Disney and TikTok unveiled a global content-sharing deal on August 5, 2026, allowing TikTok creators to use characters, scenes, and assets from hundreds of Disney films and TV series, including Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and FX, for short-form videos [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11]. A pilot program will launch in the United States in the coming months, with plans to expand to other markets thereafter [1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11].
Under the deal, fan-created TikTok videos featuring Disney content will be showcased both on TikTok and within the "Verts" section of the Disney+ streaming service. Disney+ Verts is a vertical video feed designed to attract younger viewers who prefer quick, vertical-format videos on mobile devices [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10].
Asad Ayaz, Disney Chief Marketing and Brand Officer, said, "The best storytellers are fans first... This collaboration creates a new bridge between the stories we tell and the creativity they inspire, giving creators a bigger stage to share what they’ve made, and audiences more to discover on Disney Plus every day" [1, 2].
The partnership includes a jointly managed Disney Creator Ambassador Program offering selected TikTok creators rewards, greater visibility, exclusive event access, and career development opportunities [2, 3, 7, 9, 10]. Creators who join will have their videos regularly refreshed in the Disney+ Verts feed to align with current fan conversations and enhance engagement [7, 9, 10].
TikTok's internal data showed an average of 6.5 million film- and TV-related posts were shared daily in 2025, reflecting strong audience demand for entertainment content on the platform [1, 2, 5, 6, 9, 10]. Nearly half of viewers surveyed said they watched a movie or TV show after discovering related content on TikTok, reinforcing the impact of fan-driven promotion [1, 2, 5, 6, 9, 10].
The deal follows Disney’s earlier $1 billion licensing agreement with OpenAI for short-form video creation based on Disney characters, which ended when OpenAI shut down its Sora platform in March 2026 [3, 4]. Disney launched the Disney+ Verts vertical short-form video feed in March 2026, initially featuring only Disney-owned content in the US [3, 7].
Financial terms of the TikTok-Disney agreement were not disclosed by either party [1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10]. Disney reported quarterly revenue of $25.2 billion and net profit of $2.8 billion for the period ending June 27, 2026 [8]. Disney's subscription video-on-demand operating income grew to $712 million in Q3 2026 from $329 million a year earlier [3].
The TikTok fan content deal announcement came shortly after Disney’s controversial cancellation of the Emmy-nominated series Wonder Man [2, 4]. Dawn Yang, TikTok Global Head of Entertainment, said, "Together with Disney, we’re bringing the authentic creator expression of the TikTok community to Disney+" [10].
The US pilot program for the Disney-TikTok video sharing deal is scheduled to begin in the coming months.
