- Disney has announced that Hulu will be going global soon
- Hulu will replace Star in the Disney+ app, a change that will roll out internationally from October 8
- It follows a period of backlash from subscribers, who have recently cancelled subscriptions and called out the platform's price hikes
If you were worried that Hulu might disappear as part of the new 'unified' Disney+ app that's coming in 2026, fear not – if anything, it's about to get even bigger.
Following the August announcement that Hulu and Disney+ would be integrated into a single app in 2026, The Walt Disney Company has unveiled plans to take the Hulu platform global instead of getting rid of it.
As of October 8, Hulu will become the "global general entertainment brand" on Disney+. It'll replace Star, an in-app hub that offers non-US subscribers entertainment from other platforms owned by Disney.
When the integration between the two services was initially announced, Disney CEO Bob Iger touched on Hulu replacing Star in Disney+, stating that "it will replace the Star tile on Disney+ internationally" and that the change would be joined by "numerous improvements within the Disney+ app”. Well, those changes are now upon us.
Though this move means an increase in Hulu’s international exposure, Disney+ itself has been going through the wringer recently. It's lost a significant amount of subscribers and sparked frustration with its latest price hikes, which apply to both individual plans and bundle deals with Hulu and HBO Max.
Not only is Hulu getting a designated spot in the Disney+ ecosystem, it’s also being joined by a roster of new design upgrades to your homescreen, starting with a new navigation bar.
At the top of the homepage you’ll find a new navigation bar with four tabs, with the ‘For You’ one being the first thing you’ll see when you launch the Disney+ app. Depending on your subscription plan, there will also be tabs for Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN, making it easier to explore each platform’s libraries. Disney is also adding new tag labels such as “Season Finale,” “New Series,” and “New Movie” to identify timely content.
What else is new?
There will also be new visual elements coming to the homepage, which Disney describes as "more modern and intuitive". You’ll find a new video display in the carousel highlighting new releases from each brand, as well as new poster art on content sets – but Disney is also upgrading its iOS experience.
Widgets have become quite popular since the rollout of new customization settings in iOS 26, and soon Disney+ will be launching its own to "add another front door to take users directly into our programming with one click".
The streaming platform has also teased exclusive mobile-exclusive experiences which are set to arrive in the year ahead, which Disney hopes will help to engage new audiences.
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