2026 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays: Dates and Offerings

The EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays is officially returning for 2026, and the dates are confirmed. The festival runs November 27 through December 30, 2026 — 34 days of holiday entertainment, food, and seasonal experiences included with regular EPCOT admission. No separate ticket required. Here’s everything confirmed so far for the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays 2026.

Quick Summary

• EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays 2026: November 27 – December 30 (34 days)
• Included with regular EPCOT park admission — no extra ticket needed
• Candlelight Processional returns with celebrity narrator and 50-piece orchestra
• Holiday Kitchens return for seasonal food and drink around World Showcase
• Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition scavenger hunt returns
• JOYFUL! celebration, Santa meet and greet, holiday storytellers all returning

The Candlelight Processional

The Candlelight Processional is the anchor of the EPCOT holiday season and one of the most genuinely moving experiences at Walt Disney World. A celebrity narrator joins a massed choir, the Voices of Liberty, herald trumpets, and a 50-piece orchestra to tell the Christmas story in a live performance at the America Gardens Theatre.

Narrators and dining package details for 2026 have not yet been announced. Narrator lineups are typically revealed in the fall, and dining packages — which guarantee seating — book up quickly once available. This is the one thing at the festival that genuinely requires advance planning if you want a confirmed spot.

Holiday Entertainment

Beyond the Candlelight Processional, the festival brings a full slate of entertainment across EPCOT:

• JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season — a tribute to Christmas and Kwanzaa featuring gospel, R&B, and holiday songs
• Holiday Storytellers — lively performers sharing holiday legends and traditions from cultures around the world, stationed at pavilions throughout World Showcase
• Santa Claus Meet and Greet — photos with Santa at EPCOT
• Santa Goofy Meet and Greet — Goofy in his red holiday suit

Holiday Kitchens: Eat Your Way Around the World

The Holiday Kitchens are one of the best reasons to visit EPCOT during the festival. Stationed throughout World Showcase, each kitchen features seasonal recipes inspired by different countries and cultures. You can graze your way around the park, trying a dish or drink from each stop.

Specific menus for 2026 haven’t been released yet, but expect a mix of returning favorites and new items. The Holiday Cookie Stroll also returns — visit participating locations, collect stamps on your card, and earn a complimentary treat when you complete it. It’s a great way to build in some extra stops as you work through the park.

Family Activities

Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition

This returning scavenger hunt sends your family through EPCOT searching for holiday traditions that Olaf has collected — and then lost — from around the world. It’s a fun way to engage kids throughout the park and gives you built-in stops at different World Showcase pavilions along the way.

Glimmering Greenhouses at Living with the Land

After dark, the working greenhouses inside Living with the Land get transformed with seasonal lights for the Glimmering Greenhouses experience. It’s an unusual holiday experience that makes the attraction feel completely different at night, and it’s a genuinely charming addition if you’re in the park in the evening hours.

EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays 2026: Final Thoughts

The EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays 2026 is one of the best free-with-admission events at Walt Disney World. Thirty-four days of holiday food, entertainment, and seasonal experiences makes it easy to work into any Walt Disney World trip between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. The Candlelight Processional alone is worth planning your visit around.

Mark November 27 as your earliest start date. If the Candlelight Processional is on your list, watch for narrator and dining package announcements in the fall — those details typically drop with a few weeks’ notice and dining packages book fast. Keep checking back as more 2026 specifics are released.

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Meet the Author: Nate Bishop

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