Disney will open the El Capitan Theatre and its Burbank studio lot to creators for “Created in LA” with Jon Youshaei

Disney is preparing a first-of-its-kind creators event this fall, bringing a creator-economy host and marquee storytelling talent to two of its most iconic Los Angeles venues. “Created in LA,” presented by Disney, will run Sept. 17-18, beginning with what the company describes as the first-ever red-carpet premiere of creator videos at Hollywood’s El Capitan Theatre, then shifting the focus to a day of talks and performances at the Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank.

The creator premiere is scheduled for Sept. 17 at El Capitan, a historic theater originally opened in 1926 and later restored by The Walt Disney Company. Disney says the venue has hosted major premieres over the decades, including Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “The Lion King” in 1994 and Marvel Studios’ “The Avengers” in 2012. For “Created in LA,” Disney is reframing the red-carpet moment around creator video debuts rather than conventional studio releases.

On Sept. 18, the event moves to the studio lot itself. Disney says the Walt Disney Studios location opened in 1940 to accommodate Walt Disney’s growing animation operation, and it later became the filming location for landmark film and television productions, including “Mary Poppins” (1964) and “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” (2003). At “Created in LA,” attendees will spend the day hearing from prominent voices across the creator economy and Hollywood as they exchange ideas on what is working now and what comes next in entertainment storytelling.

At the center of the programming is Jon Youshaei, who Disney describes as the event’s creator and host. The company says Youshaei spent eight years working inside YouTube and Instagram before launching his own work and establishing himself as a leading voice in the creator economy. Disney credits Youshaei with building an audience of more than 1 million followers and generating 400 million views, alongside recognition for TED Talks and for interviews and behind-the-scenes videos with figures including MrBeast, Mark Rober, Kevin Hart, and others.

Disney positions the event as both glamour and substance, pairing a premiere format with a summit-style agenda. The company says “Created in LA” is designed to explore “the future of storytelling and entertainment” with the people shaping it across platforms. Disney also frames the effort as a continuation of its long-standing role in storytelling and creative communities, using the company’s physical stages and production history as a backdrop for creator-led culture.

Disney’s marketing leadership tied the partnership to audience connection and storytelling craft. Asad Ayaz, Chief Marketing and Brand Officer at The Walt Disney Company, said in the announcement that today’s creators are delivering stories to generations, building communities, and connecting fans around shared interests. Ayaz added that Disney is looking forward to welcoming those creators to the company for “Created in LA.”

Youshaei, speaking in the release, called the event historic, saying it is “surreal” to see Disney open two of its most iconic venues to creators after roughly a century. He also described the collaboration as an effort to bring the event to life with Disney. In his remarks, Youshaei emphasized the curated nature of attendance, saying every attendee is hand-selected and that the event is designed to bring together the right people on stage and off, including potential collaborators, business partners, or sponsors.

While the release sketches the event structure, it does not disclose which specific creators will attend, the precise lineup of speakers, or the full schedule of talks, performances, or panel sessions. It also does not provide ticketing prices, capacity limits, or whether the Sept. 17 red-carpet premiere will be open to the public beyond the application and selection process.

The company did provide one operational detail: those interested can apply through the official “Created in LA” website, and Disney says applications will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis. For viewers and industry observers, the next step is watching for announced creator participants and verifying how Disney will translate the event into longer-term programming or collaborations across its media, streaming, and promotional channels. In a broader sense, the event also sets up a telling test of Disney’s willingness to treat creator platforms not just as marketing partners, but as central to its storytelling convening power.