Disney Reveals 2026 Disney Legends Honorees for D23 Fan Event

The Walt Disney Company has officially announced the 2026 class of Disney Legends, honoring an impressive group of artists, performers, creators, and executives whose work has shaped the company’s storytelling legacy for generations.

The prestigious Disney Legends Award Ceremony will take place Sunday, August 16 at 1:30 p.m. PT at the Honda Center in Anaheim, serving as the grand finale of D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, which runs August 14–16, 2026. The ceremony will once again be hosted by Emmy-winning television personality Ryan Seacrest and will stream on Disney+, allowing fans around the world to watch the celebration.

“D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event is where we come together to give our incredible fans an early look at what’s coming next across our company, while celebrating the legacy of the extraordinary people whose creativity has shaped Disney into what it is today,” said Josh D’Amaro, Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company. “It’s an honor to celebrate our Disney Legends — their impact is felt in everything we do.”

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The 2026 Disney Legends Honorees

This year’s honorees represent a broad spectrum of Disney’s creative universe—from film and animation to music, television, sports, and theme parks. The 2026 class includes:

• Chris Berman – Legendary ESPN broadcaster
• Jerry Bruckheimer – Blockbuster film and television producer
• Susan Egan – Broadway star and voice of Megara in Hercules
• Eric Goldberg – Celebrated Disney animator behind characters like Genie in Aladdin
• Anne Hathaway – Star of The Princess Diaries and Alice in Wonderland
• Bob Iger – Former Chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company
• Kim Irvine – Legendary Walt Disney Imagineering creative leader
• Dwayne Johnson – Global film star and voice of Maui in Moana
• The Jonas Brothers – Pop icons and Disney Channel stars
• Lin-Manuel Miranda – Composer and songwriter behind Moana and Encanto
• Alan Tudyk – Prolific voice actor featured in nearly every modern Disney animated film

Collectively, the group highlights Disney’s influence across entertainment and culture, celebrating individuals who have helped bring beloved stories and characters to life.

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Honoring the Creative Forces Behind Disney Magic

Several of this year’s honorees are synonymous with modern Disney storytelling.

Lin-Manuel Miranda, whose songwriting helped define Disney’s musical renaissance in the streaming era, contributed the chart-topping soundtrack for Encanto, including the global hit “We Don’t Talk About Bruno.” Miranda also wrote songs for Moana and continues collaborating with Disney on upcoming projects.

Dwayne Johnson, one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars, earned a place in Disney history as the voice of Maui in Moana and Moana 2, with the live-action adaptation arriving in theaters in summer 2026.

Meanwhile, Alan Tudyk has quietly become a staple of Disney animation, appearing in every Walt Disney Animation Studios film since Wreck-It Ralph (2012), voicing memorable characters like Heihei in Moana, Duke Weaselton in Zootopia, and Valentino the goat in Wish.

Broadway star Susan Egan is also being recognized for her unique place in Disney history as the original Belle in the Broadway production of Beauty and the Beast and the voice of Megara in Hercules.

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Disney Leadership and Creative Visionaries

The Disney Legends honor also recognizes individuals who shaped the company behind the scenes.

Former CEO Bob Iger is being celebrated for his transformational leadership during two decades at the helm of the company. During his tenure, Disney acquired Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and 21st Century Fox, while launching Disney+ and expanding Disney’s global theme park footprint with projects like Shanghai Disney Resort.

Producer Jerry Bruckheimer, whose films include Pirates of the Caribbean, Top Gun, and National Treasure, is also among this year’s honorees. Across a five-decade career, Bruckheimer’s films have collectively generated nearly $15 billion at the global box office.

On the creative side of animation, legendary Disney animator Eric Goldberg is being recognized for designing and animating iconic characters such as the Genie in Aladdin, as well as directing segments of Fantasia/2000 and contributing to films like The Princess and the Frog and Moana.

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Music, Sports, and Theme Park Legacy

The honorees also represent Disney’s influence beyond film.

The Jonas Brothers, who rose to global fame through Disney Channel projects like Camp Rock and the series JONAS, are being honored for their musical legacy and long-standing relationship with the company. The group recently returned to Disney with the holiday film A Very Jonas Christmas Movie and is set to appear in the upcoming Disney Channel Original Movie Camp Rock 3.

Sports broadcasting icon Chris Berman is also joining the Disney Legends ranks for his decades-long role in shaping ESPN, where he helped define sports coverage through landmark programs like NFL PrimeTime.

Meanwhile, longtime Imagineer Kim Irvine is being honored for her 55-year career designing and shaping iconic experiences at Disneyland, including projects tied to attractions like “it’s a small world” and Sleeping Beauty Castle.

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A Nearly Four-Decade Disney Tradition

The Disney Legends Award is the company’s highest honor and has been recognizing extraordinary contributions to the Disney legacy since 1987, when actor Fred MacMurray became the first recipient.

With the 2026 class, the total number of Disney Legends will rise to 329. Past recipients include entertainment icons such as Julie Andrews, Stan Lee, Robin Williams, George Lucas, Steve Jobs, Elton John, Robert Downey Jr., Oprah Winfrey, and Dick Van Dyke.

As Disney prepares for another massive gathering of fans at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, the 2026 Disney Legends ceremony promises to be one of the convention’s most emotional and celebratory moments—honoring the artists, innovators, and visionaries who helped build the magic that continues to inspire audiences around the world. ✨