There’s a particular magic that settles over EPCOT when the topiaries start peeking out and the Outdoor Kitchens begin firing up their grills. From March 4 through June 1, 2026, the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival returns to transform the park into a living canvas of color, flavor, and whimsy that would make even the most seasoned green thumb weak in the knees.
Tastes of the Season
With thirty-five Outdoor Kitchens and dining venues sprinkled throughout the park, your culinary journey spans the entirety of World Showcase and beyond. Whether you’re craving fresh Florida citrus or international garden-inspired bites, you’ll want to pace yourself—and your wallet. Pro tip: grab one of this year’s souvenir gift cards shaped like adorable watering cans, featuring either the cheerful Orange Bird or the industrious Spike the Bee. They’re functional, collectible, and frankly, too cute to leave behind.
Kitchen hours shift depending on when you visit: Fridays through Mondays, most locations welcome guests from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., while Tuesdays through Thursdays see slightly shorter hours from 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Your Festival Passport will be your best friend here, mapping out every booth and guiding you through the Garden Graze—a plant-based food scavenger hunt that rewards your adventurous palate with a brand-new completer treat this year.
Don’t miss The Citrus Blossom tucked inside The Odyssey pavilion, where the Orange-Lemon Smoothie makes its triumphant return alongside a brand-new Orange Bird sipper that’s already generating buzz among collectors. The space itself has been transformed into a playful retreat complete with Twister boards, hopscotch, and vibrant decals that invite you to linger awhile.
Playful Details Only Disney Would Think Of
True fans know that the real magic lives in the details, and this festival delivers in spades. Near Creations Shop in World Celebration, keep your eyes peeled for specially themed trash cans featuring—you guessed it—Orange Bird and Spike the Bee. It’s the kind of obsessive theming that makes us smile every time we spot them.
Over in the Germany pavilion, a miniature village has emerged complete with tiny festival banners draped over even tinier lampposts, creating a storybook scene that rewards those who slow down to look. Meanwhile, decals dance across the World Showcase bridge structure and park entrance columns, signaling your arrival into something special before you even scan your MagicBand.
For families—or anyone young at heart—two playground experiences await. Playalong Bay, inspired by the legendary Stormalong Bay at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts, returns to the path between the Imagination! pavilion and World Showcase, offering a perfect spot to let little ones burn energy between Kitchen stops. Over in World Discovery, the playground has been completely reimagined as Camp Get Out ‘N’ Play Garden, blending nature with adventure.
Entertainment Under the Stars
As the sun sets over the lagoon, the America Gardens Theatre comes alive with Garden Rocks, the festival’s nightly concert series. This year brings six fresh performers to the lineup, joining returning favorites for evenings filled with music and memories. If you’re visiting Friday through Monday, consider booking a dining package to secure guaranteed seating—there’s nothing quite like enjoying live music with a full stomach and a citrus brew in hand.
Elsewhere in the park, the JAMMitors are back to their full percussive glory, performing with their complete set rather than the stripped-down three-can configuration. It’s a small change that makes a big difference in energy, and you’ll find them bringing the beat to various locations throughout the day.
Hunts, Prizes, and Photo Magic
Adventure seekers will want to grab a map for Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration Scavenger Hunt, where completing your mission earns you a mini ceramic flower pot featuring a solar-powered moving flower—perhaps the most charming festival prize we’ve seen in years. Meanwhile, the Eggstravaganza scavenger hunt sends you searching for Disney rabbit character-inspired Easter eggs hidden throughout the park, with a collectible plastic egg waiting as your reward.
Disney PhotoPass has sprinkled exclusive Magic Shots throughout the festival grounds, so keep your photographer handy. Whether you’re posing with a hidden character or finding yourself surrounded by virtual butterflies, these shots make for the perfect vacation keepsake.
Blooms and Themed Spaces
Butterfly Landing returns as a must-visit Garden Destination, offering that rare moment of tranquility amid the festival excitement. Several beloved topiaries are making their comeback after years away, greeting guests with meticulously sculpted Disney characters rendered entirely in living plants.
Inside CommuniCore Hall, Spike’s Garden invites you into a “Sunlight to Starbright” themed experience that bridges the gap between horticulture and imagination. Even Living With the Land gets in on the action with special light decor celebrating the season, reminding us that this festival honors the very mission EPCOT was built upon.
Bringing the Garden Home
Before you leave, explore the four core merchandise collections: Orange Bird brings his sunny disposition to apparel and accessories, Spike the Bee buzzes onto pins and plush, Alice in Wonderland offers a touch of Wonderland whimsy, and Annual Passholders get their own exclusive designs. Select pieces are even available online from the Disney Store, though there’s something special about hand-picking your treasures after a day surrounded by actual flowers.
So grab your Festival Passport, lace up your walking shoes, and prepare to see EPCOT in full bloom. Whether you’re here for the food, the music, the photo ops, or simply to stand in awe of a perfectly pruned Mickey Mouse made of moss, the 2026 Flower & Garden Festival reminds us why we keep coming back to this park—it’s where imagination and nature dance together in perfect harmony.
