The Gracie Awards are once again celebrating the women whose work is shaping conversations across television, streaming, radio, podcasting, sports, and documentary media. The 2026 honorees include a broad range of storytellers, hosts, producers, directors, performers, and production teams, and the Walt Disney Company emerged as one of the most recognized organizations in this year’s announcement from the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation (AWMF).
Disney’s victories stretch across its entire portfolio, reflecting the scale and variety of its storytelling operation. ABC News, Hulu, ESPN, National Geographic, and Disney Branded Television all received recognition, showing how the company’s commitment to women in media reaches newsrooms, entertainment divisions, streaming services, sports programs, and family-focused productions.
Disney’s Big Night at the 2026 Gracie Awards
Disney’s long list of Gracie Awards wins demonstrates the company’s influence across multiple formats. From breaking news and investigative reporting to scripted drama, animation, sports coverage, and historical documentaries, the honorees represent the many ways women contribute to the creation and presentation of meaningful media.
The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation described this year’s recipients as women who are “telling the truth and making it impossible to look away.” That spirit can be seen throughout Disney’s honorees, whose work brings attention to important subjects while creating memorable characters, programs, and reporting experiences.
ABC News and Hulu Celebrate a Major Documentary Win
Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything
One of Disney’s most significant honors went to ABC News Studios and Hulu for Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything. The documentary received a Grand Award, making it one of the standout achievements in this year’s Gracie Awards announcements.
The recognition highlights the enduring influence of Barbara Walters and the journalists who helped shape modern television news. A documentary honoring her career is especially meaningful because Walters became a defining figure in broadcast journalism, opening doors for generations of women in media. The award also reflects the importance of preserving the stories of pioneering women who changed how audiences understand interviews, public affairs, and celebrity journalism.
Nightline, 20/20, and Deborah Roberts
ABC News also earned several honors in its news programming categories. Nightline was named best news program, while 20/20 received the award for news magazine. These programs have long been associated with in-depth reporting, compelling human-interest stories, and conversations that extend beyond the daily news cycle.
Deborah Roberts was recognized as audio podcast host for 20/20: After Show, further expanding ABC News’ success into digital audio. Roberts is a prominent journalist whose career has included major assignments, interviews, and coverage of national and international events. Her recognition is a reminder that the Gracie Awards honor not only on-camera work but also the many ways journalists connect with audiences behind a microphone.
Hulu and Disney Branded Television Lead the Entertainment Honors
Hulu earned a major win for Paradise, which was named top drama. The series’ recognition speaks to the growing importance of streaming platforms in the entertainment landscape and to the strength of serialized storytelling available through services such as Hulu. By honoring a drama from its streaming catalog, the awards also highlight how women are helping lead creative and production decisions in premium television.
Hulu’s Sharon Horgan received best supporting actress for her work in The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox. The series revisits a widely covered criminal case through a dramatic and highly personal lens. Horgan’s performance adds to the growing recognition of nuanced, complex portrayals in streaming productions.
Quiana Burns was named top non-fiction showrunner for The Tamron Hall Show, an honor that recognizes the leadership and organizational skill required to guide a successful non-fiction program. Showrunners shape the editorial direction, production process, and overall identity of a series, making this award an important acknowledgment of the people whose work often happens outside the spotlight.
Family Favorites and Animated Comedy
Disney Branded Television enjoyed a particularly strong showing. Wizards Beyond Waverly Place received a family series win, extending the legacy of the popular Wizards of Waverly Place franchise while introducing a new generation of viewers to its magical world. The award recognizes the show’s ability to balance fantasy, family relationships, humor, and coming-of-age experiences.
Harlem Ice was honored in the sports documentary series category. The series brings attention to the athletes, discipline, and community surrounding figure skating in Harlem. Its recognition at the Gracie Awards illustrates the power of sports media to tell stories that go beyond scores and competition, emphasizing identity, perseverance, and representation.
