Sofia the First is a princess in her own Disney Junior series (2013–2018), but she is not an official Disney Princess. Neither is Elena of Avalor (2016–2020). Both are royal heroines of Disney TV shows, while the 13-member Disney Princess lineup takes its heroines from theatrical animated films.
The mix-up is easy to make: Disney itself calls both girls princesses, and classic Disney Princesses visit their shows. The facts below come from Disney's own pages and press releases and from Wikipedia.
Checked on 13 October 2026: princess.disney.com and the Disney+ guide (revised 11 September 2026) list 13 Disney Princesses. Sofia and Elena are not among them.
Two meanings of "Disney princess"
| A Disney princess (lowercase) | The Disney Princess franchise | |
|---|---|---|
| Who | Any royal girl in a Disney story: Sofia, Elena, Anna and Elsa and many more | 13 named heroines, from Snow White to Raya |
| Where they come from | Films, TV series, books | Theatrical animated films, usually the first film in a series |
| What makes it official | The story gives her a royal title | Disney adds her to the lineup, sometimes with a public coronation |
| Where to check | The show or film itself | princess.disney.com and the Disney+ guide |
Disney uses both meanings. In July 2016 the company's own news site introduced Elena as "Disney's newest princess," while the princess site kept its separate list. Both statements were true; they just used the word differently. For the full lineup and the year each heroine joined, see the official list of Disney Princesses in order.
Sofia the First: the facts
| Sofia the First | |
|---|---|
| Format | Animated musical series for preschoolers, created by Craig Gerber |
| Pilot | TV film Sofia the First: Once Upon a Princess, 18 November 2012, Disney Channel |
| Series run | 11 January 2013 to 8 September 2018, Disney Junior |
| Size | 4 seasons, 113 episodes |
| How she became royal | Her mother, Miranda, marries King Roland II of Enchancia |
| Sequel | Sofia the First: Royal Magic, premiered 25 May 2026 on Disney Jr.; the first eight episodes reached Disney+ the next day |
Sofia is not royal by birth. She and her widowed mother live a modest life until Miranda marries the king, and the series follows Sofia as she gets used to palace life and attends a school for young royals. In the 2026 sequel she goes to a school for royal magic.
Children often take her for an official Disney Princess, and it is easy to see why. In the original series, Sofia's amulet can summon a princess to help her, which is how classic Disney Princesses visit the show. Disney's trailer for Royal Magic shows Rapunzel in the premiere episode. A child who sees Sofia side by side with Rapunzel or Cinderella will reasonably assume they belong to the same group.
Elena of Avalor: the facts
| Elena of Avalor | |
|---|---|
| Format | Animated series created by Craig Gerber, spun off from Sofia the First |
| Series run | 22 July 2016 to 23 August 2020; premiered on Disney Channel, moved to the Disney Junior channel on 14 July 2018 |
| Size | 3 seasons, 77 episodes |
| Origin story | TV film Elena and the Secret of Avalor, 20 November 2016: Sofia learns Elena has been trapped in her amulet for decades and helps free her |
| Age | Disney described Elena as 16 when the series began |
| Royal status | Crown princess of Avalor; the finale, "Coronation Day" (23 August 2020), is built around her coronation as queen |
Elena has a place in Disney history. Disney described her as its first princess "inspired by diverse Latin and Hispanic cultures," and ABC News reported in July 2016 that Disney was introducing its first Latina princess. The show's makers presented her as a leader first: she governs with the help of a Grand Council. Before the premiere, Aimee Carrero, who voices Elena, told ABC News that there is no "Prince Charming" in her story.
That "first" applies to Disney's TV princesses. As of 13 October 2026, the official lineup of 13 has no Latina heroine, and Elena's place in Disney history doesn't change her status.
Why neither is in the official lineup
Disney does not publish formal rules for the franchise, but the lineup follows a clear pattern, summarized on Wikipedia: every member leads a theatrical animated film from a Disney-owned studio, usually the first film in its series. That leaves out characters introduced in sequels, in direct-to-video films and on television. Sofia and Elena come from television.
The closest they came was a campaign in South Africa. When Disney's Ultimate Princess Celebration launched there on 29 April 2021, Sofia and Elena were included in a smaller role than the official princesses. That did not make them members, and on 13 October 2026 neither appears on princess.disney.com or in the Disney+ guide.
