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Streaming Region Picks: What Disney+/Netflix Originals Reveal About European Filming Hotspots

UUnknown

2026-02-09

10 min read

Map 2026 filming hotspots: where Disney+ EMEA and Netflix invest, and how fans and creators can visit or find work.

Want to visit a show’s exact street or land your next gig on a streamer set? Start here.

Travelers and expat creators face two constant headaches: finding reliable, up-to-the-minute filming location info and knowing where the jobs actually are. In 2026, big streamer strategy and executive reshuffles — from Disney+ EMEA’s London commissioning leadership to consolidation moves among European producers — are the clearest signals of where crew, cast and fans should look. This guide translates recent executive moves and content slates into a practical map of filming hotspots, job markets and on-the-ground tips for visiting or working in Europe.

Topline: Where streamers are directing production spend in 2026

Two-second summary before you dive in:

UK (London, Pinewood/Shepperton, Scotland, Wales) — still the anchor for high-end scripted and franchise work, boosted by Disney+ EMEA’s London commissioning leadership.
Spain (Madrid, Barcelona, Canary Islands) — big for both local-language originals and large-scale international shoots thanks to diverse locations and competitive incentives.
Central & Eastern Europe (Budapest, Prague, Bucharest, Warsaw) — cost-effective studio hubs for VFX-heavy and period productions.
France & Italy (Paris, Marseille, Rome, Cinecittà) — boutique scripted and prestige drama centers as consolidation among producers pushes pan-European co-productions.
Nordic & Atlantic (Iceland, Norway, Faroe, Azores) — landscape-driven shoots and high-end limited series.

Why 2025–26 executive moves matter for location and job scouts

Executives are the gatekeepers of where content gets greenlit, commissioned and financed. Listen to where they’re building teams, and you’ll see the production map in advance.

Disney+ EMEA: London-based commissioning signals more UK-first shoots

In early 2026 Angela Jain’s moves at Disney+ EMEA — promoting long-serving London commissioners into VP scripted and unscripted roles — are a signal. A stronger London commissioning hub means:

More UK-located scripted originals (period drama, prestige limited series) that use Pinewood/Shepperton and regional studios.
Growth in unscripted formats produced in the UK and distributed across EMEA.
Higher demand for crew with BBC/ITV experience and for local fixes like studio runners, location managers and casting directors for extras.

Banijay–All3Media and industry consolidation: pan‑European shoots on the rise

Consolidation headlines in 2026, notably the Banijay–All3Media talks, mean bigger production companies with deeper distribution networks. For creators and local economies that usually translates to:

Standardisation of formats and larger unscripted franchises (think MasterChef, The Traitors), often filmed across multiple European bases to localise versions.
Cross-border workflows — producers will move camera teams between Spain, France and the UK to match tax-credit timing and release schedules.

Vice Media and the rise of purpose-built studio ops

Vice’s 2026 C-suite hires show how media brands are turning studio-scale. That means new opportunities in documentary, factual and branded content across European cities — especially in hubs with lower cost bases and strong news/generation Z talent pools (Amsterdam, Lisbon, Berlin).

Netflix, WBD talks and what it means for theatrical-quality shoots in Europe

“If we’re going to be in the theatrical business, and we are, we’re competitive people — we want to win opening weekend.” — Ted Sarandos (reported 2026)

Talk of Netflix acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery and public debate over theatrical windows suggest a twofold effect: big-budget, theatrical-style productions will keep needing large European studios; and streamer consolidation could create more centralized slates — fewer but larger shoots concentrated in studio hubs with premium tech and VFX capacity.

Hotspot by hotspot: what to expect and how to get there

Below is a practical, city-level map with why each place is hot, what jobs grow there, and the best way to find filming locations.

London & the UK (Scotland, Wales)

Why: Commissioning base for Disney+ EMEA, massive studio infrastructure (Pinewood, Shepperton, Leavesden), deep post/VFX talent pool.
Jobs: Line producers, ADs, camera ops, VFX compositors, set construction, extras casting.
How fans find locations: Official studio tours (Pinewood), local film office social feeds, ShotHotspot, and dedicated walking tours (e.g., film and TV tours in London and Edinburgh).

Spain (Madrid, Barcelona, Canary Islands)

Why: Diverse urban and island landscapes, aggressive regional incentives, growing local-language streaming slate.
Jobs: Location scouts, unit production managers, Spanish-speaking production assistants.
Fan tips: Follow regional film commissions (Canary Islands Film Commission, Catalunya Film Commission) for filming calendars and public location notices.

Central & Eastern Europe (Budapest, Prague, Bucharest, Poland)

Why: Big studio space (Korda, Barrandov), lower costs for period drama and VFX-heavy shoots, increasingly multilingual crews.
Jobs: Greensmen, special effects, set painters, VFX pipeline roles, post-production staff.
How fans find locations: Local tourist boards often list film locations (Prague’s Old Town, Budapest riverfronts). Join local Facebook groups for extras calls.

France & Italy (Paris, Marseille, Rome, Cinecittà)

Why: Prestige dramas, auteur directors, and more pan-European co-productions post-consolidation.
Jobs: Script supervisors, dialect coaches, period costume teams.
Fan tips: Cinecittà tours and Parisian location walks; use local guides who specialise in cinema history.

Nordic & Atlantic (Iceland, Norway, Azores)

Why: Unique landscapes for genre shoots and limited series — high per-day location value.
Jobs: Remote locations crews, helicopter ops, environmental techs.
Fan tips: Many remote shoots publish environmental and access notices; respect closures and hire local guides.