The Lion King at the Hollywood Bowl also received an award, combining the timeless appeal of Disney’s The Lion King with the spectacle of a live concert event. The production demonstrates how Disney continues to reimagine familiar stories for new audiences and across different forms of media.
The Simpsons was recognized for the animated comedy episode “Aunt Misbehavin’.” The award underscores the continued cultural impact of the long-running series and the creative work behind its distinctive animation, comedy, and storytelling.
ESPN Recognizes Talent and Creative Leadership
ESPN’s honorees brought further variety to Disney’s Gracie Awards success. Jenn Hildreth was honored for on-air talent, recognizing her work as a sports broadcaster and her ability to communicate the energy and complexity of live competition. Sports media requires a combination of preparation, timing, authority, and enthusiasm, and Hildreth’s recognition reflects the importance of those skills.
Kristen Lappas received best director for The Kingdom. Directing a documentary series involves more than capturing memorable moments; it requires shaping a narrative, developing trust with subjects, and maintaining a clear point of view over multiple episodes. Lappas’ award highlights the creative leadership behind sports storytelling and the growing recognition of women directors in the field.
National Geographic Earns Documentary Recognition
National Geographic received multiple honors through its documentary programming. Sally was recognized in the documentary category, while Cleopatra’s Final Secret was honored as a historical documentary. Together, these wins showcase the breadth of National Geographic’s nonfiction work, from contemporary stories to explorations of history, culture, science, and archaeology.
Documentary filmmaking is an essential part of the Gracie Awards because it celebrates women who illuminate real lives, overlooked histories, and important questions. National Geographic’s recognition also reinforces the value of thoughtful nonfiction programming in an entertainment environment often dominated by shorter formats and faster-moving stories.
Local and Student Achievements Will Be Honored Later
Disney’s successes extend beyond national network and streaming productions. WABC’s Sam Ryan and the team behind ABC7 KGO-TV’s A Mother’s Hope are among the local winners who will be recognized later this summer at the Gracie Awards Luncheon.
These honors are a reminder that local journalists and production teams play a vital role in connecting media organizations to their communities. Their work may focus on regional issues, personal stories, or local events, but its impact can be just as meaningful as that of a national broadcast. The later luncheon will provide an opportunity to celebrate those contributions and the people who bring them to life.
The Celebration Continues at the Gracie Awards Gala
The national celebration will continue at the Gracie Awards Gala on Tuesday, May 19, at the Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills. Disney’s national winners will be honored alongside other 2026 recipients, including Oprah Winfrey, Abby Phillip, and Sarah Snook.
That gathering will bring together established figures and rising voices from across the media industry. More than a single evening of recognition, the event highlights the importance of creating opportunities for women in media and ensuring that their stories are told with depth, creativity, and authority.
Why Disney’s Gracie Awards Success Matters
Disney’s impressive showing at the 2026 Gracie Awards is about more than the number of wins. The range of recognized programs,from Nightline and 20/20 to Paradise, Harlem Ice, and National Geographic documentaries,illustrates how women contribute at every level of media production.
These awards honor hosts, actors, directors, journalists, showrunners, and production teams. They also celebrate the importance of representation behind the camera and in front of it. By recognizing work across news, drama, animation, sports, podcasts, and documentaries, the Gracie Awards show that women’s influence can be found in every genre and every platform.
Conclusion
Disney’s major presence at the 2026 Gracie Awards reflects the strength of its women-led and women-centered work across television, streaming, sports, and documentary media. From ABC News’ Grand Award-winning Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything to Hulu’s top-drama honor for Paradise and ESPN’s recognition of Jenn Hildreth and Kristen Lappas, the wins celebrate both exceptional programs and the people who make them possible. With local and student honorees still to be recognized and the Gracie Awards Gala approaching, Disney’s broad and diverse collection of honors stands as a powerful reminder of the women shaping the future of media.