What this means at home
For a preschooler, the label matters far less than the story. Sofia's show is about being the new girl: a new family, new rules, a new school. Elena's is about responsibility and listening to other people before deciding. Both are good starting points for pretend play, whatever their official status.
If you want to watch them, both series were added to Disney+ in the US (Elena of Avalor on 12 November 2019, Sofia the First in October 2022), and Royal Magic streams there as well. Availability differs by country, so check your own Disney+ catalog.
FAQ
Is Sofia the First an official Disney Princess?
No. Sofia is a princess in her own Disney Junior series, but she is not one of the 13 official Disney Princesses listed on princess.disney.com or in the Disney+ guide revised on 11 September 2026. The lineup draws its heroines from theatrical animated films, and Sofia comes from television.
Is Elena of Avalor a Disney Princess?
Elena is a Disney princess character, the crown princess of Avalor, but she is not in the official Disney Princess lineup. Her series ran from 22 July 2016 to 23 August 2020, first on Disney Channel and from July 2018 on Disney Junior. Disney called her its newest princess in 2016 without adding her to the franchise list.
Is Elena Disney's first Latina princess?
Disney described Elena as its first princess inspired by diverse Latin and Hispanic cultures, and ABC News reported in July 2016 that Disney was introducing its first Latina princess. Because she comes from a TV series, she is not in the official Disney Princess lineup, which has no Latina heroine as of October 2026.
How are Sofia and Elena connected?
Elena's story starts in Sofia's world. In the TV film Elena and the Secret of Avalor, Sofia learns that Elena has been trapped inside her amulet for decades and helps free her. Craig Gerber created both series, and Elena appears in the 2026 sequel series Sofia the First: Royal Magic.
Is there a new Sofia the First show?
Yes. Sofia the First: Royal Magic premiered on Disney Jr. on 25 May 2026, and its first eight episodes arrived on Disney+ the next day in the US and selected markets. In it, Sofia attends a school for royal magic. It is still a TV series, so her lineup status stays the same.
Sources
- Disney Princess official site, character lineup: https://princess.disney.com/ (checked 13 October 2026)
- Disney+, "Disney Princess Movies," revised 11 September 2026: https://www.disneyplus.com/explore/articles/disney-princess-movies (checked 13 October 2026)
- The Walt Disney Company, "Disney Channel Introduces a New Princess—and a New Leader," 21 July 2016: https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/news/disney-channel-introduces-a-new-princess-and-a-new-leader/ (checked 13 October 2026)
- ABC News, "Disney Introduces First Latina Princess in 'Elena of Avalor'," 11 July 2016: https://abcnews.com/Entertainment/disney-introduces-latina-princess-elena-avalor/story?id=40481827 (checked 13 October 2026)
- Disney Parks press release on Elena's park debut ("a bold, caring, funny and clever 16-year-old"), April 2016, as archived by DisneyGeek: https://disneygeek.com/news/releases/2016/2016_04_20_wdw_new-princess-elena.php (checked 13 October 2026)
- Variety, "Disney Readies Debut of Its New Latina Princess, 'Elena of Avalor'," 9 June 2016: https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/disney-elena-of-avalor-princess-1201792152/ (checked 13 October 2026)
- Disney+ Press, "'Sofia The First: Royal Magic' Premieres May 25 On Disney Jr.," 2 April 2026: https://press.disneyplus.com/news/disney-plus-sofia-the-first-royal-magic-premiere-date (checked 13 October 2026)
- Disney+ Press, Royal Magic trailer with Rapunzel, 5 May 2026: https://press.disneyplus.com/news/disney-plus-sofia-the-first-royal-magic-trailer (checked 13 October 2026)
- Animation World Network on Royal Magic's school setting, 25 May 2026: https://www.awn.com/animationworld/sofia-first-royal-magic-brings-bigger-sets-better-lighting-and-brighter-magic (checked 13 October 2026)
- Wikipedia, "Sofia the First" (air dates, episodes, premise, Disney+ release): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sofia_the_First (checked 13 October 2026)
- Wikipedia, "Elena of Avalor" (air dates, episodes, finale, Disney+ release): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elena_of_Avalor (checked 13 October 2026)
- Wikipedia, "Disney Princess" (criteria; Ultimate Princess Celebration in South Africa): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disney_Princess (checked 13 October 2026)
To read Sofia's story and find a pretend-play idea built around it, open Sofia's page in our princess book.