Anne Hathaway, Dwayne Johnson, the Jonas Brothers and Lin-Manuel Miranda were among 11 stars and creators inducted as Disney Legends at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in Anaheim, California, on Sunday.

The annual honour, which Disney describes as its highest recognition, celebrates people whose work has made a lasting contribution to the company and its legacy. The 2026 ceremony was hosted by Ryan Seacrest at the Honda Center and marked the culmination of this year’s D23 event.

The 2026 Disney Legends class also includes former Disney CEO Bob Iger, producer Jerry Bruckheimer, actors Susan Egan and Alan Tudyk, animator Eric Goldberg, Disney Parks creative executive Kim Irvine and sports broadcaster Chris Berman.

For Hathaway, the honour comes more than two decades after she made her Disney debut as Mia Thermopolis in The Princess Diaries in 2001. She returned for The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement in 2004 and later appeared as the White Queen in Disney’s Alice in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking Glass.

She was presented with the award by David Frankel, director of The Devil Wears Prada and its upcoming sequel, The Devil Wears Prada 2. A special video message from Anna Wintour was also part of her tribute.

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In her acceptance speech, Hathaway spoke about the personal side of her success and expressed gratitude for being able to spend her life doing what she loves while sharing experiences with her husband and children. “As cool as all this is, just us being us is where I’m happiest,” Hathaway said.

Her induction comes at an interesting time, with Hathaway once again preparing to step into the world of The Devil Wears Prada for the sequel.

Dwayne Johnson gets his Disney Legend moment

Dwayne Johnson was also inducted into the 2026 class, with his Jungle Cruise co-star Emily Blunt presenting him with the honour. Johnson’s Disney association stretches beyond live-action films. He voices Maui in the Moana franchise, one of the studio’s biggest recent animated properties.

During his speech, Johnson spoke about the importance of creating moments that audiences can share with their families. “We all do what we can to create moments and experiences of joy for people and their families all around the world,” he said. “That’s important and it means something.”

He ended with a message that was less about celebrity and more about character: “It’s nice to be important. But it’s more important to be nice.”

The Jonas Brothers are Disney Legends

Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas were inducted together, recognised for a relationship with Disney that dates back to their teenage years. The brothers became closely associated with Disney Channel through their music, television appearances and films, helping establish them as stars for a generation that grew up with the network.

Vanessa Hudgens, another Disney Channel alum, presented the trio with their awards. During the ceremony, the brothers reflected on just how early their connection with Disney began.

Joe Jonas recalled that his first word was “Gaston”, after repeatedly watching Beauty and the Beast, while Nick Jonas remembered playing Chip in the Broadway musical. Nick also thanked the fans who had grown up alongside the brothers.

“To our incredible fans, thank you for letting us be a part of your childhood and growing up alongside you all these years,” he said. “You gave three brothers from New Jersey, a life beyond anything we could have imagined. We’re so grateful.”

Lin-Manuel Miranda honoured for Disney storytelling

Moana, Encanto and Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda was another major name in the class. Auli’i Cravalho, who voiced Moana, presented Miranda with the honour. The ceremony also featured a musical tribute built around some of his best-known work for Disney, with performances from Cravalho, Jordan Fisher and others.

Miranda responded with a simple message of gratitude: “And I’m grateful for you, for believing in me. God, what a time. Grateful that I’m part of your world.”

Bob Iger honoured for his Disney legacy

Former Disney CEO Bob Iger was recognised for his enormous influence on the company, having led Disney for more than two decades. Current CEO Josh D’Amaro presented him with the award, while tributes came from names including Robert Downey Jr., Diane Sawyer, Harrison Ford, Ellen Pompeo and Al Michaels.

During Iger’s tenure, Disney completed major acquisitions including Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm and 21st Century Fox, while also launching Disney+. Accepting the honour, Iger focused on the creative people who have helped build Disney.

Who else was named a Disney Legend in 2026?

The complete 2026 class comprises 11 honourees:

-Anne Hathaway

-Bob Iger

-Dwayne Johnson

-The Jonas Brothers

-Lin-Manuel Miranda

-Chris Berman

-Jerry Bruckheimer

-Susan Egan

-Eric Goldberg

-Kim Irvine

-Alan Tudyk

Their careers span film, television, animation, music, sports broadcasting and Disney Parks, reflecting how broad the company’s entertainment footprint has become.

The Disney Legends programme began in 1987, when actor Fred MacMurray became the first recipient. Including the 2026 class, 329 people have now been named Disney Legends. Previous honourees include Julie Andrews, George Lucas, Robin Williams, Angela Bassett, Jamie Lee Curtis and Miley Cyrus.

For Hathaway, Johnson, the Jonas Brothers and Miranda, the honour marks another chapter in careers that have already shaped the childhoods, soundtracks and pop-culture memories of millions of Disney fans.