Disney is bringing Hollywood and the creator economy together for a first-of-its-kind celebration of modern storytelling.
On September 17 and 18, 2026, more than 350 creators, innovators, and entertainment leaders will gather for Created in LA, a two-day event presented by Disney and creator economy leader Jon Youshaei. Programming will take place at two of Disney’s most historic locations: Hollywood’s El Capitan Theatre and the Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank.
The event will combine a red-carpet premiere, educational sessions, behind-the-scenes discussions, and networking opportunities intended to help shape the next generation of entertainment.
Disney Welcomes a New Generation of Storytellers
Dana Walden, president and chief creative officer of The Walt Disney Company, will open the event at the El Capitan Theatre on September 17.
The following day, Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro will take the stage at the Walt Disney Studios lot, where attendees will hear from influential figures representing traditional Hollywood and the rapidly growing creator economy.
“Disney has always been a place where great storytellers come together,” said Asad Ayaz, chief marketing and brand officer of The Walt Disney Company.
Ayaz described today’s creators as storytellers who reach multiple generations, develop communities, and unite fans through shared interests.
More Than 350 Creators and Industry Leaders
Created in LA will welcome more than 350 leading creators, storytellers, and innovators. Its growing speaker lineup includes Dude Perfect, The Try Guys, Zach King, Jordan Matter, Dhar Mann, AdamW, Jenny Hoyos, Sam Eckholm, Adrian Per, and Walt Disney Animation Studios Chief Creative Officer Jared Bush.
Each session will examine a different part of the creative process, including building an audience, producing content consistently, transforming videos into complete shows, avoiding burnout, and taking an idea from its earliest stages to the screen.
“We’re bringing the best of the creator economy and Hollywood on the same stage,” Youshaei said.
According to Youshaei, the featured creators will take attendees inside their creative processes, biggest career moments, and lessons that could help the next generation develop its own voice.
Creators Share the Secrets Behind Their Success
The event’s sessions are designed to offer practical insight from creators who have built enormous audiences and successful media businesses.
Adrian Per will present “Outsmart the Algorithm: More Content, Less Burnout.” Presented by Adobe, the session will explore originality, increasing content output, maintaining quality, and preventing creative burnout.
Asad Ayaz will lead “Your Next Big Project with Disney,” examining the different paths creators are taking into Disney through scripted series, feature films, and brand campaigns.
Dhar Mann will take attendees inside the large-scale production system behind his videos. His 125,000-square-foot facility contains more than 65 sets and supports 10 crews filming simultaneously, allowing his company to release five television-length videos each week.
Dude Perfect’s Cory Cotton and Garrett Hilbert will discuss how the group has remained together while growing its brand over 17 years. The session will examine important decisions, team responsibilities, collaborations, and the process of turning a YouTube channel into a larger entertainment company.
Disney Storytelling Meets the Creator Economy
Jared Bush, chief creative officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios, will discuss storytelling spontaneity and knowing when to leave behind a good idea in pursuit of a better one.
Bush has written or directed several major Disney animated films, including Moana, Encanto, and Zootopia. His session will give attendees a look at his creative process and what happens as stories evolve behind the scenes.
Jordan Matter will discuss how he and his daughter, Salish, transformed online views into a loyal audience. Together, they generate a reported 390 million long-form views per month and previously attracted 87,000 fans to a live meetup.
The Try Guys’ Zach Kornfeld and Keith Habersberger will explain how creators can develop complete shows instead of producing disconnected videos. Their session will use projects such as Eat the Menu, Without a Recipe, and Killer Dinner to demonstrate their creative approach.
Zach King will draw upon nearly two decades of online experience to discuss idea development, presentation, editing, and remaining relevant in a constantly changing digital environment.
Lessons in Comedy, Virality, and Cinematic Storytelling
AdamW will share how comedy, consistency, and an audience-first approach helped him grow short-form sketches into a media company with more than 55 million followers.
Jenny Hoyos will explore the storytelling methods, creative choices, and audience psychology that have helped her content generate billions of views.
Sam Eckholm, host of Access Granted, will discuss how creators can apply Hollywood production habits and cinematic storytelling techniques to their videos regardless of budget or audience size.
Collectively, the sessions will examine the many different ways creators can attract viewers, build communities, and transform their content into lasting entertainment brands.
A Historic Premiere at the El Capitan Theatre
The first day of Created in LA will begin September 17 at the El Capitan Theatre. Attendees will walk the red carpet before viewing new projects from major digital creators on the theater’s big screen.
The evening will include the premiere of The Technoblade Movie, an original video from filmmaking and digital creator duo Sticks. The project is described as a tribute to Technoblade, one of the online creator community’s most beloved figures.
The premiere will mark the first time in the El Capitan Theatre’s 100-year history that it has hosted an event of this kind.
Originally opened in 1926 and later restored by Disney, the theater has hosted major premieres including Walt Disney Animation Studios’ The Lion King in 1994 and Marvel Studios’ The Avengers in 2012.
Day Two Moves to Walt Disney Studios
On September 18, the event will continue at the Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank.
The studio opened in 1940 as Walt Disney’s animation operation continued to expand. It later became home to numerous Disney film and television productions, including Mary Poppins and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.
Throughout the day, attendees will hear from leaders across Hollywood and the creator economy while discussing current strategies, emerging opportunities, and the future of entertainment.
The event will also give creators opportunities to exchange ideas and develop relationships that could lead to future collaborations, partnerships, and sponsorships.
Who Is Jon Youshaei?
Created in LA was conceived and curated by Jon Youshaei, who spent eight years working inside YouTube and Instagram before building his own career as a creator and authority on the creator economy.
Youshaei has developed an audience of more than one million followers and generated approximately 400 million views. His work includes TED Talks and in-depth interviews with creators and entertainers such as MrBeast, Mark Rober, and Kevin Hart.
“This is historic,” Youshaei said of Disney opening the El Capitan Theatre and Walt Disney Studios lot to creators. He added that the event arrives as Hollywood and the creator economy continue to grow closer together.
Applications Are Now Available
Attendance at Created in LA will be carefully curated, with each participant selected as part of the event’s goal of connecting creators with potential collaborators, business partners, and sponsors.
Interested creators can apply through the official Created in LA website. Applications will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis.
By welcoming digital creators into two locations deeply connected to its entertainment history, Disney is recognizing how dramatically storytelling has evolved. Movies and television remain essential parts of the entertainment landscape, but some of today’s most influential stories are being created for YouTube, Instagram, and other digital platforms.
Created in LA will give those two worlds an opportunity to learn from one another while exploring what storytelling may look like in the years ahead.
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