From Christmas to Kwanzaa, you're invited to celebrate the season like never before as the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays returns for another year. With festive entertainment, traditional dishes from around the world, and plenty of family fun, we can't wait to get into the spirit of the season alongside you at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.
When is the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays in 2026?
The EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays runs from 27 November to 30 December 2026, opening the day after Thanksgiving as it has done in recent years.
Visiting outside this window? Don't worry, the festive fun isn't the only reason to love EPCOT all year round! You'll also find be able to enjoy the following festivals that EPCOT hosts:
- EPCOT International Festival of the Arts
- EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival
- EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival
What is the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays?
Think of it as a whistle-stop tour of the world's holiday traditions, all within the walls of one park. The EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays celebrates how different cultures mark the season, from the food they cook to the stories passed down through generations. Here's what you can look forward to in 2026:
Holiday Kitchens and the Holiday Cookie Stroll
As you wander around World Showcase, you'll be able to sample the season at a host of speciality Holiday Kitchens dotted around the pavilions, along with festive food and drink offerings (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) inspired by traditions from across the globe.
The Holiday Cookie Stroll is confirmed for 2026. Pick up a Festival Passport, purchase five qualifying cookies from participating Holiday Kitchens, collect a stamp for each one, and redeem your completed passport for a special treat at the Holiday Sweets & Treats booth.
Disney is yet to release the full 2026 Holiday Kitchens menu and Holiday Cookie Stroll lineup - a full foodie guide is expected closer to the festival. Staple dishes such as roast turkey and potato latkes tend to return each year, but the specific featured treats and cookie partners change annually, so we'll update this section as soon as details are confirmed!
Live entertainment
Candlelight Processional
Every night, a Disney Cast Member choir and a full orchestra bring the story of Christmas to life at the America Gardens Theatre, narrated by a celebrity guest.
Disney has not yet announced the 2026 celebrity narrator lineup - this will be confirmed closer to the festival, so we'll add the names as soon as they're released.
JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season
Head to the CommuniCore Plaza Stage to catch the JOYFUL! ensemble bringing Christmas and Kwanzaa to life through gospel, jazz and R&B - it's hard not to get swept up in it.
The Voices of Liberty as the Dickens Carolers
Fancy something more traditional? The Voices of Liberty return in Victorian-era dress, performing classic carols in close harmony as you make your way around World Showcase.
World Showcase Storytellers
One of our favourite ways to soak up the festival is by following the storytellers around World Showcase, each one sharing how their country celebrates the season. For 2026, the lineup spans ten pavilions:
- Mexico Pavilion - Las Posadas celebrations
- Norway Pavilion - the mischievous Barn Santa
- China Pavilion - a Chinese Lion Dancer and the Si-Zhu Trio
- Germany Pavilion - the Adventskalender storyteller
- Italy Pavilion - La Befana
- Japan Pavilion - a Daruma storyteller
- Between the Morocco and France Pavilions - a Hanukkah storyteller
- France Pavilion - Père Noël, retelling the story of Babette and her Christmas letter
- United Kingdom Pavilion - Father Christmas
- Canada Pavilion - the Canadian Holiday Voyageurs
Spot Santa around the park
Keep your eyes peeled - Santa makes several appearances around EPCOT throughout the festival. You'll find him greeting guests in CommuniCore Hall, while Goofy dons his own Santa suit for photos at The Odyssey.
Holiday decor around EPCOT
EPCOT is transformed for the season with trees, garlands and twinkling lights, plus pavilion-specific displays inspired by each country's traditions. The showstopper is the Gingerbread Spaceship Earth display, inside CommuniCore Hall, complete with a Celebration Countdown presented by Citizen that lights up the icon with a new song and light show every 15 minutes after dark.
Over on the boat ride, Living with the Land gets its own festive makeover as Glimmering Greenhouses, twinkling with lights throughout the journey.
Fun for all the family
Olaf's Holiday Tradition Expedition
Pick up a scavenger hunt map from select merchandise locations (additional charges apply) and join the search for Olaf as he discovers a different holiday tradition at each pavilion. Mark off each stop with a sticker, then take your completed map to a participating shop to redeem a prize.
Festive Fragrances Presented by Scentsy
Now in its third year, this fragrant snow globe garden sits along the walkway between the Imagination! pavilion and World Showcase. There's a fresh lineup of scents this year, spanning traditions from Noche Buena to Diwali - well worth a detour!
Ready to visit? Here’s what you need to know!
The festival is included in the cost of standard theme park admission, including the Disney Magic Ticket, so there's no separate charge to join in the fun.
Browse our Walt Disney World Resort tickets and EPCOT tickets today!
