Disney has officially confirmed a move that many longtime streaming subscribers saw coming—but few expected to be stated so plainly. Hulu is not being shut down outright. Its shows are not disappearing. Its brand is not being erased. But beginning in 2026, Hulu will no longer exist as a standalone app. From that point forward, Hulu content will only be accessible through Disney+.
And for many subscribers, that distinction matters less than Disney may realize.
Because while Hulu may technically survive on paper, the version of Hulu people have known for years is effectively coming to an end.
Hulu Will No Longer Exist on Its Own
Disney has confirmed that Hulu will be fully integrated into the Disney+ app in 2026, at which point the Hulu app itself will be retired. Subscribers will no longer download Hulu separately, manage their accounts through Hulu, or use Hulu as an independent platform.
Instead, Disney+ will serve as the single gateway to Hulu programming. That includes Hulu originals, next-day television episodes, and licensed content that has long defined the service.
Disney has framed this as a consolidation rather than a shutdown. But in practice, the result is the same: Hulu will no longer operate as its own destination.
Why This Feels Like a Shutdown to Subscribers
For years, Hulu has had a distinct identity. It functioned differently from Disney+. It looked different. It catered to a different audience. For many households, Hulu was the primary streaming service, with Disney+ playing a supporting role for family or franchise content.
That dynamic is now gone.
Once Hulu loses its standalone app, subscribers no longer have a choice in how they access the service. Billing, account management, navigation, and discovery all shift to Disney+. Hulu becomes content inside another platform, rather than a platform in its own right.
From a user perspective, that is effectively the end of Hulu as it has existed.
Disney+ Becomes the Center of Everything
This move also makes Disney+ the unquestioned centerpiece of Disney’s streaming strategy. Disney has already begun eliminating subscription models that treated Disney+ as an add-on to Hulu. Under the new structure, Disney+ is the primary service, with Hulu added on top.
That change simplifies Disney’s backend operations and aligns with broader industry trends toward consolidation. It also gives Disney tighter control over data, advertising, and long-term subscriber behavior.
But it comes at the cost of choice.
Subscribers who preferred Hulu’s interface, tone, and focus will have no alternative once the transition is complete.
The End of an Era—Without Saying the Word
Disney may avoid calling this a shutdown, but the outcome speaks for itself. Hulu will no longer stand on its own. It will no longer compete for attention as a separate app. And it will no longer function independently within the streaming landscape.
For millions of subscribers, that reality will feel indistinguishable from Hulu being shut down entirely.
The name may remain. The shows will still be there. But the Hulu people recognized for years is reaching its final chapter.
