It might only be the beginning of the year, but the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida events calendar has already begun, with the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts kicking things off for 2026! With vibrant artwork around every corner, food studios serving up food that tastes just as good as it looks, and plenty of exclusive merchandise to take home, this vibrant festival shouldn’t be missed.
When is the International Festival of the Arts 2026?
The 2025 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts is running from January 16th to February 23rd.
The Festival of the Arts is the shortest of the four EPCOT festivals that take place throughout the year - the others are the International Flower & Garden Festival, International Food & Wine Festival, and International Festival of the Holidays - so make sure you check out all the exclusive entertainment and activities if you’re visiting during this time.
What is the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts?
The EPCOT International Festival of the Arts is a celebration of the arts, including visual arts, performance art, and the culinary arts. Whether you want to see other people showcase their art or give it a go yourself, here’s everything that you can experience this year:
Interactive Art
As you make your way through EPCOT and around the World Showcase, there will be plenty of opportunities to show your artistic talents with activities for all ages, including:
- Paint-by-Numbers Mural - a festival favourite every year, this large mural at the Expression Section is painted entirely by guests! Pick up a paintbrush and a pot of paint and paint a few squares… eventually a beautiful scene will be revealed
- Chalk Full of Character - colourful chalk drawings of Disney Characters can be found around the World Showcase pavilions, like Jiminy Cricket, Pascal, and Peter Pan’s Shadow
- ‘Figment’s Brush with the Masters’ Scavenger Hunt - purchase a map and stickers from Creations Shop, Port of Entry, or World Traveler and head to the World Showcase to find a Figment-themed picture frame in each pavilion. Once you’ve completed the map, return it to the shop to receive a keepsake!
- Artful Photo Ops - put yourself into famous paintings like the Mona Lisa and strike a pose for the waiting Disney PhotoPass photographer
- Animation Academy - every day from 12:30pm to 1:30pm a featured artist will be in the American Gardens Theatre ready to teach you how to draw a classic Disney Character
- Kids Chalk Art - your little ones can express themselves with their very own chalk murals in World Celebration
@attractiontickets.com Where else can you paint and walk around the world in the same day? 👀🎨 The Paint-By-Numbers Mural has returned for another year at EPCOT International Festival of the Arts! Here’s how to take part: 🖌️ Head to the Expression Section which is located between World Showcase and the Imagination! Pavilion 🖌️ Pick up your free pot of paint and paintbrush 🖌️ Use the number on your paint pot to match the numbers on the Paint-By-Numbers Mural, and follow the Disney Cast Member directions 🖌️ Don’t forget your commemorative mini mural design to take home! It’s great to use as a bookmark Take part at EPCOT at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida from 11am-5pm daily until February 24th 2025 🖼️ #epcot #internationalfestivalofthearts #epcotfestival #disneyworld #orlandoflorida ♬ lifes incredible again - noelle 🩷✨
Artists and Art Displays
If you’d rather leave things to the professionals, there are plenty of artist appearances during the festival that mean you can buy some incredible pieces of Disney-themed art directly from the artists themselves!
Plus, watch out for giant chalk murals and paintings being created right before your eyes, and daily musical performances too.
Food Studios
These dishes are (almost) too beautiful to eat! Inspired by locations around the world including Mexico, China, and Morocco, the Food Studios around the World Showcase offer a feast for your eyes as well as your stomach. The 2026 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts food options include:
- Soft Shell Crab Slider with green papaya slaw and mango ketchup on a sweet roll
- Popcorn, Popcorn Chicken, and Waffles with rainbow popcorn, popcorn chicken, mini mozzarella and maple syrup
- Steakhouse Lobster Caesar Salad with romaine and red oak lettuces, warmwater lobster, radish, herbed breadcrumbs, and house-made Caesar dressing
- Deconstructed Key Lime Pie: key lime curd, key lime gelee, toasted meringue, and graham cracker crumbs with waffle cone triangles
- Passion Fruit Paleta: tropical passion fruit ice pop filled with sweetened condensed milk and topped with chili-lime seasoning
DISNEY ON BROADWAY Concert Series
Get a true taste of Broadway in Orlando! Every night at 5:30pm, 6:45pm and 8pm, the American Gardens Theatre will come to life with the show-stopping sounds of Disney musicals like The Lions King, Aladdin, Tarzan, Mary Poppins and more, performed by stars from the actual Broadway shows. The 2026 DISNEY ON BROADWAY schedule is as follows:
| Month | Dates | Performers |
| January | 16th, 18th, 19th, 22nd, 24th, 26th and 27th | Adam Jacobs (Aladdin) and Isabelle McCalla (Aladdin) |
| 17th, 20th, 21th, 23th, 25th, 28th and 29th | Sierra Boggess (The Little Mermaid) and Jelani Remy (The Lion King) | |
| 30th | Anastacia McCleskey (Tarzan) and Josh Strickland (Tarzan) | |
| 31st | Mandy Gonzalez (Aida) and Kissy Simmons (The Lion King) | |
| February | 1st, 2nd, 5th, 7th, 9th and 10th | Anastacia McCleskey (Tarzan) and Josh Strickland (Tarzan) |
| 3nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 11th and 12th | Mandy Gonzalez (Aida) and Kissy Simmons (The Lion King) | |
| 13th, 15th, 16th and 19th | Ashley Brown (Mary Poppins) and Ainsley Melham (Aladdin) | |
| 14th, 17th, 18th, 20th and 21st | Susan Egan (Beauty and the Beast) and James Monroe Iglehart (Aladdin) | |
| 22nd and 23rd | Ashley Brown (Mary Poppins), Ainsley Melham (Aladdin), Susan Egan (Beauty and the Beast) and James Monroe Iglehart (Aladdin). |
Once Upon A Stage: The Magic of DISNEY ON BROADWAY
CommuniCore Hall will once again be transformed into an exhibition of costumes, props and stage pieces from Disney stage musicals as Once Upon a Stage returns for another year. Featuring The Lion King, Aladdin, Frozen, Newsies, Beauty and the Beast, and Mary Poppins, this is must visit for any Broadway fans.
2026 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts Merchandise
Of course you can’t experience the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts without taking a piece of it home with you! There’s so much exclusive merchandise, from ears, t-shirts, and Loungefly backpacks, to limited edition pins and ornaments. As the face of the festival, Figment the dragon makes an appearance on most of the merchandise, looking both cute and colourful.
Want to experience the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts for yourself? Book your Disney Magic Tickets for visits between January 16th and February 23rd!
