A.A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh was published Oct. 14, 1926. Disney marked the anniversary month with new artwork and has spent 2026 releasing dozens of brand collaborations and new books.
Pooh Bear is about to turn 100, and he still hasn’t figured out how to stay out of the honey pot.
The book Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne, with drawings by E.H. Shepard, was published on Oct. 14, 1926, per WDW News Today. That makes Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, Pooh’s 100th birthday, at least as a book character.
Disney kicked off the anniversary month on Oct. 2 with new artwork on Instagram, per WDW News Today. It shows Pooh floating from a red balloon near a beehive while his friends gather below, with a 100th anniversary balloon logo.
How is Disney celebrating Winnie the Pooh’s 100th birthday?
Mostly with stuff to buy, and a lot of it.
Disney started a yearlong celebration in March 2026 with about 30 brand collaborations, per Mickey Visit. They include:
Old Navy, Gap and Carter’s clothing
Vera Bradley bags and Loungefly bags
Funko Pop figures and LEGO sets
PopSockets, Squishmallows and Steiff
A Yogi Tea honey chamomile blend, which is about as on-the-nose as it gets
“This milestone year brings his timeless charm to fans in fresh new ways,” said Disney’s Amanda Dhalluin, per Parade.
There are new books too. Four commemorative books are coming out during 2026, including Winnie the Pooh: 100 Mindful Moments, which came out Sept. 22, per Mickey Visit.
Who created Winnie the Pooh?
A.A. Milne, a British writer, wrote the stories for his son, Christopher Robin Milne.
The characters were based on Christopher Robin’s real stuffed animals: a bear, a donkey, a pig, a kangaroo and her baby, and later a tiger. Several of the original toys now live at the New York Public Library.
E.H. Shepard drew the original illustrations, and his Pooh looks a little different from Disney’s. No red shirt, for starters.
When did Disney start making Winnie the Pooh movies?
In the 1960s. Disney got the film rights in 1961 and released its first Pooh short, Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree, in 1966.
More shorts followed, and Disney stitched them together into The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh in 1977. That’s the version most people picture: red shirt, Sterling Holloway’s voice, and Tigger bouncing on his tail.
Is Winnie the Pooh in the public domain?
In the U.S., the original book is. Milne’s 1926 Winnie-the-Pooh entered the public domain on Jan. 1, 2022. That’s how a horror movie like Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey got made.
But Disney’s versions, including the red shirt, are still Disney’s. Tigger, who first showed up in a 1928 book, entered the public domain in 2024.
Where can you see Winnie the Pooh at Disney parks?
All over.
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is a ride at both Magic Kingdom and Disneyland. Tokyo Disneyland has Pooh’s Hunny Hunt, a fan-favorite trackless ride. And Pooh and his friends host character meals at Magic Kingdom’s Crystal Palace.
Disney hasn’t announced a big park event for Oct. 14, but anniversary merchandise has been showing up in the parks all year.
Why is Winnie the Pooh still so popular?
Because Pooh isn’t trying to be cool.
He’s a bear who loves snacks, naps and his friends. In 100 years, the formula hasn’t changed.
Kids get the honey jokes. Adults get the quotes about friendship.
As Pooh would probably say, a hundred years is a long time. But it’s a lot shorter with good friends.
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:
WDW News Today (Oct. 2, 2026), the anniversary artwork and Oct. 14 date
Mickey Visit (March 2026), the brand collaborations and the 100 Mindful Moments book
Parade (March 2026), Amanda Dhalluin’s quote
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