2026 Candlelight Processional Narrator Lineup: Full Schedule

The full Candlelight Processional narrator lineup for 2026 is here, and it comes with a milestone. This is the show’s 55th year at Walt Disney World and its 32nd at EPCOT.

Three names are new to the stage this year: Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts, NFL star Jason Kelce, and actress Lacey Chabert. The rest of the schedule leans on returning favorites, and two dates are still unannounced.

The Candlelight Processional runs November 27 through December 30, 2026 as part of the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays presented by AdventHealth. Here is the complete schedule, plus how to actually get a seat.

Quick Summary

• The 2026 Candlelight Processional runs November 27 through December 30
• Performances are nightly at 4:45pm, 6:30pm, and 8:00pm at the America Gardens Theatre
• Robin Roberts, Jason Kelce, and Lacey Chabert are new narrators this year
• Two date ranges, December 2-3 and December 13-14, are still to be announced
• Each show features a 51-piece orchestra, the Voices of Liberty, and a choir of over 150 singers
• Seating is first-come, first-served unless you book a dining package

The 2026 Candlelight Processional Narrator Schedule

• Nov. 27 & 28 — Auli’i Cravalho
• Nov. 29 – Dec. 1 — Gary Sinise
• Dec. 2 & 3 — To Be Announced
• Dec. 4 & 5 — Whoopi Goldberg
• Dec. 6 & 7 — Robin Roberts (NEW)
• Dec. 8 & 9 — Jason Kelce (NEW)
• Dec. 10 – 12 — Neil Patrick Harris
• Dec. 13 & 14 — To Be Announced
• Dec. 15 & 16 — Lauren Daigle
• Dec. 17 – 19 — Ralph Macchio
• Dec. 20 & 21 — Henry Winkler
• Dec. 22 & 23 — Lacey Chabert (NEW)
• Dec. 24 & 25 — Jodi Benson
• Dec. 26 & 27 — Simu Liu
• Dec. 28 – 30 — Eva Longoria

The Three New Narrators

Robin Roberts (Dec. 6-7) anchors Good Morning America and brings a broadcast voice built for exactly this kind of narration. Her two nights fall on a weekend, which will drive demand.

Jason Kelce (Dec. 8-9) is the most unexpected booking on this list, and probably the one people will talk about most. His dates land on a Tuesday and Wednesday, which is usually the calmest part of a Candlelight week.

Lacey Chabert (Dec. 22-23) draws the holiday-movie audience and sits squarely in the busiest stretch of the season. Those two nights will be difficult without a dining package.

What the Show Actually Is

Each performance features a 51-piece orchestra, the Voices of Liberty, and a choir of more than 150 Disney cast members and community singers.

The celebrity narrator leads a retelling of the Christmas story, with each narrator bringing their own interpretation. That last part is why regulars go back for different narrators rather than treating it as one show they have already seen.

The scale is the thing people underestimate. A 51-piece orchestra and a 150-voice choir in an outdoor theater produces a sound that does not translate through phone video.

How to Actually Get a Seat

This is where most people get it wrong.

Seating at the America Gardens Theatre is first-come, first-served and fills up fast, particularly for popular narrators. Showing up 15 minutes early on a Jodi Benson or Neil Patrick Harris night will not work.

Without a package, plan to queue 60 to 90 minutes ahead for a high-demand narrator, and closer to 45 minutes for a quieter weeknight.

The reliable alternative is a dining package. It includes a meal at a participating EPCOT restaurant plus a reserved seating badge for your chosen showtime. Each package includes an entrée and dessert (or buffet) and a nonalcoholic beverage, with an alcoholic option for guests 21 and older.

Bookings open October 14, 2026. We have the full breakdown of participating restaurants and pricing, which runs from $43 to $109 per adult.

Even with a reserved seat, Disney recommends arriving early to get the best spot within your section.

Which Nights to Target

A few patterns worth using.

Go early in the run. Late November and the first week of December are the least crowded nights of the season across all of EPCOT, not just this show.

Take the 4:45pm show. The first performance of the night consistently draws smaller crowds than 6:30pm or 8:00pm, and it leaves your evening open.

Weeknights beat weekends. Jason Kelce’s Tuesday and Wednesday dates are the easiest big-name nights on the calendar.

Watch the two TBA slots. December 2-3 and December 13-14 are still unannounced. If a major name lands in either, demand for those nights will jump quickly after the announcement.

The Bottom Line

The 2026 Candlelight Processional narrator schedule spans November 27 to December 30, with Robin Roberts, Jason Kelce, and Lacey Chabert making their debuts and two dates still to be announced.

If a specific narrator matters to you, book a dining package on October 14 rather than gambling on standby seating. The show’s 55th year at Walt Disney World is not the one to spend sitting on a curb hoping the line moves.

If you are flexible, take an early-run weeknight at 4:45pm. Same orchestra, same choir, far less waiting.

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Meet the Author: Nate Bishop

I’m a die-hard Disney fan with 38 years of visits under my belt, having stepped into Disney World 120+ times. Proud to be a Disney Annual Passholder, a Vacation Club member since ’92, a Castaway Club Member, and a runDisney enthusiast. Oh, and I’ve graduated from the Disney College of Knowledge. Need Disney insights or planning tips? I’m your guy!