At a Glance
- 95-year copyright limit reached for classic characters like Betty Boop, Mickey Mouse, and Winnie the Pooh.
- 2026 brings new comics, books, films, and songs into public domain on Jan. 1.
- Creators can now use these icons freely, though trademarks may still apply.
- Why it matters: Artists and producers can repurpose beloved culture without paying royalties.
On Jan. 1, 2026, a wave of iconic works will enter the public domain, including beloved cartoon characters, detective novels, classic films, and 1930s songs. This marks a significant expansion of free cultural material and offers creators new opportunities.
Cartoons & Comics
The first appearances of classic cartoon and comic characters are now free, including Betty Boop, Blondie, Mickey Mouse, and Pluto. These works reached the 95-year U.S. copyright maximum, making them public domain.
- Betty Boop, first seen in the 1930 short “Dizzy Dishes”
- Blondie, the flapper from Chic Young’s 1930 comic strip
- Mickey Mouse cartoons, 9 new shorts
- Pluto, Mickey’s dog, also enters public domain
**Jennifer Jenkins said:
> “She was bitten by a radioactive dog, that’s why she had this weird backstory,” she said with a laugh.
Books & Detectives
The 2026 batch opens the door to three iconic detectives and classic literature, including Nancy Drew, Sam Spade, Miss Marple, and works by William Faulkner and the Dick and Jane series.
- Nancy Drew, first four books starting with The Secret of the Old Clock
- Sam Spade, debut in The Maltese Falcon
- Miss Marple, first mystery in Murder at the Vicarage
- As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
- Elson Basic Readers series
Films & Awards
Several celebrated films will also become public domain, such as the Marx Brothers’ Animal Crackers, The Blue Angel, King of Jazz, and the Oscar winners All Quiet on the Western Front and Cimarron.
- The Cocoanuts (1930)
- Animal Crackers (1930)
- The Blue Angel (1930)
- King of Jazz (1930)
- All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)
- Cimarron (1931)
Songs & Tunes
A stream of Great American Songbook classics from the 1930s will enter public domain, including four Gershwin songs and others like Georgia on My Mind and Dream a Little Dream of Me.
- Embraceable You, I’ve Got a Crush on You, But Not for Me, I Got Rhythm (Gershwin)
- Georgia on My Mind (Hoagy Carmichael, Stuart Gorrell)
- Dream a Little Dream of Me (Gus Kahn, Fabian Andre, Wilbur Schwandt)
- Rodgers and Hart’s Manhattan, Marian Anderson’s Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen, Bessie Smith’s The St. Louis Blues
Key Takeaways
- 95-year copyright limit reached for iconic characters and works.
- 2026 public domain includes cartoons, books, films, and songs from the 1930s.
- Creators can now use these works freely, though trademarks may still apply.
This influx of public domain material opens a treasure trove for artists, writers, and producers, allowing them to reinvent beloved classics without licensing fees.
