EPCOT’s holiday festival is officially coming back, and yes — the Cookie Stroll, Candlelight Processional, Santa sightings, and Glimmering Greenhouses are all returning.
The holiday season at Walt Disney World is already starting to unwrap itself, and EPCOT fans finally have some very merry news to add to the calendar.
Disney has officially confirmed that the 2026 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays presented by AdventHealth will return to EPCOT from November 27 through December 30, 2026. That means the festive celebration will once again kick off the day after Thanksgiving, bringing back holiday entertainment, seasonal food, global traditions, festive decor, Santa sightings, and some of EPCOT’s most beloved holiday experiences.
The EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays 2026 is all about celebrating holiday traditions from around the world, especially throughout World Showcase. Guests will once again be able to experience Holiday Storytellers in multiple pavilions, including the Las Posadas Celebration in Mexico, a Mischievous Magical Barn Santa in Norway, the Chinese Lion Dancer and Si-Zhu Trio in China, Adventskalender in Germany, La Befana in Italy, the Daruma Storyteller in Japan, a Hanukkah Storyteller between Morocco and France, Père Noël in France, Father Christmas in the United Kingdom, and the Canadian Holiday Voyageurs in Canada.
Santa Claus will also be making appearances around EPCOT during the festival. Guests may spot him traveling through World Showcase, while Père Noël will share the story of Babette and her Christmas letter in the France Pavilion, Barn Santa will appear in Norway, and Santa will greet guests inside CommuniCore Hall. Plus, Goofy as Santa will be dressed in his holiday best for photos at The Odyssey.
Of course, EPCOT will also be dressed for the season with holiday decor, twinkling lights, garland, and trees inspired by global traditions. One major returning highlight is the Gingerbread Spaceship Earth display and countdown celebration presented by CITIZEN. The display will light up every 15 minutes with new song and light shows featuring holiday flair.
Entertainment will be a huge part of the festival again this year. The beloved Candlelight Processional returns to the America Gardens Theatre, featuring celebrity narrators, a mass choir, and a full orchestra. Disney has not yet announced the 2026 celebrity narrator lineup or Candlelight Processional Dining Package details, so those updates are still to come.
Also returning are JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season, a high-energy performance celebrating Christmas and Kwanzaa with gospel, jazz, and R&B, and the Voices of Liberty Dickens Carolers, who perform classic holiday music in Victorian-era style.
And yes, foodies, the Holiday Kitchens are coming back too. The festival will once again feature seasonal food and beverages inspired by holiday traditions around the world. Disney has not released the full Disney Eats Foodie Guide yet, but guests can expect more details closer to the festival.
The fan-favorite Holiday Cookie Stroll is also returning. Guests can purchase five qualifying cookies from select Holiday Kitchens, collect stamps in their Festival Passport, and then redeem the completed stroll for a special treat.
Several festive overlays and activities are also confirmed for EPCOT Festival of the Holidays 2026. Living with the Land — Glimmering Greenhouses will return, transforming the boat ride with twinkling lights and seasonal decor. Spaceship Earth will also feature dazzling holiday lighting at night.
Guests can also take part in Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition Scavenger Hunt, where they’ll search World Showcase for Olaf as he discovers holiday traditions from around the globe. A completed scavenger hunt comes with a holiday keepsake.
Finally, Scentsy’s Festive Fragrances: A Sensory Wonderland is returning for its third year with all-new fragrances celebrating holidays around the world, including Noche Buena and Diwali. Guests can find the scented snow globe garden along the walkway between the Imagination! pavilion and World Showcase.
The 2026 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays is shaping up to be another packed seasonal celebration, with food, entertainment, decor, music, characters, and global traditions all wrapped into one very festive EPCOT day.
Be sure to revisit the blog soon for more Disney World holiday updates, including the Candlelight Processional narrator lineup, Holiday Kitchen menus, dining package details, and more EPCOT Festival of the Holidays 2026 news as Disney releases it.
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