Holidays at Universal Studios Hollywood returns from Saturday, November 21, 2026 through Sunday, January 3, 2027, running daily for the full stretch rather than on select nights. The celebration centers on three themed experiences spread across the park: Grinchmas in Universal Plaza, Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Hogsmeade, and a Minion holiday takeover called Illumination’s Merry Minions in Minion Land, which carries over the banana-themed decor, seasonal menu and merchandise collection that first showed up in Minion Land during the 2025 holiday season.
The event suits families and Grinch or Harry Potter fans more than thrill-seeker crowds, since the holiday additions are decor, meet-and-greets, shows and seasonal food layered onto the regular park, not a separate ticketed night. Universal’s full lineup of rides and attractions operates as usual during the day, and everything described here is included with standard theme park admission, so season pass holders get it at no extra cost.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Universal Studios Hollywood
- Dates: November 21, 2026 through January 3, 2027
- Event nights: Daily (included in regular park operating hours)
- Highlights: Grinchmas tree lighting, Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Illumination’s Merry Minions in Minion Land
- New for 2026: Not independently confirmed; Grinchmas, Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and the Merry Minions holiday offering in Minion Land all return from prior seasons
- Ticket: Included with theme park admission
What’s new for 2026
Universal’s own announcement describes Illumination’s Merry Minions in Minion Land as new for 2026, but the same holiday-themed Minion offering, including banana-decorated holiday displays, a seasonal Minion Cafe menu and a Minion holiday merchandise line, already ran in Minion Land during the 2025 season. For 2026 it returns alongside the park’s two established programs, Grinchmas in Universal Plaza and Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Hogsmeade, plus holiday touches in Super Nintendo World such as Mario and Luigi themed snowmen and a holiday tree topped with a Super Star.
Lights, shows and holiday entertainment
Universal Plaza is home to a 65-foot Christmas tree decorated with lights, where tree lighting ceremonies take place multiple times each evening complete with artificial snowfall. Grinchmas entertainment includes meet-and-greets with the Grinch and his dog Max, storytime readings from Cindy-Lou Who, holiday music performed by the Fah-Who 4 A’s, and a post office where guests can mail postcards to the Grinch. In Hogsmeade, the Frog Choir performs throughout the day and Hogwarts Castle hosts an evening projection show called The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts. Over at CityWalk, a 40-foot tree with roughly 200,000 LED lights anchors additional live entertainment, and CityWalk admission itself remains free.
Rides and attractions open
Universal Studios Hollywood operates its full lineup of rides and attractions as usual during the holiday season, since the event layers decor, shows and meet-and-greets onto normal park operations rather than closing areas for a separate ticketed night. As with any visit, check the park’s daily calendar for ride availability and showtimes, which can vary with scheduled maintenance or weather.
Holiday food and treats
Hogsmeade offers hot, cold and frozen Butterbeer during the holiday season. In Minion Land, the Minion Cafe serves holiday-themed items such as a chocolate-dipped Santa Minion sugar cookie and a Nutella banana pudding, the same kind of seasonal menu Minion Land offered in 2025. Universal has not detailed a separate holiday dining package or character meal for 2026 beyond these seasonal menu additions, so check the park’s dining pages closer to the event for specifics.
Tickets, passes and upgrades
Holidays at Universal Studios Hollywood is included with standard theme park admission and with all season pass levels, so there is no separate holiday ticket to buy. Guests simply need valid park admission for the day they plan to visit between November 21, 2026 and January 3, 2027. Tickets and pass details are available through the official Universal Studios Hollywood website.
Tips for your visit
Arrive in the late afternoon if you want to catch a tree lighting ceremony in Universal Plaza, since these run multiple times each evening and draw crowds. Southern California evenings cool down quickly in winter, so bring a light jacket even though snow is only the artificial effects used during ceremonies. Because the event runs daily through early January, weekdays outside of the Thanksgiving and winter break weeks tend to be less crowded than weekends. Check the park’s official calendar for that day’s operating hours and any weather-related schedule changes before you go.
Explore more: every theme park holiday event for 2026, by state.
Holidays at Universal Studios Hollywood 2026 (Grinchmas) FAQs
When does Grinchmas 2026 start and end at Universal Studios Hollywood?
Holidays at Universal Studios Hollywood, including Grinchmas, runs daily from Saturday, November 21, 2026 through Sunday, January 3, 2027.
Is Grinchmas included with park admission?
Yes. Grinchmas and the rest of the holiday celebration, including Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and the Merry Minions offering in Minion Land, are included with standard theme park admission and all season passes.
Do rides run during Grinchmas?
Yes. Universal Studios Hollywood’s regular ride and attraction lineup operates during the holiday season, since the event adds decor, shows and meet-and-greets rather than replacing normal park operations.
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Photo: Alec GeoSimonian / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.