Twenty years after Lightning McQueen first raced onto the big screen, Disney and Pixar's Cars franchise is celebrating a major milestone in 2026.
The anniversary has already brought several notable events for Cars fans, including a return to theaters, new merchandise and an unusual crossover between Lightning McQueen and Formula 1.
- The original Cars movie is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2026.
- The movie returned to theaters beginning September 5, 2026.
- Lightning McQueen was featured in a special Formula 1 celebration at Monza.
- A new Disney and Pixar Cars Formula 1 collection includes Mattel die-cast vehicles.
Cars Returns to the Big Screen
One of the biggest parts of the anniversary celebration has been the return of the original Cars movie to theaters.
Disney announced that the 2006 animated feature would return to cinemas beginning September 5, 2026 as part of the 20th anniversary celebration. The theatrical return also coincided with Lightning McQueen Day, celebrated annually on September 5 because of his famous racing number, 95.
For longtime fans, the theatrical rerelease provides an opportunity to experience the original Radiator Springs story on the big screen again while introducing the movie to a new generation.
Lightning McQueen Meets Formula 1
The anniversary celebration has also moved beyond movie theaters.
Disney and Formula 1 announced an extension of their global "Fuel the Magic" collaboration through the 2028 season, with Disney and Pixar's Cars joining the program.
Lightning McQueen was subsequently featured at the 2026 Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix weekend at Monza. The celebration included a special Cars-inspired Mercedes-AMG Formula 1 Safety Car design and a special appearance by Lightning McQueen.
The combination of Cars and Formula 1 is an especially natural fit for the franchise, bringing together the fictional world of Radiator Springs with one of the world's most recognizable forms of motorsport.
New Cars Diecast and Merchandise
Collectors also have something to watch during the anniversary year.
Disney and Formula 1 introduced a new Cars collection featuring apparel, accessories, collectibles and Mattel die-cast vehicles inspired by the crossover.
The collection was first showcased at D23 in August before expanding to additional sales channels and the Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix weekend.
For Cars collectors, collaborations like this are particularly interesting because they can introduce familiar characters in designs that are outside the traditional Cars movie and diecast releases.
Why 2026 Is an Interesting Year for Cars Collectors
The 20th anniversary gives collectors several different areas to follow rather than a single anniversary product line.
Original Cars characters such as Lightning McQueen, Mater and Sally remain popular collecting subjects, while anniversary merchandise and crossover products provide new variations for collectors to look for.
The Formula 1 collaboration is particularly notable because it connects the Cars franchise with real-world motorsport and creates another opportunity for diecast vehicles and other collectibles.
What We Will Be Watching at Diecast Dungeon
Here at Diecast Dungeon, we'll be keeping an eye on the Cars collecting world throughout the anniversary year.
That includes new Mattel releases, unusual character variants, anniversary merchandise, Cars-related announcements and other developments that may be of interest to collectors and fans.
We'll also continue tracking the wider Disney Pixar Cars universe, including movies, shows, characters, merchandise and special events.
The Road Ahead
Twenty years after the first Cars movie introduced audiences to Radiator Springs, Lightning McQueen and Mater, the franchise remains active across movies, merchandise, collectibles and fan experiences.
The 2026 anniversary celebrations show just how far the Cars brand has traveled since 2006. For fans and collectors, the anniversary year offers plenty of reasons to keep watching the road ahead.
Information in this article was researched using official announcements from Disney and Formula 1.
Disney: Formula 1 and Disney Extend Their Collaboration
Disney Experiences: Cars at Monza
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