When it comes to records, few franchises are able to rival Marvel when it comes to maintaining impressive streaks. Marvel has spent years turning consistency into part of its legacy, even during the lows in its era. Take, for example, how every single Marvel Cinematic Universe-set film has opened at No. 1 at the box office during their opening weekends, or how no other franchise has amassed more billion-dollar films.
As the years have gone by, we’ve seen some of the studio’s streaks gradually coming to an end. For example, just a few years back in 2020, the studio failed to release a movie for the first time in a calendar year since 2010, ending the studio's record for consecutive years of releasing a new MCU film. Now, another long-standing Marvel streak has quietly come to a close this time at the hand of Disney directly.
Every year Disney’s biennial D23 fan expo rolls around, the company honors visionaries and talent from the Disney family with the company’s highest honor: the Disney Legends Award. The Disney Legends Award ceremony is an opportunity for Disney to honor individuals who have forever left an impact on Disney through their contributions to the company.
Through the years, we’ve seen several Marvel icons inducted and presented with the Disney Legends Award, and there has been at least one honoree with a connection to the Marvel Cinematic Universe among the Disney Legends Award class. With the unveiling of the 2026 Disney Legends Award class, Marvel’s streak has officially come to an end after nearly a decade.
Not a single Marvel icon is in the 2026 Disney Legends honorees class
Disney has officially revealed the 2026 Disney Legends Award honorees, and the list shockingly does not contain a single individual with a connection to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The 2026 Disney Legends Award ceremony will celebrate some amazing Disney icons, including former Walt Disney Company Chairman and CEO Bob Iger; actors Susan Egan, Dwayne Johnson, Anne Hathaway, and Alan Tudyk; Disney music icons Jonas Brothers and Lin‑Manuel Miranda; animator Eric Goldberg; producer Jerry Bruckheimer; legendary sports broadcaster Chris Berman; and Walt Disney Imagineering leader Kim Irvine.
It's an amazing group of individuals who have each contributed so much to the Disney brand over the years, but the list is notably missing anyone known for their contributions to the MCU, be it as on-screen talent or one of the behind-the-scenes visionaries who have crafted the franchise. This marks the first Disney Legends class since 2015 in which there is not a single honoree who did not have a standout connection to the MCU.
Marvel’s streak at the Disney Legends Award ceremony began back in 2017, fittingly with the celebration of Marvel legends Jack Kirby and Stan Lee. The MCU would never have existed without Kirby and Lee’s work in bringing to life some of the most iconic Marvel characters in pages of the comics during their legendary runs with Marvel. Lee also had a direct impact on the MCU, making cameos in every MCU film released before his death.
In 2019, three Marvel icons joined the Disney Legends honorees list, with Robert Downey Jr., Jon Favreau, and Ming-Na Wen recognized for their contributions to Disney; 2022 saw Chadwick Boseman honored posthumously; and 2024 celebrated Angela Bassett and Harrison Ford. These additions to the Disney Legends class kept Marvel’s presence alive at the biennial awards for nearly a decade, but that streak now ends with no Marvel star represented in the 2026 class.
It’s honestly quite shocking not to see a single MCU star honored as part of the 2026 Disney Legends Award honoree class. There are so many icons deserving of the Disney Legends Award, including many whose impact on Disney extends beyond just the MCU. There’s Samuel L. Jackson (The Incredibles, Star Wars), Chris Evans (Lightyear), Zoe Saldana (Avatar), Zendaya (Shake It Up, KC Undercover, DCOMs), and Hugh Jackman (The Greatest Showman).
Hopefully, Marvel will be back in the mix in 2028 when the next Disney Legends class is revealed, but the streak for Marvel is officially over after nearly a decade.