Ghostbusters Day 2026: New Animated Series and Global Philanthropy
On June 6, 2026, Sony Pictures marked the annual Ghostbusters Day celebration at the historic FDNY Hook & Ladder 8 firehouse in New York City. The event, which honors the legacy of the 1984 franchise, featured the announcement of a new animated series, Ghostbusters: Night Shift, alongside a significant charitable milestone that saw fan communities raise over $666,000 for local causes.
What is Ghostbusters: Night Shift?
During the New York City presentation, showrunners Ben Hibon and Elliott Kalan, joined by Ghost Corps executive producers Jason Reitman and Gil Kenan, unveiled the official title and logo for Ghostbusters: Night Shift. This upcoming animated series, a collaboration between Netflix and Sony Pictures Animation, is scheduled for a 2027 debut.
Production details confirm that animation services will be handled by Flying Bark Studios, utilizing both its Sydney headquarters and its Madrid studio. Beyond the small screen, Netflix and Sony Pictures Animation are also developing a feature film with director Kris Pearn, known for his work on The Willoughbys and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2, attached to the project.
The Impact of Ghostbusters Give Back
The 2026 event highlighted the success of the “Ghostbusters Give Back” initiative, a year-long fundraising campaign that surpassed its initial $500,000 goal. Fan chapters globally contributed to this total, with Sony Pictures providing a $150,000 match donation to the Starlight Children’s Foundation. CEO Adam Garone accepted the donation on behalf of the foundation during the ceremony.
The top three fundraising chapters recognized at the event were:
- Buffalo Ghostbusters: $67,000 raised
- Los Angeles Ghostbusters: $65,000 raised
- Ghostbusters Virginia: $30,000 raised
How the Franchise Continues to Give
The celebration extended beyond the main presentation, integrating community engagement and partnerships across the country:
- Hospital Outreach: Jason Reitman, Gil Kenan, and actress Celeste O’Connor visited Maimonides Children’s Hospital in Brooklyn to deliver toys and Ghostbusters-themed hospital gowns to pediatric patients in collaboration with the Starlight Children’s Foundation.
- FDNY Foundation Support: Proceeds from the event and a live auction conducted by the Buffalo Ghostbusters 501(c)(3) fan group were directed to the FDNY Foundation.
- Concert Tour Activation: The Ghostbusters in Concert National Fall Tour, managed by Schirmer Theatrical and Black Ink Presents, introduced a GBDAY26 code. For every ticket purchased using this code, Black Ink pledged a $2.12 donation to the FDNY Foundation.
A Legacy of Pop Culture
Ghostbusters Day commemorates the June 8, 1984, release of the original film directed by Ivan Reitman and written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis. The original motion picture earned nearly $300 million at the global box office and established a franchise that has since expanded into four additional feature films: Ghostbusters II (1989), Ghostbusters: Answer The Call! (2016), Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021), and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024).
As the franchise looks toward 2027, the focus remains on balancing new media developments with the community-driven philanthropy that has become a hallmark of the Ghostbusters fan base.