EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays presented by AdventHealth runs daily from November 27 through December 30, 2026, starting the day after Thanksgiving. It is a daytime and evening festival, not a separate after-hours event, so you can enjoy it whenever the park is open. New for 2026 are fresh song and light shows for the Celebration Countdown at the Gingerbread Spaceship Earth display in CommuniCore Hall and three first-time Candlelight Processional narrators: Robin Roberts, Jason Kelce and Lacey Chabert.
The festival suits families, couples and anyone who likes to graze through World Showcase. The festival is included with regular EPCOT admission. The one part that works differently is the Candlelight Processional, where a dining package reserves your seat. Storytellers, the Gingerbread Spaceship Earth display, Holiday Kitchens and the Cookie Stroll make it easy to build a visit around food and small shows.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: EPCOT, Walt Disney World Resort, Florida
- Dates: November 27 to December 30, 2026
- Event nights: Daily
- Highlights: Candlelight Processional, Celebration Countdown at the Gingerbread Spaceship Earth display, World Showcase holiday storytellers
- New for 2026: New Celebration Countdown song and light shows; new Candlelight narrators Robin Roberts, Jason Kelce and Lacey Chabert
- Ticket: Included with EPCOT admission; Candlelight Processional dining packages are optional and sold separately
What’s new for 2026
Disney announced the 2026 dates in June, and the biggest confirmed change is the Celebration Countdown presented by CITIZEN. The edible Gingerbread Spaceship Earth display in CommuniCore Hall lights up every 15 minutes, and this year it carries new song and light shows. Festive Fragrances presented by Scentsy also returns for a third year, with all-new fragrances inspired by holidays around the world. Living with the Land becomes Glimmering Greenhouses again, with festive lights and decorations, and Behind the Seeds adds a new Glimmering Greenhouses holiday walking tour.
The Candlelight Processional gets three new narrators: Robin Roberts (December 6 and 7), Jason Kelce (December 8 and 9) and Lacey Chabert (December 22 and 23). Two date pairs, December 2 to 3 and December 13 to 14, were still listed as to be announced when Disney published the lineup. Check Disney Parks Blog for updates.
Lights, shows and holiday entertainment
The Candlelight Processional is the main show. A choir, the Voices of Liberty and a full orchestra retell the Christmas story at the America Gardens Theatre, with a celebrity narrator at each performance. Shows run nightly at 4:45 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Returning narrators include Gary Sinise, Whoopi Goldberg, Neil Patrick Harris and Henry Winkler, plus Auli’i Cravalho, Lauren Daigle, Ralph Macchio, Jodi Benson, Simu Liu and Eva Longoria on their announced dates.
In World Showcase, holiday storytellers share traditions at ten spots. Look for Las Posadas in Mexico, Barn Santa in Norway, the Lion Dancer and Si-Zhu Trio in China, Adventskalender in Germany, La Befana in Italy, Daruma in Japan, Hanukkah between Morocco and France, Pere Noel in France, Father Christmas in the United Kingdom and the Holiday Voyageurs in Canada. Voices of Liberty also perform holiday songs in Dickensian costumes at The American Adventure. The Gingerbread Spaceship Earth display in CommuniCore Hall, presented by CITIZEN, is a good photo stop, and Santa also greets guests inside CommuniCore Hall.
Rides and attractions open
Disney has not published a festival-specific ride list, and the lineup at EPCOT varies with the day, maintenance and weather. Check the My Disney Experience app on the day you go for current wait times and any closures. Families with young children can also try Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition, where you buy a map and search World Showcase for hidden Olafs to earn a prize.
Holiday food and treats
Holiday Kitchens return with seasonal dishes from around the world. Check the festival menus in the My Disney Experience app or at the park for the current booth list, since Disney had not published every 2026 menu when this page was written.
The Holiday Cookie Stroll returns as a cookie checklist. Buy five qualifying cookies from select Holiday Kitchens to earn a prize. Candlelight Processional dining packages pair a meal at a participating EPCOT restaurant with a guaranteed seat at a show. They go on sale October 14, 2026. Prices vary by restaurant, so compare them when booking opens.
Tickets, passes and upgrades
The festival is included with regular EPCOT theme park admission, so you need a valid ticket or pass for the day you visit. Buy tickets and plan your trip on the official Walt Disney World website.
The optional add-on is the Candlelight Processional dining package. Without one, seating is first-come, first-served and often fills up, so plan to arrive early for your chosen show. Sit-down restaurants can also fill quickly around the festival, so book any table-service meals as soon as your dining window opens.
Tips for your visit
Decide first how important the Candlelight Processional is to you. If you want a guaranteed seat with a specific narrator, book a dining package on October 14 and check the narrator schedule before choosing your date. If not, arrive well before the 8:00 p.m. show, or choose an earlier one when lines are shorter.
Head to CommuniCore Hall to see the Gingerbread Spaceship Earth countdown. It repeats every 15 minutes, so you do not need to rush for one exact start time. Florida evenings in December can turn cool, so bring a light jacket. Holiday weeks and the days around Christmas usually bring the largest crowds, so check the park calendar for hours on your dates. Weather can affect outdoor shows, so keep a backup plan for indoor attractions.
Explore more: every theme park holiday event for 2026, by state.
EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays 2026 at EPCOT FAQs
When does EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays 2026 start and end?
The festival runs daily from November 27 through December 30, 2026, beginning the day after Thanksgiving.
Is EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays included with park admission?
Yes, the festival is included with regular EPCOT theme park admission. The Candlelight Processional dining packages are an optional extra that guarantee seating, and they open for booking on October 14, 2026.
Do rides run during EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays?
EPCOT is open as a regular theme park during the festival, but the exact ride lineup varies with maintenance and weather. Check the My Disney Experience app on the day of your visit for current status and wait times.
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Photo: Windyshadow32 / CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.