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Disney+ is preparing to add support for vertical videos on its platform later this year in the United States. The announcement was made during Disney’s Tech + Data Showcase at CES 2026 in Las Vegas. This move shows that Disney wants Disney+ to be more than just a place for movies and long TV shows.
According to Disney, the new vertical video feature will include original short-form content, repurposed clips from social media, and re-edited scenes from existing movies and series. The idea is to create a personalised and dynamic feed that users can scroll through daily. Disney says this will help turn Disney+ into a platform people open every day, not just when they want to watch a full episode or film.
Disney executive Erin Teague explained that vertical videos are designed to build daily habits. These videos are short, quick to watch, and easy to consume on mobile phones. She also clarified that Disney is not treating these clips as simple trailers for longer content. Instead, they are meant to add value to the platform and keep users engaged, especially younger viewers like Gen Z and Gen Alpha.
This move builds on Disney’s earlier experiment with vertical video. In 2025, Disney added a “Verts” tab to the ESPN app. That feature offers a vertical feed of sports highlights, news, analysis, and viral clips. Disney says the response to Verts was strong, which encouraged the company to bring a similar concept to Disney+ with a wider range of content.
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The timing of this decision is not surprising. Vertical video now dominates how people consume content on their phones. Industry data shows that more than 80 percent of short-form video consumption happens in vertical format. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts together attract billions of users every month. On average, users spend between 50 to 90 minutes per day watching short videos, mostly on mobile devices.
Studies show that Gen Z users prefer short videos over long-form content for daily entertainment. Many of them open apps multiple times a day just to scroll for a few minutes. Disney wants to tap into this habit by offering similar experiences inside Disney+, instead of losing user attention to social media platforms.
This also explains why streaming companies are changing their strategies. Disney+ competes not just with Netflix and Prime Video anymore, but also with TikTok and YouTube for screen time. Netflix has already been testing short video features inside its app. Disney’s entry into this space makes the competition even more intense.
From a user perspective, this could change how Disney+ is used. Until now, the app was mostly opened for long viewing sessions. With vertical video, users may start opening Disney+ casually throughout the day, similar to how they use social apps. This could increase daily engagement and help Disney justify subscription value in a crowded market.
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There are risks as well. Some users may feel that vertical videos make the platform feel too much like social media. Others may worry that focus on short content could dilute Disney’s strength in storytelling. However, Disney seems confident that short and long content can exist together without hurting each other.
Looking ahead, vertical video on Disney+ could expand beyond entertainment clips. News, behind-the-scenes content, quick explainers, and franchise-based shorts are all possible. If the feature performs well, Disney may roll it out globally and expand it across more apps.
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