D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event runs August 14-16, 2026, at the Anaheim Convention Center and Honda Center. The convention center has more than 50 panels and presentations, show-floor experiences, shopping, cosplay meet-ups, and concerts. The three big evening programs happen several miles away at Honda Center.
That split matters. A regular D23 Fan Pass gets you into the convention center. It does not get you into the Disney Entertainment Showcase, Disney Experiences Showcase, or Disney Legends ceremony at Honda Center. There is no standby line for those three shows.
Plan the weekend
Two venues, three long days
| Venue | Hours | What happens there |
|---|---|---|
| Anaheim Convention Center | 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Aug. 14-16 | Panels, presentations, exhibits, shopping, concerts, cosplay, and show-floor experiences |
| Anaheim Convention Center, afternoon entry | 4-8 p.m., Aug. 14-16 | Four-hour convention access with no initial reservation selection |
| Honda Center | Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m.; Sunday at 1:30 p.m. | Disney Entertainment, Disney Experiences, and Disney Legends |
The convention center address is 800 W. Katella Ave. Honda Center is at 2695 E. Katella Ave. They share a street name, but they are not a quick walk apart. Leave at least 90 minutes before a Honda Center presentation.
The $49 afternoon ticket is a sampler
| Ticket | Price | Access | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afternoon Only Fan Pass | $49 | Convention center from 4-8 p.m. | A concert or two late panels, plus a quick floor visit |
| 1-Day Fan Pass | $99 | Convention center for one full day | Most first-time visitors choosing one day |
| 3-Day Fan Pass | $297 | Convention center all weekend | Panel, shopping, and exhibit completists |
| Ultimate Fan Pass | From $99 for one day or $297 for three days | Convention center plus a reserved Honda Center seat | Anyone building the trip around a marquee showcase |
| 3-Day Ultimate Preferred Fan Pass | $1,299-$2,599 | Convention center, floor seating at Honda Center, and a limited pin RSP | Collectors and fans who want premium floor seating |
Every ticket carries an $11.25 service fee, and each transaction has a $16 delivery fee. Children age 2 and older need tickets. Guests under 18 must attend with a parent or legal guardian.
Sunday full-day Fan Passes, Afternoon Only passes for all three days, and 3-Day Ultimate Preferred passes are currently available. Gold Membership is required to make the purchase, though one Gold Member can buy for up to five guests. Those guests do not need Gold Membership to attend.
The normal digital badge-transfer window closed July 10, and Anaheim Convention Center badges began shipping July 13 to the original purchaser. If you are buying a late ticket for somebody else, check the guest assignment shown in the official checkout before paying. Tickets are final sale.
Rank the things you would hate to miss
The Reservation Random Selection Process opens Monday, July 20, at noon Pacific and closes Friday, July 24, at noon Pacific. Full-day badge holders can rank presentation and experience preferences for groups of up to six. It is a lottery, not a fastest-finger contest.
Assignments begin August 7. You may receive fewer reservations than you requested, or none. Standby queues will still be available for convention center stages, Talent Central, and most show-floor experiences. Afternoon Only tickets cannot enter the initial reservation selection.
Pick one priority in each time block, then stop trying to engineer a perfect day. Several good panels run against one another. A reservation that forces you to cross the building and abandon the panel you actually wanted is not a win.
Friday: films, television, music, and Muppets
Friday is the strongest day for film and television fans. The Disney Entertainment Showcase runs from 7-9 p.m. at Honda Center for Ultimate Fan Pass holders.
- Marvel Fanfare at 10:15 a.m.
- Beauty and the Beast: A Tale as Old as Time at 11 a.m.
- Pixar at 11 a.m.
- Disney Music Presents: The Art of the Score at 12:45 p.m.
- Making Disney Magic with Ron Clements at 2:45 p.m.
- 20 Years of Enchanted at 4:45 p.m.
- The Muppets Musical History with Seth MacFarlane at 6:45 p.m.
- Disney Rewind Concert at 7 p.m.
The Muppets panel and Disney Rewind overlap the Honda Center showcase. If your ticket includes Honda Center, treat 5:30 p.m. as the end of your convention center day. Allow 90 minutes for the shuttle, security, and seating.
Saturday: the parks showcase and the ugliest schedule conflicts
Saturday has the weekend's park-heavy lineup. Neil Patrick Harris hosts Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase at Honda Center from 7-9 p.m. The presentation takes its cue from Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress, with park announcements, behind-the-scenes looks, and performances.
- D23 Mousequerade at 10 a.m.
- Legends in Conversation at 10:30 a.m.
- Bluey: From the Backyard to the Big Screen at 12:15 p.m.
- Floating Mountains: A Conversation with Joe Rohde at 12:30 p.m.
- Zootopia: Ten Years in the Mammal Metropolis at 2:30 p.m.
- Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Season 3 at 3:30 p.m.
- Disney Style Around the World at 4:15 p.m.
- Deep Dive into Kingdom Hearts at 4:30 p.m.
- Disney Rewind encore at 6:30 p.m.
Saturday is the best single day if your trip revolves around Disney parks and you already have Ultimate Fan Pass access. A regular Fan Pass cannot get you into Horizons, and there will be no Honda Center standby line.
Sunday: Disney history, Legends, Menken, Jonas, and the auction
Sunday is the best full day still on sale. It leans into Disney history and music, and the afternoon schedule gives regular Fan Pass holders plenty to do while the Disney Legends ceremony happens at Honda Center.
- A new feature-length Leslie Iwerks documentary at 10:15 a.m.
- Hasbro's Grogu animatronic at 10:45 a.m.
- Disney Legends Award Ceremony at 1:30 p.m. at Honda Center
- Live Disney Legends simulcast at 1:30 p.m. at the convention center
- The Sherman Brothers on the Record at 2:15 p.m.
- Restoration at Disney at 2:30 p.m.
- One Hundred and One Dalmatians 65th Anniversary at 4:45 p.m.
- Disney Experiences Auction at 5:30 p.m.
- A Whole New World of Alan Menken at 6 p.m.
- Hey Jonas! Live at D23 at 6:45 p.m.
An Afternoon Only pass works best on Sunday. You can choose the auction, Alan Menken, or Jonas Brothers programming and still get a short show-floor lap. You cannot do all three. The auction runs until 7:30, Menken until 7:45, and Hey Jonas! starts at 6:45.
Lorcana players need two badges and another ticket
The Disney Lorcana D23 Challenge Championship Qualifier costs $75 and goes on sale July 14. It is capped at 128 players. Competitors need valid full-day D23 badges for both Saturday and Sunday, then play from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday.
This will swallow most of the weekend. Buy it because you want the tournament, promo cards, and championship path. Do not expect to squeeze in the Joe Rohde panel, Mousequerade, Sunday documentary, and every shopping queue between rounds.
Pack for Honda Center, even if the convention center allows more
Honda Center has a strict no-bag policy. The largest standard bag allowed is 5 by 9 by 2 inches. Clear bags do not get an exception, and mini backpacks are prohibited. Medical and diaper bags can measure up to 12 by 12 by 12 inches.
That cute mini backpack becomes a logistical problem at 5:30 p.m. Use a small crossbody that fits the Honda limit, leave purchases at your hotel or car, or plan a deliberate bag handoff before boarding the shuttle.
Complimentary round-trip shuttles will run between the Anaheim Convention Center and Honda Center on a first-come basis. Honda Center parking is complimentary. Convention center and Honda Center parking can fill, and some spaces may be off-site. Overnight queuing and overnight convention center parking are prohibited.
D23 Day at Disneyland is a separate park day
D23 Day at Disneyland Resort happens Thursday, August 13, one day before the convention. Regular admission and a park reservation are required. The event ticket does not include theme park entry.
A limited number of D23 Mickey ear hats will be handed out at opening to guests entering Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure. The day also includes a Disney Legends cavalcade and a Disney Jr. Let's Play! Party at Disney California Adventure.
Do it if you already wanted a park day. Skip the rope-drop-to-close marathon if you have a three-day D23 badge. Three convention days plus two Honda Center nights is enough standing, shuttling, and line negotiation without limping into Friday morning.
D23 2026 questions
Do you need D23 Gold Membership?
A Gold Member must buy the tickets and can purchase up to six total. The other guests do not need Gold Membership to attend. Adult badge transfers use D23 accounts, and the normal transfer window closed July 10.
Can Afternoon Only ticket holders request panel reservations?
No. Afternoon Only tickets cannot enter the initial Reservation Random Selection Process. Standby access may be available for late convention center panels and experiences.
Can a regular Fan Pass get into the Honda Center?
No. Honda Center showcases require an Ultimate Fan Pass or Ultimate Preferred Fan Pass. There is no standby queue for the three marquee presentations.
Is one day enough?
Yes, if you pick a theme. Friday works for film and television, Saturday for parks and major announcements if you already have Honda Center access, and Sunday for Disney history, music, and the strongest ticket availability.
Are panel reservations guaranteed?
No. Rank your preferences July 20-24, then watch for assignments beginning August 7. Keep a standby plan and one show-floor backup for every time block.
Is Disneyland included?
No. D23 Day at Disneyland Resort on August 13 requires regular park admission and a park reservation.
Official planning links
- D23 2026 event hub
- Current tickets and availability
- Full official schedule
- Printable three-day schedule
- Venue, reservation, parking, accessibility, and bag policies
Related CrowdLevels coverage
Images: D23 and Ravensburger.