EPCOT's International Festival of the Holidays presented by AdventHealth will run from November 27 through December 30, 2026, giving you plenty of time to experience the month-long celebration right after Thanksgiving. If you're planning a trip during that window, park tickets and resort reservations are already available to book.
What to Expect This Year
The festival brings together holiday traditions from around the world, with each World Showcase pavilion hosting its own festivities. You'll find storytellers sharing cultural holiday tales throughout the park, multiple chances to meet Santa in different guises (including Père Noël in France and Barn Santa in Norway), and plenty of photo opportunities with the park's festive decor.
One of the highlights is the returning Gingerbread Spaceship Earth display, which lights up with a new show every 15 minutes. Living with the Land gets a holiday overlay called Glimmering Greenhouses, transforming the boat ride with twinkling lights and seasonal decorations. Spaceship Earth itself glows with holiday lighting and effects after dark.
Food, Entertainment, and Activities
The Holiday Cookie Stroll is back, where you collect stamps from five participating kitchens and trade them in for a special treat. Festival Kitchens throughout the park will serve up seasonal dishes inspired by global traditions, so you can graze your way through different cuisines.
For entertainment, you've got:
- Candlelight Processional: A nightly performance at America Gardens Theatre with celebrity narrators, a choir, and full orchestra. Dining packages will be available.
- JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season: A gospel, jazz, and R&B fusion celebrating Christmas and Kwanzaa.
- Voices of Liberty Dickens Carolers: Holiday classics performed Victorian-style.
Planning Your Visit
Holiday magic spreads across all four Walt Disney World parks, Disney Springs, and resort hotels during this season. If you're thinking about visiting, now's the time to start planning and locking in your reservations. The festival kicks off the day after Thanksgiving, so budget your turkey accordingly.
