Adobe and Disney Forge Multi-Year AI Partnership to Accelerate Creative Development and Storytelling
Adobe and The Walt Disney Company have announced a multi-year strategic alliance to explore artificial intelligence and emerging technologies across creative development, entertainment and storytelling.
Announced at Adobe MAX on November 9, 2026, the partnership builds on the companies' longstanding relationship. It will bring Adobe's creative and AI technologies into different areas of Disney's operations, including theme parks, resorts, cruise operations, film production and sports media.
As part of the agreement, Adobe will become an Official AI Innovation Partner of The Walt Disney Company, providing early access to its latest creative technologies and dedicated engineering and research support.
Custom AI Models Through Adobe Firefly Foundry
A major component of the partnership is the development of proprietary generative AI models through Adobe Firefly Foundry.
These models will be tailored to Disney's intellectual property, including its characters, environments and visual styles. The objective is to help creative teams generate commercially safe, production-ready assets while maintaining consistency with Disney's established creative standards.
The collaboration will also provide access to Adobe Firefly, Firefly Foundry, Premiere and Photoshop to support different stages of Disney's production and creative workflows.
Accelerating Theme Park Development
Walt Disney Imagineering Research and Development is already using Adobe Firefly Foundry to explore new ways of developing theme park concepts.
One application involves a sketch-to-image model that transforms hand-drawn concepts into fully rendered 2D artwork. Another custom image-generation model is designed to produce creative assets that align with Disney's characters and franchises.
These capabilities can help Imagineers explore multiple design concepts more quickly, improve creative collaboration and reduce delays during development.
Disney executives have said the technology is intended to support creative teams and accelerate their work rather than replace their roles.
Expanding AI Across Studios and ESPN
The partnership will extend beyond theme park development into film production and sports storytelling.
At Walt Disney Studios' StudioLAB, Adobe will work with creative and technical teams to explore AI-powered workflows, including potential applications in post-production and visual effects.
The companies will also collaborate through ESPN Edge, ESPN's innovation centre. Their work will examine how AI can improve sports fan engagement, support content delivery and create new ways to bring ESPN's archive to audiences.
A Wider Collaboration in Marketing and Innovation
Alongside technology development, the agreement includes global marketing activities, industry events, thought leadership initiatives and customer storytelling.
Adobe will expand its presence across Disney's media platforms and participate in joint initiatives at industry events such as Adobe MAX and Adobe Summit.
Projects involving StudioLAB and ESPN Edge are already underway, with additional activities expected throughout the multi-year partnership.
What the Partnership Means for the Creative Industry
The Adobe-Disney alliance highlights how major entertainment companies are exploring generative AI to improve creative production and develop new audience experiences.
By combining custom AI models with established creative tools, the partnership aims to give artists and production teams more opportunities to experiment, visualize ideas and develop content.
It also reflects a growing industry focus on enterprise AI systems that can work with proprietary intellectual property while maintaining creative control and brand consistency.
As AI adoption expands across entertainment, media and live experiences, collaborations such as this could influence how stories, digital assets and audience experiences are developed in the coming years.
