2026 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays Dates and Details

The lights, the music, the treats, and the holiday magic are all making a comeback with the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays, presented by AdventHealth. This month-long celebration is the ideal way to immerse yourself in the holiday spirit, and we’re thrilled to share details about this year's festive event.

The holidays are synonymous with traditions, and the EPCOT teams spend the entire year curating festive fun tied to global customs, allowing guests to create new traditions. Here’s how your clients can enjoy this year's EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays.

EPCOT Festival of the Holidays Dates

This year’s festival dates have been kept under wraps, but it’s finally time to unveil them!

The EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays, presented by AdventHealth, will take place from November 27 to December 30, 2026.

Beyond EPCOT, holiday magic adorns Walt Disney World, including all four parks, Disney Springs, and many resort hotels. Our best advice is to start planning now, as theme park tickets and lodging reservations are already available for the holiday season.

Holiday Traditions with World Showcase Storytellers

Storytelling is central to the holiday season, serving as a key way to connect generations through tales and legends passed down over centuries. Guests can experience this tradition with the Holiday Storytellers throughout World Showcase.

Every day of the festival, these storytellers bring holiday tales to life, entertaining and educating guests about how various cultures celebrate this special time of year.

Where guests can find storytellers:

• Mexico Pavilion – Las Posadas Celebration

• Norway Pavilion – A Mischievous Magical Barn Santa

• China Pavilion – Chinese Lion Dancer and Si-Zhu Trio

• Germany Pavilion – Adventskalender

• Italy Pavilion – La Befana

• Japan Pavilion – Daruma Storyteller

• Between the Morocco and France Pavilions – Hanukkah Storyteller

• France Pavilion – Père Noël

• United Kingdom Pavilion – Father Christmas

• Canada Pavilion – Canadian Holiday Voyageurs

Santa Sightings Around EPCOT

Guests eager to share their holiday wishes are in for a treat, as Santa Claus will make special appearances during the festival! Visitors might spot him traveling around World Showcase, spreading cheer along the way. Guests can see Père Noël telling the story of Babette and her Christmas letter in the France Pavilion, Barn Santa in the Norway Pavilion, and Santa greeting guests with a jolly “ho-ho-ho” in CommuniCore Hall.

Goofy will also be dressed in his holiday best, ready to pose for festive photos full of seasonal fun at The Odyssey.

EPCOT Holiday Decor

EPCOT shines especially bright during the holiday season, with festive decor transforming every corner of the park. From twinkling lights and garlands to beautifully decorated trees inspired by global traditions, each World Showcase pavilion offers its own unique holiday flair. It’s the perfect backdrop for photos and creating magical memories with loved ones.

Gingerbread Spaceship Earth Display

Be sure to visit the Gingerbread Spaceship Earth display and countdown celebration presented by Citizen, where culinary artistry and holiday magic unite in a deliciously detailed creation. It’s a must-see (and must-smell!) experience celebrating one of EPCOT’s most iconic landmarks. Guests can gather for the Celebration Countdown presented by CITIZEN, where the dazzling display lights up every 15 minutes with new songs and light shows featuring holiday flair. 

Festival of the Holidays Shows and Entertainment

Candlelight Processional

A cherished holiday tradition returns with the Candlelight Processional at America Gardens Theatre. This heartfelt retelling of the Christmas story features celebrity narrators, accompanied by a mass choir and full orchestra. Performances are held nightly, with multiple showtimes to give guests plenty of opportunities to experience this inspiring classic.

Stay tuned for the announcement of this year’s celebrity narrators and more information about Candlelight Processional Dining Packages!

JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season

Encourage your clients to get ready to clap along and feel the rhythm of Christmas and Kwanzaa with JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season. This high-energy performance combines gospel, jazz, and R&B to highlight holiday traditions with a lively, soulful twist. It’s a musical celebration sure to have everyone smiling.

Voices of Liberty Dickens Carolers

The beloved Voices of Liberty return in festive fashion as the Dickens Carolers, performing classic holiday tunes in the style of Victorian-era England. Their rich harmonies and timeless charm make this a can’t-miss performance during your clients' visit.

Festival Kitchens: Holiday Food and Beverage

Food enthusiasts, rejoice! Holiday Kitchens will once again serve a delicious assortment of seasonal bites and beverages from around the world. Each location offers a unique menu inspired by holiday traditions, making it easy to snack through the season.

Holiday Cookie Stroll

The popular Holiday Cookie Stroll is back. Purchase five qualifying cookies from select Holiday Kitchens and collect corresponding stamps in the Festival Passport. Once all five stamps are collected, redeem a special treat.

It’s a sweet way to explore the festival and a delicious tradition that guests return for year after year.

Holiday Overlays and Festive Features

Living with the Land - Glimmering Greenhouses

Hop aboard a festive version of Living with the Land during Glimmering Greenhouses! This relaxing boat ride is transformed with twinkling lights and seasonal decor throughout the greenhouses, offering a peaceful and beautiful holiday experience with a unique EPCOT twist.

Lights on Spaceship Earth

As night falls, Spaceship Earth comes to life with dazzling holiday lighting. The iconic geodesic sphere shines with festive colors and dynamic effects that add even more sparkle to an evening at EPCOT.

Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition Scavenger Hunt

Join Olaf on a festive adventure with Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition Scavenger Hunt! Search throughout World Showcase to find Olaf as he discovers holiday traditions from around the globe. Purchase and complete the scavenger hunt to receive a fun holiday keepsake.

Scentsy’s Festive Fragrances: A Sensory Wonderland

Festive Fragrances presented by Scentsy returns for its third year with all-new scents celebrating holidays worldwide, from Noche Buena to Diwali.

Along the walkway between the Imagination! pavilion and World Showcase, explore this charming garden of snow globes infused with scents that bring the magic of fragrance and the holidays to life.

From heartwarming traditions and joyful performances to festive flavors and sparkling decor, the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays truly captures the spirit of the season.

Let the holiday countdown begin!