Variety rolled out the red carpet to honor the brightest stars shaping the future of entertainment during their 2026 Power of Young Hollywood extravaganza, proudly presented by Disney+. The event spotlighted emerging talents who are capturing audiences worldwide.
This year’s prestigious accolades went to luminaries like actors Malachi Barton, who received the Rising Star Award, and Tyriq Withers, honored with the New Leading Man Award. Grammy nominee Tate McRae took home the Triple Threat Award, while Sombr was celebrated as the Songwriter of the Year.
Malachi Barton, known for his standout start on Disney Channel’s “Stuck in the Middle,” has seamlessly transitioned from playful sibling roles to becoming a sought-after leading man. Appearing in Disney hits such as “ZOMBIES 4: Dawn of the Vampires” and “Camp Rock 3,” Barton continues to leave his mark on beloved franchises. Fans can also look forward to seeing him in Disney’s “Coven Academy,” a hotly anticipated YA series centered on witchcraft set for release later this year.
But that’s not all for Barton – he is also gearing up to headline the “Worlds Collide Concert Tour.” This exciting event will unite talent from Disney’s famed “Descendants,” “ZOMBIES,” and “Camp Rock” series, promising a sensational concert experience for fans across the nation.
In an exclusive conversation with On The Red Carpet, Barton shared his excitement about receiving the award and reflected on his sky-rocketing career trajectory, describing this time as nothing short of a whirlwind.
“Keep it on the DL, because I’m trying to be nonchalant about it, but like, I’m nervous. Like, are you kidding me? 100%. I’m about to stand up and like, talk, in front of a bunch of people? That’s scary,” he told us. “I usually just talk behind a camera, and then that’s enough, so. I’m excited though. It’s going to be fun. It’s gonna be super chill. I’m like, beyond grateful for it.”
As a rising star, Barton has been endlessly compared to his predecessors, but he’s letting that fuel him.
“It’s such an amazing opportunity to be compared to somebody. I think there’s such a, a negative, like ideal of comparison, but it, like, it can be really cool because like, I take it as a compliment because they’re all so amazing. They’re all so talented. And for me to be able to be the next generation of that is so cool,” he explained. He hopes the generation that follows him will be “looking up to me in the same way, I hope.”
When it comes to those leading men, Barton said the Jonas Brothers have given him some words of wisdom.
“They just told me to like, not take things too seriously, enjoy myself. And it’s such a basic piece of advice. But like in this business, it means more than you know. Like, being able to actually not take things seriously. Just have fun, enjoy yourself, and live in the moment and like, truly cherish every single memory is so, so important.”
You can watch Barton star in “Camp Rock 3,” premiering Aug. 13 on Disney Channel and the next day on Disney+.
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