Disney layoffs 2026 are happening as new CEO Josh Dameron starts harsh cost-cutting measures that will affect the studios, TV, ESPN, and marketing departments. The large number of layoffs, which affect hundreds of workers, show that Dameron is making big changes to the company to make it more efficient during the streaming wars and tough economic times.
The layoffs at Disney studios are the biggest part of the cuts, and they will have an immediate effect on many teams working on movies and TV shows. Sources close to the situation say that these Disney layoffs in 2026 are meant to get rid of unnecessary jobs and focus on important projects like the new Marvel and Star Wars franchises. “This is about being flexible in a competitive market,” one insider said, echoing Dameron’s recent memos on how to be more efficient.
ESPN’s job cuts are especially bad because they affect people who work in production, digital, and on-air talent support. As Disney cuts costs, ESPN, which makes a lot of money for the company, needs to cut costs to make up for the losses from people who cancel their cable. This week, affected employees got notices as part of a larger wave of layoffs at Disney TV that have shaken up the sports media ecosystem in Hollywood.
Disney is laying off people from both scripted and unscripted series teams, and Disney marketing is laying off people from both advertising and promotional units. Josh Dameron, the CEO of Disney, who took over the job earlier this year, says that these changes are necessary for the company to make money. “We’re moving resources around to help growth,” Dameron said in an internal speech, according to reports. The cuts come after Disney’s first-quarter earnings report, which showed that streaming was finally making money but movie releases were still behind.
Industry experts think that the Disney layoffs in 2026 are a smart move in response to competitors like Netflix and Warner Bros. Finding out. Disney hasn’t said anything publicly yet, but updates are likely to come soon.
