Disney Legends are the individuals honored with the Walt Disney Company’s highest recognition, an award given to people whose creativity, talent, and leadership have left a lasting mark on the company. The program spans actors, animators, executives, Imagineers, musicians, and broadcasters, and it remains one of the most prestigious honors in entertainment.
The most recent class was inducted on August 16, 2026, at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, bringing the total number of Disney Legends to 329 since the program began.
What Is the Disney Legends Award
The Disney Legends Award was created to celebrate people who have made a significant impact on the Disney legacy. It covers an enormous range of contributions, from on-screen performances and animation artistry to business leadership and theme park design.
The honor was first presented in 1987, when actor Fred MacMurray became the inaugural recipient. For years it was awarded annually in a private ceremony. Since 2009, the award has been presented biennially as the centerpiece of D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, Disney’s official fan convention.
Each inductee receives a specially designed award and has their handprints added to the Disney Legends Plaza at the Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank, California, placing them alongside nearly four decades of honorees.
Who Are the 2026 Disney Legends
The 2026 class was announced ahead of D23 and formally inducted during the Disney Legends Award Ceremony, hosted once again by Ryan Seacrest. Eleven honorees joined the ranks this year:
- Chris Berman – A longtime voice of sports broadcasting, recognized for decades covering the Super Bowl, the World Series, and Monday Night Football at ESPN.
- Jerry Bruckheimer – The producer behind blockbuster franchises including “Pirates of the Caribbean,” honored for shaping modern spectacle filmmaking.
- Susan Egan – Broadway’s original Belle in “Beauty and the Beast” and the voice of Megara in “Hercules.”
- Eric Goldberg – The animator who brought the Genie to life in “Aladdin,” celebrated for decades of animation artistry.
- Anne Hathaway – Academy Award-winning actress recognized for her work across Disney’s live-action and animated projects.
- Bob Iger – Former Chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company, honored for leading the company through its acquisitions of Pixar, Marvel, and Lucasfilm.
- Kim Irvine – A veteran leader at Walt Disney Imagineering, recognized for preserving Disney park heritage while championing new creative design.
- Dwayne Johnson – Actor and producer honored for his work across Disney and Disney-adjacent film projects, including “Moana.”
- The Jonas Brothers – Honored as they mark their 20th anniversary, recognizing their long association with Disney entertainment.
- Lin-Manuel Miranda – Pulitzer Prize winner behind the music of “Moana” and “Encanto.”
- Alan Tudyk – A prolific voice actor known for roles across multiple Disney and Disney-owned animated films.
How the 2026 Ceremony Unfolded
The induction ceremony took place on Sunday, August 16, 2026, as the closing event of D23’s weekend at the Honda Center. Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro welcomed the honorees, calling the Disney Legends Award “the company’s highest honor” and noting it recognizes individuals ranging from creative visionaries and Imagineers to executives and on-screen talent.
Bob Iger’s induction drew particular attention, described by many as a full-circle moment given his two decades leading the company. Actress Ellen Pompeo, who presented Iger’s honor, told the crowd that his legacy would be defined by “integrity and kindness,” praising his focus on supporting the people who make Disney’s creative work possible.
Dwayne Johnson was introduced by his “Jungle Cruise” co-star Emily Blunt, who described him as someone far more thoughtful and unpretentious than his on-screen persona suggests.
The evening also featured performances from past Disney Legends, including Jodi Benson, the voice of Ariel in “The Little Mermaid,” and Bill Farmer, the longtime voice of Goofy, connecting the newest class of honorees with decades of Disney history.
Notable Disney Legends From Past Years
The Disney Legends roster includes some of the most recognizable names in entertainment and business history. Past honorees include Julie Andrews, George Lucas, James Cameron, Robin Williams, and Robin Roberts. The 2024 class, the most recent before this year’s group, included Miley Cyrus, Kelly Ripa, Angela Bassett, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Harrison Ford.
Together with the 2026 inductees, these honorees represent nearly every corner of the Disney universe, spanning animation, live-action film, television, music, sports broadcasting, and the design of Disney’s theme parks.
Why the Disney Legends Program Matters
The Disney Legends Award is more than a ceremonial title. It formally recognizes people whose work has shaped how audiences experience Disney stories, characters, and parks across generations. For fans, the induction ceremony at D23 has become one of the most anticipated moments of the entire event, offering a rare chance to see the storytellers behind decades of Disney magic honored together on one stage.
As Disney continues to grow across film, television, music, and theme parks, the Legends program remains a way of tracing that growth back to the individual creators, performers, and leaders responsible for it.
Which 2026 Disney Legend surprised you the most? Share your thoughts in the comments below and keep checking back for more Disney updates.