Sat, July 25, 2026 at 1:55 AM UTC
Nothing in life is certain except death, taxes, and The Simpsons. The longest-running primetime animated sitcom in history is currently in its 37th season and recently reached its landmark 800th episode. During Season 36, FOX renewed the hit series for four more seasons, which will take The Simpsons into Season 40. Additionally, Disney+ raised the stakes, announcing that three extra all-new episodes ofThe Simpsonswill stream exclusively on the platform later this summer. This announcement marks a new format change for the long-running series, effectively marking a bold new age for The Simpsons in its streaming television era.
What Are the New Disney+ Episodes of ‘The Simpsons’?
Last month, Disney+ debuted the double episode, “Extreme Makeover: Homer Edition.” Earlier this month, the full-length episode “Simpsley” premiered, and the final Disney+-exclusive episode for the summer will be “Yellow Mirror,” debuting on August 26. Disney+ originally started streaming exclusiveSimpsons-themed shorts on the platform in 2020 with “Playdate with Destiny.” Several years later, full-length episodes began joining The Simpsons roster with “O C’Mon All Ye Faith” in 2024.
These new Disney+-exclusive episodes differ from those that were part of Season 36 since they are premiering outside the standard television season, specifically slated for the summer months. Technically, the episodes still exist as part of the Season 37 episode order, but Disney+ scheduling them from June to August represents a brand-new release strategy they have not attempted previously with the earlier original Simpsons content.
The Simpsons Continues To Evolve in the New Television Ecosystem
Although The Simpsons originated nearly 40 years ago as shorts on The Tracy Ullman Show, the franchise manages to remain relevant and consistently evolve with the times. The Simpsons has seen the television landscape undergo many changes with the advent of cable and satellite, and now streaming. A major aspect of the streaming television era is that the old fall and spring television format has effectively become antiquated. Television viewers will tune into a show any time of the year, and streamers are attuned to that, not following a typical release schedule or format.
The Simpsons’new Disney+ episodes releasing this summer reinforce the show’s evolution with the new, bold television landscape. Disney+ is releasing one episode per month over the summer, giving fans new stories to enjoy outside the typical season run, with the show still airing on FOX. This could present a way for Disney+ and 20th Century Television to test the waters ofThe Simpsonsmoving permanently to the platform. Yes, The Simpsons will continue airing on FOX for the next several years, but what about after Season 40? The time may come when Disney+ becomes the primary outlet to watch new episodes of The Simpsons.
Are Disney and 20th Century Television Gearing Up for the Long-Awaited ‘Simpsons Movie’ Sequel?
Another potentially important aspect of Disney+’s release strategy is the recently <a href="https://comicvibe.com/clash-of-the-toon-titans-asterix-vs-tintin-rematch-announced/” title=”Clash of the Toon Titans: Asterix vs Tintin Rematch Announced”>announced sequel to The Simpsons Movie. The highly anticipated, long-awaited sequel is finally hitting theaters in 2027, arriving 20 years after the first Simpsons movie was released on the big screen. Releasing new episodes over the summer is a good way to continue branding and marketing the show under the Disney banner, along with hyping up the next theatrical movie, which fans have been waiting to see for nearly two decades.
The exclusive episodes will prep fans for the new movie without the writers and producers overplaying their hands. They provide a steady drip of new content until the debut of Season 38, which will serve as the prelude to the next movie. It wouldn’t be surprising if Disney+ sets up more exclusive episodes of the highly beloved show next summer on the way to September 3, when The Simpsons 2 finally hits theaters.
