Formula E Electric Racing Is Moving to Disney+
Disney+ will become the global streaming home of Formula E, an all-electric car racing series, under a multi-year agreement announced on August 11, 2026. The deal covers more than 140 countries and begins with the 2026/27 season, which opens December 18 in Saudi Arabia.
Formula E is a racing series, similar in concept to Formula 1, but all the cars run entirely on battery power instead of gasoline. The series has been around since 2014. Until now, the streaming service Roku had been the main place to watch Formula E races online, and Roku also produced a documentary about the league. That partnership is ending as the Disney+ deal takes over (Engadget).
The 2026/27 season includes 21 races across 13 events, with stops in cities like Miami, Monaco, and Mexico City. In the United States, races will be available on both Disney+ and ESPN+ rather than Disney+ alone. Subscribers will get full coverage of every event, including preview and review shows, according to Disney's official press release titled "Disney+ Revs Up as the Global Streaming Home of Formula E" (Disney+ Newsroom).
The deal lets Formula E keep some of its local TV broadcast partnerships in certain markets, rather than putting everything under Disney+ alone. The Formula E official site and Disney+ newsroom both confirmed that the agreement runs for multiple years (Formula E).
The broader context here is that motorsport streaming rights have been reshuffling over the past year. Formula 1, the more widely known racing series, ended its deal with Disney's ESPN and moved to Apple for its US broadcasting rights. Disney's new Formula E agreement fills that gap in its motorsport lineup, essentially trading one racing series for another. Whether Formula E draws the same size audience as Formula 1 is a separate question, and the available facts do not include viewership numbers.
For Disney+, the deal adds live sports to a service that has mostly been known for movies and scripted shows. The 140-country scope fits with Disney+'s existing global reach, and using both Disney+ and ESPN+ in the US mirrors how Disney has handled other live events. The decision to keep local TV deals in some markets suggests Formula E wanted to protect its existing regional partnerships rather than relying entirely on one global streaming partner.
For Formula E, the move to Disney+ means a much bigger platform. Roku, while popular in the US, does not have Disney+'s international reach or brand recognition. The new deal puts Formula E on a service available in well over 100 countries, with dedicated preview and review shows that could help bring in new fans.
One thing worth flagging is the timeline. The season starts December 18 in Saudi Arabia, giving Disney+ roughly four months to get everything ready before the first race streams. Setting up a live racing broadcast involves a lot of moving parts, from camera operations to app features like live timing, and the short runway leaves little room to test things before race day.
No financial details have been disclosed. The announcement does not include deal figures, production responsibilities, or any conditions tied to viewership numbers. As described, the agreement covers streaming rights and related programming.
For viewers, the change is simple. Formula E races move from Roku to Disney+ (and ESPN+ in the US) starting in December 2026, with full coverage including pre- and post-race shows. Local TV options in certain markets will continue alongside the streaming offering. The electric racing series enters its thirteenth season on a platform with far broader reach than its previous streaming home.
