Disney cartoons and characters enter the public domain in 2026.

Several Disney cartoons and characters, including early appearances of Pluto, entered the public domain on Jan. 1, 2026, joining thousands of works published in 1930 that are now free to use.

Several Disney cartoons and characters entered the public domain on Jan. 1, 2026, and are now available for copying, sharing and new uses. This change is part of a wider group of works from 1930 that moved into the public domain at the start of the year. Other notable entries from 1930 include the cartoon character Betty Boop, the Nancy Drew book series, and the film All Quiet on the Western Front. Earlier, the 1928 short Steamboat Willie — the first iteration of Mickey Mouse — became public domain in 2024. Known details: - Multiple Disney cartoons and characters entered the public domain as of Jan. 1, 2026. - Rover, later renamed and commonly known as Pluto, from the Disney shorts The Chain Gang and The Picnic, is specifically mentioned as entering the public domain. - The group of works coming into the public domain includes thousands of books, films, comics, art and musical compositions published in 1930. - U.S. copyright terms are generally 95 years for works of this era, which is why these 1930 publications entered the public domain now. - Works in the public domain may be used without permission, but new adaptations or versions can carry their own copyright protection. Summary: These public domain entries allow the original versions of the works to be copied, shared and expanded without seeking permission from the previous copyright holder. New adaptations or later versions of the same works may still be protected by their own copyrights. Undetermined at this time.