The Disney Legends 2026 class has officially been inducted, closing out D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event with one of the most star-studded ceremonies in the award’s history. The Disney Legends Award Ceremony took place on August 16, 2026, at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, with returning host Ryan Seacrest leading the tributes to eleven honorees who have shaped Disney’s film, television, music, sports, and theme park legacy.
Established in 1987, the Disney Legends Award is the company’s highest honor, reserved for individuals whose creativity and leadership have left a lasting mark on Disney’s history. This year’s class spans nearly every corner of the Disney universe, from a former CEO to Broadway royalty to a Grammy-nominated pop-rock trio.
Here is everything you need to know about the 2026 Disney Legends class.
Who Are the 2026 Disney Legends?
The 2026 Disney Legends honorees are Chris Berman, Jerry Bruckheimer, Susan Egan, Eric Goldberg, Anne Hathaway, Bob Iger, Kim Irvine, Dwayne Johnson, the Jonas Brothers, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Alan Tudyk. Together, they represent television, film, animation, voice acting, music, sports broadcasting, Imagineering, and corporate leadership.
Below is a closer look at each honoree and the body of work that earned them Disney’s highest recognition.
Bob Iger (Leadership)
The recently retired CEO of The Walt Disney Company, Bob Iger is credited with reshaping the modern Disney empire through the acquisitions of Pixar in 2006, Marvel in 2009, Lucasfilm in 2012, and 21st Century Fox in 2019. His tenure also included the landmark opening of Shanghai Disney Resort in 2016, Disney’s first theme park on mainland China. His induction marks a full-circle moment for the executive who led the company through its most transformative era of growth.
Anne Hathaway (Film)
Anne Hathaway’s Disney story began with her breakout role as Mia Thermopolis in The Princess Diaries (2001) and The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004). She later starred as the White Queen in Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland (2010) and its sequel, Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016). The Oscar, Golden Globe, and Emmy winner is set to reprise her role as Andy Sachs in The Devil Wears Prada 2.
Dwayne Johnson (Film and Voice)
Following a record-setting career in professional wrestling, Dwayne Johnson transitioned to acting with his 2001 film debut in The Mummy Returns. He went on to jump-start the Fast & Furious franchise and reboot Jumanji, but Disney fans best know him as the voice of Maui in Moana and Moana 2, a role he is reprising in the upcoming live-action Moana film.
Lin-Manuel Miranda (Film and Music)
A Pulitzer Prize, Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Award winner, Lin-Manuel Miranda is best known for creating and starring in Broadway’s Hamilton. Within the Disney universe, he wrote songs for Moana (2016), earning an Academy Award nomination, and composed the entire soundtrack for Encanto, including the chart-topping hit “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” and the Oscar-nominated “Dos Oruguitas.” He also starred as Jack the Lamplighter in Mary Poppins Returns and is contributing music to the upcoming live-action Moana.
Jonas Brothers (Television and Music)
Nick, Joe, and Kevin Jonas first rose to fame as some of Disney Channel’s biggest stars, headlining Camp Rock, Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam, and their own series, JONAS. Since then, the trio has sold more than 20 million albums and earned two Grammy nominations. The brothers returned to their Disney roots with A Very Jonas Christmas Movie on Disney+ in 2025 and the upcoming Disney Channel Original Movie, Camp Rock 3.
Jerry Bruckheimer (Film)
An Academy Award-nominated producer, Jerry Bruckheimer’s credits include the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, National Treasure, and blockbuster franchises like Bad Boys and Beverly Hills Cop. His most recent film, F1, grossed more than $631 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing sports movie ever made. Bruckheimer also produced CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, which spawned five spin-offs and once made television history with ten simultaneous network series in a single season.
Chris Berman (Television)
A veteran ESPN sports broadcaster, Chris Berman has covered the World Series, the Super Bowl, and Monday Night Football throughout his decades-long career. He was named National Sportscaster of the Year six times and is known for coining memorable nicknames for professional athletes. Berman is also expected to be part of ESPN’s first-ever Super Bowl broadcast in 2027.
Susan Egan (Voice)
Susan Egan originated the role of Belle in Disney on Broadway’s Beauty and the Beast, winning a Tony Award for Best Actress, and voiced Megara in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Hercules (1997). Her career also includes leading Broadway roles in Cabaret and Thoroughly Modern Millie, voice work in Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away, and five seasons as Rose Quartz on Cartoon Network’s Steven Universe. In November 2025, Egan was named Godmother of the Disney Destiny cruise ship.
Eric Goldberg (Animation)
Veteran Disney animator Eric Goldberg brought some of the studio’s most beloved characters to life, including the Genie in Aladdin, Phil in Hercules, and Louis the alligator in The Princess and the Frog. He also contributed hand-drawn animation flair to Moana and Moana 2, and led the hand-drawn animation for the Emmy-winning short film Once Upon a Studio, which celebrated Disney’s 100th anniversary.
Kim Irvine (Imagineering)
Kim Irvine spent more than five decades with Walt Disney Imagineering, shaping the concept design, color styling, and interior and exterior design for many of Disneyland’s most iconic attractions. Her mother, Disney Legend Leota Toombs, was the original face of Madame Leota in the Haunted Mansion’s Séance Circle, and Irvine was later asked to recreate her mother’s role when the Nightmare Before Christmas overlay was added to the attraction in 2001.
Alan Tudyk (Voice)
A prolific voice actor, Alan Tudyk has lent his talents to King Candy in Wreck-It Ralph, Heihei in Moana and Moana 2, Valentino in Wish, and Duke Weaselton in Zootopia and Zootopia 2. He also voiced the droid K-2SO in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and reprised the role in the Disney+ series Andor, earning an Emmy nomination for the performance.
Where the Disney Legends Ceremony Took Place
The 2026 Disney Legends Award Ceremony was held at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, on August 16, 2026, as the closing event of D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event presented by Visa, which ran from August 14 through 16, 2026. Ryan Seacrest returned as host for the tribute-filled celebration, which capped a weekend that included major reveals, exclusive merchandise, and an early look at what’s next across The Walt Disney Company.
Why the Disney Legends Award Matters
Since its creation in 1987, the Disney Legends Award has honored the people whose work has shaped how audiences connect with Disney across film, television, music, sports, and theme park experiences. The 2026 class continues that tradition, recognizing performers, storytellers, executives, and Imagineers whose combined careers span animation classics, Broadway stages, blockbuster franchises, and the design of Disneyland’s most beloved attractions.
What did you think of this year’s Disney Legends class? Share your thoughts in the comments and let us know who you’d nominate next.