Anaheim Honors Its Own: Inside the 2026 Disney Legends Ceremony

The 2026 Disney Legends Awards brought eleven new names into one of entertainment’s more exclusive circles on Sunday, with actors, executives, musicians and artists gathering at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, for a ceremony that traded spectacle for sentiment.

Ryan Seacrest, host of “American Idol,” returned to preside over the proceedings, which recognize individuals whose contributions have left a durable mark on The Walt Disney Company.

The awards took place during D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, the company’s biennial gathering where upcoming films, series, park experiences and products are previewed alongside celebrations of the studio’s history.

Anne Hathaway Keeps It Close to Home

Hathaway received her honor more than twenty years after her Disney debut as Mia Thermopolis in the 2001 film “The Princess Diaries.”

She returned to that role for the 2004 sequel, “The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement,” and later took on the White Queen in both “Alice in Wonderland” and “Alice Through the Looking Glass.”

David Frankel, who directed her in “The Devil Wears Prada” and its sequel, presented the award and praised her commitment to her work.

Hathaway’s acceptance speech turned inward rather than outward. She described herself as fortunate to spend her life doing work she loves while sharing adventures and joy with her husband and children. As remarkable as the recognition was, she said, the moments where she is simply herself with her family are where she finds the most happiness.

Bob Iger Redirects the Credit

Current Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro presented the honor to his predecessor, describing Iger as among the most consequential business leaders of his era.

The tribute drew an unusually broad roster of figures from across the company’s orbit. Robert Downey Jr., Diane Sawyer, Harrison Ford, Ellen Pompeo and Al Michaels all spoke about his impact.

Pompeo’s remark cut to something beyond business results, telling him that his integrity and kindness would remain his lasting legacy.

Iger used his own time on stage to talk about responsibility, reflecting on the obligation to help improve the world. He argued that an executive’s genuine role is to support the creative talent driving the company, and accepted the award in gratitude to the creatives and cast members who, in his framing, are what actually constitute the company.

His tenure spanned more than two decades and included the acquisitions of Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm and 21st Century Fox, along with the launch of Disney+.

Dwayne Johnson on Being Nice

Emily Blunt, his co-star from “Jungle Cruise,” presented Johnson with his award.

Johnson, who voices Maui across the “Moana” films, spoke about the shared purpose behind the work. Everyone involved, he said, does what they can to create moments and experiences of joy for people and their families across the world, and that effort carries real meaning.

He closed with a line that landed as both aphorism and personal creed: it is nice to be important, but more important to be nice.

The Jonas Brothers Come Full Circle

Vanessa Hudgens, herself a Disney Channel alum, presented the honor to Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas.

The brothers leaned into nostalgia, and the details were charming. Joe revealed that his first spoken word was “Gaston,” a consequence of watching “Beauty and the Beast” on repeat. Nick recalled performing as Chip in the Broadway production of the same musical.

Nick addressed the audience directly, thanking fans for allowing the band to be part of their childhoods and to grow up alongside them. Those fans, he said, gave three brothers from New Jersey a life beyond anything they could have imagined.

Lin-Manuel Miranda Rewrites a Classic

Auli’i Cravalho, star of “Moana,” presented Miranda’s award and called him one of the defining musical storytellers of her generation.

The presentation included a musical tribute drawing on songs from his Disney films, performed by Cravalho, Jordan Fisher and others.

Miranda responded to a standing ovation in the manner most characteristic of him: by rewriting a song. Adapting “Part of Your World” from “The Little Mermaid,” he expressed gratitude to those who believed in him, marvelled at the moment, and closed on the line about being part of your world.

The Full 2026 Class

Beyond the headline names, the class included Chris Berman, Jerry Bruckheimer, Susan Egan, Eric Goldberg, Kim Irvine and Alan Tudyk, representing sports broadcasting, film production, voice work, animation and theme park design.

A Program Nearing Four Decades

The Disney Legends Awards trace back to 1987, when actor Fred MacMurray became the inaugural recipient.

With the 2026 class inducted, 329 people have now received the designation.

The previous class, honored in 2024, featured Miley Cyrus, Kelly Ripa, Angela Bassett, Jamie Lee Curtis and Harrison Ford. Earlier recipients across the program’s history include Robin Roberts, Julie Andrews, James Cameron, George Lucas and Robin Williams.

What the Evening Reflected

What distinguished this ceremony was how consistently honorees deflected attention. Hathaway pointed toward her family. Iger pointed toward creative teams and cast members. Johnson pointed toward audiences. The Jonas Brothers pointed toward fans.

For a company built on carefully constructed spectacle, an awards show where the recurring theme was gratitude rather than achievement made for an unexpectedly grounded evening.