Disney is planning another round of layoffs and a 20% expense cut
Disney is planning another round of layoffs for the fourth time in 2026.
The short version
- Some managers were told to cut 20% of their expenses.
- The cuts will help fund investments in theme parks and cruises.
- Check how entertainment giants manage costs to keep growing.
Disney, the massive entertainment and theme park company, is preparing for another round of layoffs as some managers were told to cut 20% of their expenses, according to reports from Forbes, Variety and CNBC. The cuts will be the fourth round of job reductions in 2026 under Disney CEO Josh D'Amaro, with some departments affected disproportionately.
D'Amaro aims to reinvest a portion of the savings into film and TV programming, technology, theme parks, and the cruise ship businesses. Earlier this year, Disney cut about 1,000 jobs in April, several hundred in July, and a few hundred more in September mostly in human resources and IT.
In August, the company also offered early retirement buyouts to longtime executives older than 50. At the end of its fiscal year 2025, Disney employed about 231,000 workers worldwide. Dana Walden, Disney's president and CEO, recently noted that the media industry must constantly evaluate its structure as technology evolves.
Disney is planning to release its fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 financial results on November 17. The ongoing cost-cutting at major media firms shows how even the biggest household names are reshaping their operations to protect profit margins.
