Is Cartoon Network Shutting Down? The Truth in 2026

Is Cartoon Network Shutting Down? Here Is the Real Story

Every few months, fans open social media and see a flood of posts claiming the end of Cartoon Network. The hashtag #RIPCartoonNetwork has trended more than once, and headlines about the network’s website vanishing only added to the panic. So, is Cartoon Network shutting down?

The short answer: No, Cartoon Network has not officially shut down, and as of 2026 the linear channel is still broadcasting. However, the network is being quietly scaled back by its parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery. The website is gone, the historic studio was vacated, and most classic shows have moved to streaming services such as Tubi, Hulu and Prime Video.

Why #RIPCartoonNetwork Keeps Trending

The rumor mill started in July 2024, when an animation workers’ group referenced the closure of Cartoon Network Studios’ historic Burbank building. Social media posts quickly twisted that into “Cartoon Network has officially shut down,” and the hashtag #RIPCartoonNetwork exploded on X (formerly Twitter).

News agency Reuters fact-checked the claim and confirmed the network was not shutting down. But the confusion was understandable: the studio had indeed been consolidated into Warner Bros. Animation, and the building was being closed as part of Warner Bros. Discovery’s cost-cutting push.

What Has Actually Changed

Cartoon Network has not disappeared overnight. Instead, it has been “shut down by degrees.” Here is a look at the major changes that have happened since 2024, first reported by Variety:

• August 2024: Warner Bros. Discovery pulled cartoonnetwork.com offline and redirected visitors to a Max sign-up page.
• September 2024: The standalone Boomerang streaming service was sunset, with its catalog moved to Max.
• 2024: Cartoon Network’s annual advertising revenue plunged about 80 percent, from $668.4 million in 2014 to $133.7 million, according to a 2025 Bloomberg report.
• 2024-2025: Cartoon Network Studios was folded under Warner Bros. Animation leadership, and its Burbank headquarters was vacated.
• 2025-2026: New and revived shows, such as Adventure Time spin-offs and The Amazing World of Gumball, began premiering on Hulu, Tubi and Prime Video instead of the channel.

How Many People Still Watch the Channel?

The numbers tell a stark story. Industry tracking in 2026 suggests the linear channel now averages fewer than 50,000 viewers per day, a fraction of the audience it commanded during its peak years. Cable carriage has also shrunk: some providers have moved the channel into more expensive packages or dropped it from budget tiers entirely.

For context, the channel still airs around 11 hours of programming daily, mostly reruns of classics like The Powerpuff Girls, Adventure Time and Teen Titans Go. But as a destination for brand-new original series, Cartoon Network has largely stepped aside.

Where Did the Shows Go?

Warner Bros. Discovery has been treating Cartoon Network’s library as flexible assets, licensing them to whichever platform offers the best audience or deal. The result is that many favorites now live outside the channel entirely:

• Tubi: a free ad-supported home for classics like Dexter’s Laboratory, The Powerpuff Girls, Teen Titans and more.
• Hulu: home to new Gumball seasons and various Adventure Time projects.
• Prime Video: where shows like Batman: Caped Crusader were shopped to a different streaming audience.
• Max: still carries some Cartoon Network programming, though the catalog has shrunk over time.

Is the Channel Officially Dead? Not Yet

Despite all the changes, Warner Bros. Discovery has made no official announcement that Cartoon Network is ceasing operations. The channel still exists on cable packages, and its parent company has described the shifts as focusing on the shows and the social media channels where fans are most engaged.

Adding to the uncertainty is the ongoing acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery by Paramount Skydance, a deal valued at roughly $110.9 billion. With the acquisition expected to close in late 2026, the network’s long-term future may depend on how the new owners organize the combined company’s animation and streaming businesses.

What This Means for Fans

If you are a Cartoon Network fan worried about losing access to your favorite shows, here is the good news: almost everything is still watchable somewhere. Just like Alien Tape and Hatchimals, the concern is often about a big brand quietly changing, not truly disappearing.

• Watch live: tune in to the Cartoon Network linear channel if it is included in your cable or live TV package.
• Stream free: many classics are available on Tubi, which regularly rotates Warner Bros. animation titles.
• Stream with a subscription: Hulu and Prime Video host newer shows and revivals.
• Keep an eye on announcements: the Warner Bros. Discovery-Paramount deal could change where shows live next.

The Bottom Line

So, is Cartoon Network shutting down? As of now, the answer is no, but the network is clearly being phased out as a traditional television channel. The brand and its shows are not going anywhere; they are simply scattering across the streaming landscape. For a generation of fans, that may feel like the end of an era, even if the cartoons themselves will keep playing for years to come.