series, films, news, and live sports, will be accessible directly through Disney+ from early 2026. While the Hulu brand will remain as a dedicated content hub inside Disney+, the integration is aimed at streamlining Disney’s streaming operations to better compete with Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Warner Bros. Discovery’s Max.
Pricing for the merged Disney+–Hulu platform has yet to be revealed.