How creators and job-seekers can use this map — practical steps

If you’re hunting gigs or scouting locations in 2026, treat streamer executive moves as leading indicators. Here’s a playbook.

1) Follow commissioning desks and exec moves — they predict demand

Track trade press (Deadline, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter) for moves like Disney+ EMEA promotions and Banijay–All3Media consolidation.
Set Google Alerts for keywords: Disney+ EMEA, Netflix investments, production locations, filming hotspots.

2) Register with local film commissions and staffing sites

Film commissions: They publish filming calendars, permit info and local crew lists. Examples: Film London, ICEX’s Spain Film Commission, Czech Film Commission, Hungary’s HPM.
Staffing portals: Create profiles on Mandy, ProductionBase, Staff Me Up, local union job boards and LinkedIn. Keep reels under 2 minutes and tailored to the market.

3) Up-skill for the formats winning right now

2026 shows more demand for:

Unscripted production experience — thanks to consolidated format houses scaling across markets.
Multi-lingual producers — producers and coordinators who can handle cross-border shoots are hot commodities.
Post-production and VFX pipeline skills — big studio tentpoles require local post capacity in UK, France and Eastern Europe.

Follow local casting agencies, film-office Twitter/X and Instagram feeds; many extras calls now land on social first. See guides on optimising listings for live audiences to catch posts early.
Join city-specific Facebook groups for film work (e.g., “London Film Crew”, “Prague Extras”); they are often the first to know.

5) Scout locations smarter: tech + local fixers

Don’t cold-call a council. Do this instead:

Use satellite and street-view to pre-clear look matches — and consider embedding or referencing local map tools when preparing presentations (map plugins for local business sites).
Hire a local fixer for permits and community outreach — field crews and micro-production teams recommend reading field toolkit reviews for what fixers bring on location.
Check the local film office database for previous permits — they’ll tell you sensitivities (noise, traffic) and permit windows.

For fans: the quickest way to visit filming locations without disrupting production

Filming is living, working, and opportunistic. If you want to visit locations responsibly and actually see something:

Check official location notices. Film offices post public notices for road closures or public filming.
Join official studio tours and local walking tours. Many shows recreate sets for tourist visits or offer guided routes.
Respect closures and crew safety. Don’t wander onto private sets; use designated viewing areas if available.

Legal, permit and union realities to keep top of mind (practical do’s)

Every country has different rules. Here are universal actions to protect yourself and impress producers:

Always confirm your status: freelancer vs. employee (tax & visa implications).
Join relevant unions or guilds if you plan sustained work (BECTU in the UK, SACD in France; confirm current local bodies).
Carry digital copies of ID, CV, showreel and two references. Producers will ask fast.

What to expect in the next 12–24 months (2026 predictions)

Based on 2025–26 trends, here's what will shape filming hotspots and job markets:

Consolidation breeds scale: Larger production groups will use multiple European bases in coordinated slates, increasing cross-border short-term hires.
Commissioning hubs matter more: Where the commissioning desk sits (e.g., London for Disney+ EMEA) directly impacts where scripts are set and shot.
Theatre-window moves shift slate mix: If major streamers re-emphasize theatrical windows, expect more cinematic production values and concentrated use of big studios in the UK, France and Spain.
Formats and unscripted growth: Bigger format houses create recurring demand for production teams — a boon for PA-to-producer career tracks.

Case study: Turn an executive promotion into your advantage

When Disney+ promoted VPs in London to steer scripted and unscripted commissioning, it created predictable downstream demand: more UK-based series seeking established local crews. Here’s how to act on a move like that:

Scan the commissioning exec’s prior titles and identify recurring crew companies (unit production managers, line producers).
Target those companies with a short, customised outreach: one-line intro, two relevant credits, and a link to a 60-second reel.
Follow the exec on LinkedIn and engage with public posts professionally — they notice consistent, smart engagement from crew in their region.

Checklist: 10 quick moves to get started this month

Create or update a one-minute reel tailored to the target market.
Register with three local film commissions in your preferred country.
Sign up for alerts from trade outlets and set 3 keyword alerts.
Make a shortlist of five production companies in your city and follow them on social.
Book a session with a local fixer or line producer to learn permit norms.
Join two location or production Facebook groups for community job leads.
Check union membership requirements for at least two countries you might work in.
Prepare multilingual CVs (English + one local language).
Scout two nearby studios or public locations and photograph access paths and parking.
Put your phone on a broadcast schedule for social alerts at 7–9am and 5–7pm (key times crews post calls).

Final takeaways: read signals, then get local

Executive promotions, mergers and acquisitions aren’t just corporate drama — they are the best public clues to where streamers will greenlight work and where production dollars will land. In 2026, that means:

Watch commissioning centers (like Disney+ EMEA in London) — they predict the types of shows and the geography of shoots.
Follow consolidation — larger production groups will push repeat work into a smaller set of hotspots.
Match skills to formats — unscripted and multi-language producers will be in highest demand.

Use the practical steps above to show up smarter — whether you’re a fan mapping a visit, an expat looking for steady PA work, or a creator building a pipeline to the streamers shifting the map.

Call to action

Want a printable pocket map of 2026 European filming hotspots and the exact festival/commission contacts for each city? Subscribe to european.live’s Filming Hotspots briefing — we send monthly updates timed to commissioning windows and major exec moves so you can plan visits or book jobs with confidence.

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Senior editor and content strategist. Writing about technology, design, and the future of digital media. Follow along for deep dives into the industry's moving parts.