Disney has announced that Neil Patrick Harris will host this year’s Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase at D23, the presentation fans commonly call the “parks panel.” The showcase takes place Saturday, August 15th at the Honda Center in Anaheim. Disney says Harris will lead conversations with the Imagineers, storytellers, artists, and innovators behind Disney’s parks and experiences. The format draws inspiration from Carousel of Progress, with Harris guiding the show rather than delivering a traditional keynote.
What to Know About Neil Patrick Harris Hosting D23’s Horizons Showcase
IN THIS ARTICLE:
- Neil Patrick Harris will host the Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase on August 15th.
- The showcase builds on projects Disney announced at the 2024 D23 Expo.
- Disney says the presentation will include behind-the-scenes looks, performances, and new announcements.
What Disney Announced
Disney’s press release describes Harris guiding fans through “a journey into the stories shaping the future of Disney Experiences around the world.” The company says the showcase builds on the projects Disney announced in 2024. This year’s presentation goes deeper into the creative thinking behind those projects. Disney says the show will include input directly from the Imagineers, storytellers, artists, and innovators building them.
Join host Neil Patrick Harris for a journey into the stories shaping the future of Disney Experiences around the world. Building on the ambitious projects announced in 2024, this year’s showcase will take fans deeper into the creative vision behind what’s to come, hearing directly from the Imagineers, storytellers, artists, and innovators bringing these experiences to life. Inspired by the Carousel of Progress, Neil will guide the show and lead engaging conversations with the people creating the future of Disney Experiences—complete with behind-the-scenes looks, special performances, exciting announcements, and a few surprises along the way.
Disney describes Harris’s role as guiding the show and leading conversations with the people shaping Disney Experiences. The company says fans can expect behind-the-scenes looks, special performances, new announcements, and a handful of surprises along the way. Disney also points to Carousel of Progress as creative inspiration for the format.
This year’s showcase also arrives with different leadership than the one that ran the 2024 presentation. Josh D’Amaro hosted that show himself, back when he held the Disney Experiences chairman title. D’Amaro is now CEO of the Walt Disney Company, taking over the role from Bob Iger. Thomas Mazloum holds the Disney Experiences chairman title D’Amaro once held.
Handing hosting duties to Harris marks a real change from the 2024 format. It also gives Disney a recognizable face for the presentation.
What This Year’s Showcase Could Cover
The 2024 Horizons showcase delivered close to 50 announcements. Those included new Disney Cruise Line ships and early looks at projects like the Villains land at Magic Kingdom and the Tropical Americas expansion at Animal Kingdom. Disney says this year’s presentation builds on those 2024 projects. That points toward updates rather than a presentation heavy with brand-new blue-sky reveals. It would also track with the pace of construction already underway at Walt Disney World on several of those same projects.
Story So Far
- July 2024: Disney announced the Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase name and format for the 2024 D23 Expo, with Josh D’Amaro hosting.
- August 2025: Disney confirmed the 2026 D23 dates of August 14 through 16 in Anaheim.
- March 2026: Josh D’Amaro officially became CEO of the Walt Disney Company.
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