Disney has announced a Kingdom Hearts panel at D23, and fans think a Kingdom Hearts 4 update is coming

Disney has confirmed a dedicated Kingdom Hearts panel at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event this August, marking 25 years of the franchise. The announcement has sent the fanbase into a frenzy given the timing, with Kingdom Hearts 4 having only just made its return to public view at June's Nintendo Direct.

The details:

• The "Deep Dive into Kingdom Hearts" panel is scheduled for Saturday August 15, running 4:30 to 5:30 PM PT at the Backlot Stage of the Anaheim Convention Center. D23 runs August 14 to 16, 2026.
• Disney describes the panel as a celebration of "25 years of Kingdom Hearts" that will explore how the saga united Disney, Pixar, and Square Enix, with appearances from "creative minds, character voices, and more behind the magic." No specific names have been confirmed yet.
• Reservations for the panel open July 20 at 12 PM PT and close July 24.
• The announcement comes shortly after Kingdom Hearts 4 made a surprise appearance at June's Nintendo Direct, where Square Enix confirmed the game is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 with new gameplay footage. The showing ended years of near silence on the project.
• While the D23 panel is framed as a retrospective and anniversary celebration, fans are treating it as a near-certain vehicle for a Kingdom Hearts 4 update, given the recent momentum around the title.