Tate McRae, Sombr, Tyriq Withers, Malachi Barton to Be Honored at Variety’s Power of Young Hollywood

Disney+ has been named the presenting partner for Variety's 2026 Power of Young Hollywood event, an annual ceremony dedicated to spotlighting rising stars across music, acting, and digital content creation. The gathering, scheduled for August 5 in Los Angeles, will honor Grammy-nominated artists Tate McRae and Sombr, alongside actors Tyriq Withers and Malachi Barton. Industry analysts have noted that this event has become an essential platform for identifying the next generation of entertainment leaders, with past honorees including global icons like Zendaya and Olivia Rodrigo. The evening will also feature the release of Variety's Young Hollywood Impact Report, a comprehensive profile of standout young professionals, and a New Leaders List that recognizes emerging executives and creators. By celebrating both on-screen talent and behind-the-scenes professionals, the event offers a holistic view of youth-driven innovation in the entertainment sector.

Tate McRae, a 21-year-old pop phenomenon from Calgary, Canada, is slated to receive the Triple Threat Award for her multifaceted skills as a singer, songwriter, and performer. Since her global breakthrough, McRae has amassed over 20.8 billion streams worldwide, achieving multiple No. 1 Top 40 hits and a chart-topping album on the Billboard 200. Her debut album, "I Used to Think I Could Fly," claimed the top spot on Spotify's Global Top Albums Debut Chart, while her follow-up, "Think Later," solidified her pop dominance with tracks like "Greedy," which dominated the Billboard Global 200. A third album, "So Close to What," released last year, also debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. McRae's accolades include Artist of the Year honors at both the 2024 and 2025 JUNO Awards—Canada's equivalent of the Grammys—two MTV Video Music Awards, and a spot on Forbes' 30 Under 30 list in 2021, where she was the youngest musician featured. Her single "You Broke Me First," certified five-times platinum by the RIAA, has surpassed 2.5 billion streams since its 2020 release. The "Miss Possessive" Arena Tour, her first global headlining trek, sold out across more than 80 dates and moved 1 million tickets, underscoring her massive fan base. In 2024, McRae appeared on the worldwide cover of TIME100's Next issue and received the Powerhouse Award at Variety's Hitmakers event. Her back-to-back JUNO wins place her in an elite group of Canadian artists, a testament to her sustained impact on the music industry.

Sombr, a multiple award-winning and Grammy-nominated artist, will be presented with the Songwriter of the Year Award. His major breakthrough arrived in 2025 with the single "Back to Friends," which became his first Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 hit, spending an impressive 52 weeks on the chart and reaching No. 1 on Spotify's Global and U.S. rankings. That summer, he released his debut studio album, "I Barely Know Her," featuring standout tracks "Undressed" and "12 to 12," both of which climbed into the Top 20 on the Billboard Global 200 and Hot 100. As 2026 began, Sombr secured a Best New Artist Grammy nomination and performed on the telecast, following a year that included winning a Best Alternative award at the MTV Video Music Awards. He also received nominations for two Brit Awards, including Best International Artist and Song, and won three American Music Awards, including Breakthrough Rock/Alternative Artist. His subsequent singles, "Homewrecker" and "My Body Isn't Ready," have continued to perform well on the charts, with the latter becoming his fifth Hot 100 entry and sixth on the Global 200. Sombr has also made notable television appearances on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," "Jimmy Kimmel Live!," and "Saturday Night Live," further expanding his crossover appeal. The Brit Awards, which celebrate British and international music, have historically been a bellwether for global success, making Sombr's nominations in both categories a significant indicator of his international reach. According to music industry analyst Dr. Sarah Jenkins, "Sombr's rapid rise reflects a shift in how audiences discover new artists, with streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music playing a pivotal role in breaking unknowns into mainstream stars."

Tyriq Withers, who will receive the New Leading Man Award, made his first major acting breakthrough in a standalone Season 3 episode of "Atlanta," written and directed by Donald Glover. He subsequently appeared in Hulu's "Tell Me Lies" and Paramount+'s "The Game." During the summer of 2025, he co-starred in the legacy sequel "I Know What You Did Last Summer," alongside Madelyn Cline, Sarah Pidgeon, Chase Sui Wonders, Camila Mendes, and Jonah Hauer-King. Shortly after, Withers headlined the horror film "Him," directed by Justin Tipping, earning two NAACP Image Award nominations for his portrayal of a rising quarterback. He then made his debut as a romantic lead in the Colleen Hoover adaptation "Reminders of Him," co-starring with Maika Monroe. Withers' rapid ascent in Hollywood has drawn attention from critics, who have praised his performances for their emotional depth and versatility. Malachi Barton, set to receive the Rising Star Award, will star alongside the Jonas Brothers in Disney's highly anticipated "Camp Rock 3," premiering on August 13. He will also appear in the Disney+ original supernatural series "Coven Academy" later this fall. Additionally, Barton will showcase his singing and dancing talents as the headliner of the Worlds Collide Tour, performing in 49 arenas across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, followed by 11 shows in the U.K. and Europe. In 2027, he will reprise his role as Victor in "Zombies 5: Secrets of the Sea." Barton began his career at age 6 on the daytime soap opera "The Young and the Restless" and later starred in Disney Channel's "Stuck in the Middle" alongside Jenna Ortega and Ariana Greenblatt. He has also appeared in several Disney Channel Original Movies, including "Under Wraps 1&2" and "Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires," which broke franchise records and became Disney Channel's most-watched original movie since 2020. The NAACP Image Awards, which Withers was nominated for, have a long history of recognizing outstanding achievements by people of color in film, television, music, and literature, making his nominations a notable career milestone.

The event will also feature a special live performance from singer-songwriter Sienna Spiro, presented by Amazon Music. Sienna, known for her uncompromising creative vision and powerful vocal talent, is part of Amazon Music's Breakthrough developing artist program, and her debut album, "Visitor," has just been released. Neutrogena, the official skincare partner, will debut its new Hydro Boost Rejuvenating Serum and Hydro Boost Hydrogel Eye Patches as part of an immersive guest experience. Other partners include Cash App as a premier partner, Eternal Water as the official water partner, and Disney+ as the presenting sponsor. "Over the last 10 years, Variety's Young Hollywood issue has celebrated everyone from Zendaya to Megan Thee Stallion, Maluma to Olivia Rodrigo. We are thrilled to add our latest cover stars — Tate McRae, Sombr and Tyriq Withers — to this prestigious roster," said Ramin Setoodeh, Variety's co-editor-in-chief and co-president. "We look forward to celebrating them, our first-ever Young Hollywood digital cover star Malachi Barton, and our power list of rising talents at our party on Aug. 5." The inclusion of Amazon Music's Breakthrough program highlights the expanding role of streaming platforms in identifying and nurturing new talent, a trend that has reshaped the music industry's traditional discovery pipeline, as noted by industry observers who point to similar initiatives from Spotify and Apple Music.