8-K

UNITED STATESSECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSIONWASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure

On April 6, 2026, Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund (the "Company") issued a press release announcing that it will report its first quarter 2026 financial results, on Thursday May 7, 2026, after the market closes. The Company will host an earnings call on Friday May 8, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss its financial results. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

The information disclosed under this Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.1 hereto, is being "furnished" and shall not be deemed "filed" by the Company for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section, and shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

EX-99.1

Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund Announces

First Quarter 2026 Earnings Release and Conference Call

NEW YORK, NY, April 6, 2026 — Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund (NYSE: MSDL) ("MSDL”), a business development company externally managed by MS Capital Partners Adviser Inc., today announced it will release its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026, on Thursday, May 7, 2026, after the market closes. MSDL will host a conference call at 10:00 am ET on Friday, May 8, 2026, to review its financial results and conduct a question-and-answer session.

Conference Call Information

All interested parties are invited to participate in the live earnings conference call by using the following audio webcast link or dial-in details below:

• Audio Webcast
• Conference Call
• Domestic: 800-330-6710
• International: +1 213-279-1505
• Passcode: 5320038

To avoid potential delays, please join at least 10 minutes prior to the start of the earnings call. An archived replay will also be available on the Investor Relations section of the Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund website.

About Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund

Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund (NYSE: MSDL) is a non-diversified, externally managed specialty finance company focused on lending to middle-market companies. MSDL has elected to be regulated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. MSDL is externally managed by MS Capital Partners Adviser Inc., an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley. MSDL is not a subsidiary of or consolidated with Morgan Stanley. For more information about Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund, please visit www.msdl.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. You can identify these statements by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,” “target,” “estimate,” “intend,” “continue,” or “believe” or the negatives thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology. You should read statements that contain these words carefully because they discuss our plans, strategies, prospects and expectations concerning our business, operating results, financial condition and other similar matters. These statements represent MSDL’s belief regarding future events that, by their nature, are uncertain and outside of MSDL’s control. There are likely to be events in the future, however, that we are not able to predict accurately or control. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release speaks only as of the date on which we make it. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ, possibly materially from our expectations, include, but are not limited to, the risks, uncertainties and other factors we identify in the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and it is not possible for us to predict or identify all of them. We undertake no obligation to

update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Contacts

Investors Sanna Johnson msdl@morganstanley.com

Media Alyson Barnes 212-762-0514 alyson.barnes@morganstanley.com

Source: Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund