Formula E Comes to Disney+ as the GEN4 Era Begins

Disney+ will be the global streaming platform for the Formula E championship starting from the 2026/27 season. The deal, announced by the series and Disney, covers 144 territories and includes all sessions from each race weekend, from free practice to the race, as well as qualifying, highlights, analysis, and on-demand replays. In the United States, the broadcasts will be shared with ESPN+, another platform within the Disney group. Michaella Snoeck, the championship's media director, explained that the deal complements existing linear TV partners in various markets and that Disney's scale allows the category to accelerate its digital footprint.

Photo By Formula E

The new season brings the GEN4, the most powerful car in Formula E history with 600 kW of power, equivalent to more than 815 horsepower, and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in around 1.8 seconds. The calendar, which kicks off in Jeddah on December 18, 2026, is the most extensive the category has ever had, with 21 races in thirteen cities. The GEN4's power has forced a change in the types of circuits the championship visits. The street tracks that sustained Formula E for a decade are no longer suitable for a car that triples the power of the one that debuted in 2014. That is why the new calendar includes permanent circuits such as COTA in Austin, Brands Hatch in the UK, Zandvoort in the Netherlands, and Jarama in Madrid.

The race weekend format also changes with the arrival of the GEN4. On Saturdays of double-header events, the E-Prix Unleashed will take place, a short 30-minute race with a high-downforce aero package, no mandatory PIT BOOST stop, and a ATTACK MODE window of only six minutes. Sunday retains the traditional 45-minute format, low-downforce aero, eight minutes of ATTACK MODE, and a pit stop.

Photo By Formula E

Jeff Dodds, CEO of Formula E, said that Disney's global reach will allow the championship to reach millions of new viewers and that the collaboration could extend beyond live broadcasts. Joe Earley, co-chairman of direct-to-consumer at Disney Entertainment, noted that Formula E combines technology and sustainability in a way that fits the platform.

In 2025, Disney and Formula 1 launched a collaboration that brought Mickey Mouse and other characters to Grands Prix, and in 2026 they expanded that alliance with the Fuel the Magic program, which includes official merchandise, fan zones, pop-up stores, and digital content. Motorsport went from being sports programming within ESPN to becoming content that can be integrated into the company's streaming, merchandising, and experiences ecosystem.