Disney Lays Off Hundreds in Third 2026 Job Cut Round

The Walt Disney Company is laying off several hundred employees within its human resources and IT departments. This latest action marks the third round of job cuts in 2026 under CEO Josh D'Amaro, following the elimination of roughly 1,000 roles in April and several hundred more in July.

The July reductions targeted corporate functions at ESPN, Disney Entertainment Television, and the company's studios, with the heaviest impact felt at Pixar and National Geographic. In August, the company expanded its cost-cutting measures by offering early-retirement buyout packages to longtime executives.

These workforce reductions follow an August 5 letter to shareholders from D'Amaro and CFO Hugh Johnston. In the communication, the executives stated the company is focused on reducing costs across the enterprise to create capacity for growth investments. The company has also consolidated its enterprise marketing division, led by Chief Marketing and Brand Officer Asad Ayaz, as part of its broader organizational restructuring.