The Formula E Disney+ ESPN+ deal will shift the all-electric racing championship’s streaming home when the 2026/27 campaign begins on December 18. Disney, ESPN and Formula E announced the multiyear agreement on August 11, saying U.S. viewers will be able to watch races on both Disney+ and ESPN+, while Disney+ will carry them in most international markets.
For American fans, the practical change is a departure from Roku, which had carried Formula E races live in the U.S. since 2023, according to Ars Technica. Disney’s announcement does not say whether viewers will need one service or subscriptions to both, nor does it specify pricing, eligible plans, viewing times or the agreement’s duration.
Where can I watch Formula E in the 2026/27 season?
- United States: Disney+ and ESPN+.
- Most international markets: Disney+.
- Start date: December 18, with the opening round in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
- Season endpoint: July 25, 2027, in Tokyo.
The championship’s new schedule is set to contain 21 rounds across 13 events. Disney named Austin, Miami, Monaco and Mexico City among the stops between Jeddah and Tokyo. The companies have not provided a full territory-by-territory availability list in the announcement, so “global” should be read with the usual rights-market asterisk attached.
What Formula E coverage will the services carry?
Disney said subscribers will get each event’s practice sessions, qualifying and race, as well as preview and review programs and race highlights. That is the announced package; the companies have not detailed commentators, replay availability or whether every listed program will appear identically in each market.
Formula E is an all-electric racing championship. Its 2026/27 season is also due to begin the GEN4 era, with a new car and an enhanced race-weekend format, according to Disney’s announcement. The company and Formula E describe GEN4 as the series’ fastest and most powerful generation, a performance claim that will get its proper test once the cars reach competition.
Jeff Dodds, Formula E’s chief executive, said Disney’s reach would help introduce the series to new viewers. Joe Earley, co-president of direct-to-consumer at Disney Entertainment, said the company planned to provide live access to every race. Those are the companies’ ambitions. The confirmed part for fans is more prosaic: beginning in December, the place to look is Disney+ in most markets, with ESPN+ joining Disney+ in the U.S.
Readers can review Disney’s announcement for the stated coverage and calendar outline.
This story draws on original reporting from Ars Technica.
