Pokémon is reportedly returning to Disney XD and coming to Disney+ this August
Pokémon is reportedly heading back to Disney after years on Netflix, with the anime returning to Disney XD and its full library hitting Disney+ in August. Here’s what the reports say, what’s actually changing, and one big thing this deal does not mean.
Get ready to catch ‘em all on a new home. Pokémon is reportedly making a big move back to Disney, with the beloved anime returning to Disney’s TV channels and its library landing on Disney+ as soon as this August.
It’s a nostalgic homecoming for fans who remember Pikachu’s previous stint on Disney XD. Here’s what’s reportedly happening, when you can watch, and one important thing this deal does not mean.
What’s reportedly happening
Let’s break down the reports.
According to industry scoops (originating with the account The Disney Beat), Disney Branded Television has re-acquired the U.S. broadcast and streaming rights to the Pokémon anime. If accurate, that means two big things for fans:
Back on TV: Pokémon would return to Disney XD (and reportedly Disney Channel), with a reported broadcast date of August 6.
Streaming on Disney+: The franchise’s library would begin streaming on Disney+, reportedly starting August 7.
For a generation of fans, this is a real nostalgia hit, Pokémon previously called Disney XD home during its Sun & Moon era from 2016 to 2020, so this is very much a return rather than a first-time arrival.
The big shift: moving away from Netflix
Here’s why this is a notable change.
For the past several years, Pokémon has been closely tied to Netflix in the U.S., which held streaming rights and even collaborated on original Pokémon programming. A move back under the Disney umbrella would be a significant shift in the franchise’s home base.
For fans, the upside is consolidation. Right now, Pokémon content is famously scattered across different services, making it a headache to find specific seasons or movies. Gathering the library in one place on Disney+ (if the reports pan out) would be a genuine convenience for anyone trying to watch the series in order, or introduce their kids to it from the beginning.
One big thing this does NOT mean
Here’s the crucial clarification, because it’s easy to misread.
A headline like “Disney re-acquires Pokémon” can sound like Disney bought Pokémon, the way it owns Marvel or Star Wars. That is not what’s happening. This is a distribution deal for the anime, nothing more.
The Pokémon franchise remains firmly owned by The Pokémon Company (the joint venture backed by Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures). Disney is simply getting the rights to air and stream the anime in the U.S., exactly like the deal it had from 2016 to 2020. Nintendo still owns the games, The Pokémon Company still owns the brand, cards, and merchandise, and none of that is changing hands. Disney is the new landlord for the TV show, not the owner of the Pokémon world.
Why now? The 30th anniversary
Here’s the context that makes the timing make sense.
If the reports are accurate, the timing is no accident. Pokémon is celebrating its 30th anniversary (the franchise launched in Japan in 1996), and it’s been marking the milestone across games, cards, and merchandise all year. Bringing the anime to a high-visibility home like Disney+ would be a smart way to boost the brand’s profile during a major celebration, and to hook a whole new generation of young fans.
A quick note of caution
Here’s the responsible caveat.
As of now, this is still based on reports and industry scoops, not an official announcement from Disney or The Pokémon Company. The details, especially specific dates like August 6 and 7, could shift, and nothing is truly locked until the companies confirm it. So treat the specifics as “reported” rather than set in stone for the moment.
Pokémon on Disney+: what to know
Pokémon is reportedly returning to Disney this August, with the anime heading back to Disney XD and Disney Channel around August 6 and its library arriving on Disney+ around August 7, a nostalgic homecoming and a big move away from Netflix. For fans tired of hunting across streaming services, having it consolidated under one roof would be a welcome change.
Just remember what this is and isn’t: a distribution deal that brings the show back to Disney’s platforms, not a sale of the franchise itself. Pokémon is still Pokémon, owned by the same folks as always. It’s just, reportedly, about to have a familiar new place to call home.
If it all pans out, August is shaping up to be a very good month to be a Pokémon fan.
Article compiled with the help of the Pirates & Princesses newsroom.
Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Hat Tips:
The Disney Beat (@DisneyBeat101) and Collider (June-July 2026), the originating report, credited for the scoop that Disney Branded Television re-acquired the U.S. broadcast and streaming rights to the Pokémon anime, the return to Disney XD (and reportedly Disney Channel), the arrival of the library on Disney+ in August 2026, and the reported August 6 broadcast and August 7 streaming dates
Wikipedia (Disney XD) and Bulbapedia (2016-2026), verified for the history (Pokémon the Series airing on Disney XD from December 2016 through the Sun & Moon era, the “Anime Block” that was discontinued in 2020 following Netflix’s acquisition of the streaming rights, and the earlier Miramax-distributed Pokémon movies on Toon Disney), confirming this is a return rather than a first-time deal
Fiction Horizon and general franchise reporting (2023-2026), verified for the crucial ownership clarification (The Pokémon Company, the joint venture backed by Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures, owns the franchise; Disney has only ever held anime distribution rights, never the franchise itself), and the Pokémon 30th-anniversary context (the franchise launching in Japan in 1996)