Disney Announces Third Round of 2026 Layoffs, Hits Pixar and National Geographic

The Walt Disney Company announced on Tuesday, July 22, 2026, that it will eliminate several hundred positions across its entertainment businesses. The cuts, the company’s third major round of layoffs this year, target Disney Entertainment Television, ESPN, National Geographic, its film studios and corporate operations.

Variety and The Hollywood Reporter report that Pixar Animation Studios will lose 116 to 150 employees, a reduction that represents less than 10 % of the studio’s workforce. The layoffs focus on production and operations roles as Pixar pivots toward larger‑scale theatrical releases that are produced on tighter budgets.

The National Geographic cable channel is among the divisions most affected. Several positions in the network’s editorial and operations teams will be eliminated, while a smaller number of staff at ESPN also face job cuts. The ESPN reductions follow the integration of NFL Network assets and a broader consolidation of administrative functions across the sports properties.

Disney said the layoffs are part of an ongoing review of staffing and investment priorities, aimed at reducing costs and adjusting its operations to changes in the entertainment industry. The cuts come after Disney’s January 2026 consolidation of marketing operations and the April 2026 elimination of about 1,000 positions across marketing, product and technology, television, ESPN and corporate departments.

The company’s “One Disney” strategy, announced earlier this year, seeks to streamline operations across its media and entertainment units. The current round of cuts is intended to support that goal by trimming redundancies and focusing resources on high‑priority projects.

For Pixar, the reduction comes at a time when the studio’s upcoming slate includes the original feature “Gatto,” directed by Luca‑filmmaker Enrico Casarosa. While the studio’s future releases remain unchanged, the layoffs signal a tighter production environment that may affect the scale and budget of forthcoming projects.

The National Geographic channel’s cuts are part of a broader trend of restructuring within Disney’s cable and streaming assets. Historically a key source of documentary and science programming, the channel’s content pipeline may feel the impact of the workforce reductions.

ESPN’s reductions are linked to the network’s integration of NFL Network assets. The company has been consolidating administrative functions across its sports properties, a process that has led to the elimination of behind‑the‑scenes roles.

Industry analysts note that Disney’s effort to balance its large workforce—estimated at 230,000 employees worldwide as of late 2025—with the need to remain competitive in a rapidly changing media landscape is reflected in the current round of cuts. The company has already reduced its workforce by about 1,000 positions in the first half of 2026.

The layoffs are expected to take effect immediately, with affected employees receiving severance packages in line with company policy. Disney has not announced any further cuts beyond this round.

The current situation underscores Disney’s ongoing shift toward a leaner organizational structure while maintaining its core creative and distribution businesses. The company’s next steps will likely involve monitoring the impact of these reductions on production timelines and audience engagement across its entertainment platforms.

The decision follows a pattern of quarterly restructuring. In January, Disney merged its marketing, product and technology functions under a single umbrella, and in April the company announced the elimination of roughly 1,000 jobs across multiple departments. These moves were framed as part of a broader effort to align costs with projected revenue streams.

While Disney has not indicated plans for additional layoffs, industry observers note that the current round may influence future project timelines. The studio’s leadership will need to balance tighter budgets with creative ambitions, particularly as it prepares to launch new theatrical releases and expand its streaming catalog.