Disney has announced the 2026 honorees as Disney Legends, and honestly, Disney just named Bob Iger a legend, but still won’t honor the CEO who actually saved the company, because Michael Eisner continues to be passed over. The list mostly includes celebrities with a couple of Disney artists or Imagineers and Bob Iger for some reason, and honestly, many are wondering why Bob Iger was named as a Disney Legend the moment he left, yet former CEO Michael Eisner still has not been awarded.
The award ceremony will take place on Sunday August 16 at 1:30 p.m. PT at the Honda Center as part of the D23 Event hosted by Ryan Seacrest, and here are the 2026 honorees: Chris Berman from ESPN, Jerry Bruckheimer from Film, Susan Egan from Voice, Eric Goldberg from Animation, Anne Hathaway from Film, Bob Iger as Ex-CEO, Kim Irvine from Imagineering who is the daughter of Imagineer Leota Toombs, Dwayne Johnson from Film, Jonas Brothers from TV/Music, Lin-Manuel Miranda from Film/Music, and Alan Tudyk from Film/Voice.
Michael Eisner Actually Saved Disney
Eisner is credited with saving the company from financial collapse in 1984, when he became CEO at a time when Disney was facing hostile takeover attempts and had lost its creative direction. Honestly, without Eisner, there might not even be a Disney company to give out Legend awards. The Disney animation Renaissance occurred under Eisner, with films like The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King, revitalizing Disney’s animation legacy in the late 1980s and 1990s.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios opened in 1989, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom opened in 1998, representing major theme park expansions that occurred under Eisner’s leadership, while Euro Disney, now known as Disneyland Paris, opened in 1992, creating Disney’s first European theme park resort. These achievements represent foundational work that created the modern Disney company, and honestly, it’s wild that Eisner still hasn’t been named a Disney Legend.
What Bob Iger Actually Did
Iger’s legacy focuses on acquiring IP and companies like Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and Fox, rather than fostering internal creative development. Pixar’s original films are struggling, and Marvel and Star Wars are facing audience fatigue due to oversaturation. The Willow series was canceled after one season, and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny underperformed. While the Fox acquisition is seen as a good move, it was still pricey at $71 billion.
The 50-Year Disney Award Thing Is Questionable
Bob Iger also awarded himself the 50-Year Disney employee award even though 22 of those years were at ABC BEFORE Disney bought the company and he came with it, so technically he was not a 50-year Disney employee and honestly that’s kind of ridiculous to count years at a completely different company.
People Are Not Happy About This Disney Decision
Travis Cooper from MouseVault tweeted, “Bob Iger being a Disney Legend before Michael Eisner reflects the state of Disney.”
Enrico Matassa pointed out that Eisner reinvigorated the company and funded Iger’s acquisitions.
Jomodi Marsta added that few deserve the Disney Legend award more than Eisner, who saved Disney in 1984. It seems odd for Iger to receive the honor immediately after leaving, while Eisner hasn’t, implying Disney is favoring recent leaders over those who built the company’s foundation.
It is difficult to think that Eisner has not been awarded. He truly saved the company. I was lucky enough to have been a shareholder when he came on board. Disney went from a shaky company to a DJIA member (I believe under his leadership, but I am not sure of the timing) and made visiting WDW something that was a place that was not just for kids.
I agree. It’s sad that Eisner wasn’t even considered for this award. He deserves it. Without him Disney wouldn’t be as successful as it is now. So, Michael Eisner deserves recognition.