“Dunk The Halls” To Return On Disney+ On Christmas Day

Disney will once again bring together the NBA and its iconic classic characters for the second annual “Dunk The Halls” special, which will feature a virtual, live re-creation of the Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks game on Christmas Day.

This special will stream live on Thursday, 25th December 2025 at noon ET on ESPN2, Disney+, Disney Channel, Disney XD and the new ESPN App via ESPN DTC or pay TV authentication, with the traditional telecast available on ABC, ESPN, Disney+ and the ESPN App.

The virtual, live re-creation of the Cavaliers vs. Knicks game will once again unfold on “Main Street, U.S.A.” in Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy, Pluto and Chip and Dale will return to cheer from the sidelines – joined for the first time by Stitch, who makes his Dunk the Halls debut as this year’s breakout star. From his playful antics on the sidelines to leading the new halftime Christmas Parade, the mischievous alien’s energy will drive the fun throughout the broadcast.

Mickey’s Christmas wish to Santa Claus once again brings the NBA to Magic Kingdom for a magical, animated matchup – and this year, the troublemaker Stitch’s arrival turns the celebration upside down. His unpredictable holiday cheer and out-of-this-world energy make for an even more spirited Dunk the Halls adventure.

This special will feature shots of “Main Street, U.S.A.” and iconic landmarks like Cinderella’s Castle will appear throughout, transformed with festive décor, snowfall and a few Stitch-inspired surprises.

Last month, Disney announced it had expanded its deal with Sony’s Beyond Sports technology to create new alternative animated versions of live sports events.

Check out the “Dunk The Halls” trailer below:

Each player will appear as a motion-tracked animated version of themselves, captured live through Sony’s Beyond Sports real-time visualisation and Hawk-Eye Innovations optical tracking. Viewers will see every dunk, layup and pass from the actual game at Madison Square Garden as it happens.

This new special will feature:

• Stitch headlines the action with his first-ever Dunk the Halls appearance, starring in a brand-new animated Christmas Parade down Main Street during halftime. The competition will feature floats from Mickey & Minnie, Donald & Daisy, Goofy & Pluto, and “Experiment 626” Stitch all vying for the title of “Best Christmas Parade Float.”
• Daisy Duck returns for her reporting duties with a special sideline interview with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.
• Santa’s elves return as camera operators, with Santa piloting ESPN’s “SkyCam.”
• Disney friends will deliver pregame and halftime speeches and decorate a massive Christmas tree during the broadcast.
• Fans can look forward to surprises, including whether it’ll snow on Main Street and how many churros Goofy can eat.

Returning to the “Dunk the Halls” broadcast booth for the second straight year, Drew Carter will once again serve as play-by-play commentator alongside ESPN basketball analyst Monica McNutt. The duo will be joined by returning sideline reporter Daisy Duck. Carter and McNutt will again be animated in the style of the telecast and don ESPN Edge Innovation Partner’s Meta Quest Pro headsets to experience the game from “Main Street, U.S.A..” thanks to VR technology and Sony’s Beyond Sports’ Virtual Commentator Technology.

The traditional Cavaliers vs. Knicks telecast on ABC, ESPN and Disney+ will feature Ryan Ruocco and Doris Burke on commentary with Jorge Sedano reporting.

Roger’s Take:  Disney is heavily investing in ESPN content and trying to make sports a major part of Disney+, so it makes sense that they continue to do something unique with their characters, which will appeal to families and younger audiences.   The international release of this special might be more difficult with the NBA rights, but hopefully, the VOD version will be made available to everyone for a limited time. 

Are you looking forward to watching “Dunk The Halls” on Christmas Day?  Let me know on social media!