Overview
- ESPN confirmed on its support page that its direct-to-consumer tiers will cost more effective Sept. 17, 2026.
- ESPN Unlimited will go from $29.99 to $31.99 per month and from $299.99 to $319.99 per year, and ESPN Select will rise from $12.99 to $13.99 per month and from $129.99 to $139.99 per year.
- Disney said the closed legacy bundle that includes Disney+, Hulu and ESPN Select will increase from $24.99 to $27.99 per month starting the same date while current Disney+/Hulu bundles that include ESPN Unlimited are not being raised.
- ESPN argues the price change follows product expansion — the app now carries linear ESPN channels plus integrated programming such as NFL Network and CW Sports and offers tens of thousands of live events — and the company has pursued pay-TV authentication deals to let many subscribers access Unlimited through providers at no extra charge.
- The move follows a wider pattern of streaming price hikes and is likely to push some viewers toward bundled plans or pay-TV packages to avoid standalone increases while prompting renewed consumer scrutiny of streaming costs and cord-cutting value.