Disney is reportedly preparing its largest round of job cuts this year, with Bloomberg saying thousands of roles are at risk as some managers are asked to find up to 20% in annual savings.
Fourth Round of Disney Job Cuts Expected Under CEO Josh D'Amaro
The Walt Disney Company is preparing a fresh wave of layoffs that could affect thousands of employees, according to Bloomberg News, which cited people familiar with the plans. Some managers have reportedly been told to identify as much as 20% in annualized cost savings, which could come from eliminating positions as well as trimming other expenses.
Variety noted that this would be the fourth round of job cuts in 2026 under CEO Josh D'Amaro, who succeeded Bob Iger in March, and the largest so far in terms of staff affected. Bloomberg said some parts of the company would be hit harder than others without naming them, while Deadline, citing its own sources, reported that the TV networks and the film studio are among the divisions facing reductions.
Disney declined to comment. According to Bloomberg, D'Amaro plans to reinvest part of the savings in film and TV programming, technology, theme parks and the cruise business. The timing and final size of the cuts have not been disclosed.
Disney Layoffs Follow a Year of Steady Cuts Across Several Divisions
The new Disney layoffs would cap a year of repeated cuts. In April, the company eliminated about 1,000 roles, largely tied to the creation of a unified enterprise marketing division under chief marketing and brand officer Asad Ayaz.
Several hundred more positions went in July across corporate functions, including at Pixar, ESPN and the studios, followed by a few hundred mostly HR and technology jobs in late September. Deadline and TheWrap also reported that 100 to 200 staffers in the Experiences division, many at the Imagineering campus in Glendale, were laid off last week.
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Early Retirement Buyouts and Shareholder Warnings Paved the Way for Cuts
Early retirement buyouts offered in August were widely seen as a signal that deeper cuts were coming. The voluntary offer targeted U.S.-based executives from director to EVP level in Disney Entertainment, ESPN and corporate who were at least 50 and had 10 or more years of service.
In an August 5 shareholder letter, D'Amaro and CFO Hugh Johnston said Disney was weighing labor and overhead reductions to free up money for growth.
Media Industry Layoffs Spread as Disney Prepares Its Quarterly Earnings Report
Media industry layoffs are not limited to Disney. Netflix cut about 1,000 jobs last month, roughly 6% of its workforce according to CNBC, and Skydance, formed by the merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery, is expected to make significant reductions.
Disney employed about 231,000 people at the end of fiscal 2025 and will report fiscal fourth-quarter results on November 17. Reuters, summarizing Bloomberg's report, said the company faces pressure from AI adoption, softer box office revenue, streaming competition and slower international park attendance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many jobs is Disney planning to cut?
Bloomberg reports that thousands of positions are at risk, but Disney has not confirmed a figure and the exact number has not been disclosed.
Why is Disney cutting jobs again?
According to Bloomberg, CEO Josh D'Amaro wants to lower costs and reinvest part of the savings in film and TV content, technology, theme parks and cruises.
What does the 20% savings target mean?
Some managers have reportedly been asked to find up to 20% in annual cost savings, which could come from job eliminations as well as other expense cuts.
Has Disney already made layoffs in 2026?
Yes. Disney cut about 1,000 roles in April, several hundred in July and a few hundred in September, so this would be the fourth round this year.
When does Disney report its next earnings?
Disney is scheduled to release results for its fiscal fourth quarter, covering the September quarter, on November 17, 2026, before the stock market opens.
Conclusion
Disney appears set for its most sweeping layoffs of 2026, with Bloomberg reporting that thousands of jobs are at risk and some managers are being asked to find up to 20% in annual savings. The move would be the fourth round of cuts since Josh D'Amaro became CEO in March, following reductions in April, July and September and a voluntary buyout program in August. Disney has declined to comment, and the timing and scale remain unconfirmed. Investors may learn more when the company reports fiscal fourth-quarter results on November 17, as rivals including Netflix and Skydance also reduce staff across Hollywood.
Bibliography / Sources
- Spangler, T. (2026, November 2). Disney expected to lay off thousands of staffers in biggest round of cuts this year [News article]. Variety. https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/disney-layoffs-thousands-expected-1236938144/
- Buckley, T. (2026, November 3). Disney plans thousands of layoffs, targeting 20% cost savings [News article]. Bloomberg News via Bloomberg Law. https://news.bloomberglaw.com/california-brief/disney-plans-thousands-of-layoffs-targeting-20-cost-savings
- D'Alessandro, A., & Andreeva, N. (2026, November 2). Disney to undergo more layoffs with divisions eyeing up to 20% savings [News article]. Deadline. https://deadline.com/2026/11/disney-more-layoffs-2026-tv-networks-movie-studio-savings-1237211939/
- Marangi, C., & Boorstin, J. (2026, November 3). Disney plans several thousand layoffs, asks some managers to cut costs by up to 20% [News article]. CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2026/11/03/disney-layoffs-cost-cuts.html
- Reuters. (2026, November 2). Disney eyes thousands of layoffs, asks managers to target 20% savings, Bloomberg News reports [News article]. Investing.com. https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/disney-eyes-thousands-of-layoffs-managers-asked-to-cut-20-in-costs-bloomberg-news-reports-4993288
