EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays 2026 is officially returning November 27 through December 30, and Disney just dropped the full lineup of what to expect this year. From new storyteller locations to a returning Gingerbread Spaceship Earth display, here is everything confirmed so far for this year’s festival, and what we’re still waiting on.
EPCOT Festival of the Holidays 2026 Dates
The EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays presented by AdventHealth will run November 27 through December 30, 2026. As always, it kicks off the day after Thanksgiving, so plan your Turkey Day leftovers accordingly because the Festival Kitchens are going to be calling your name. Holiday decor and entertainment will also extend across the rest of Walt Disney World during this window, including Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs, and the resort hotels.
If you’re mapping out a trip around the festival, this is the page to bookmark. We’ll keep this guide updated as more details, like Candlelight Processional narrators, get confirmed.
Where to Find Santa Claus at EPCOT in 2026
Santa sightings are once again spread across World Showcase. The big one: Santa Claus himself will be greeting guests at CommuniCore Hall, the location he moved to last year after years at the Odyssey Pavilion.
Beyond CommuniCore Hall, you can catch:
- Père Noël at the France Pavilion, telling the story of Babette and her Christmas letter
- Barn Santa at the Norway Pavilion
- Goofy as Santa at The Odyssey, dressed in his holiday best for photos
This lines up closely with how things were set up for the 2025 Santa Goofy meet and greet, so expect a similar flow this year with the Odyssey handling photos and CommuniCore Hall handling the main Santa visit.
World Showcase Holiday Storytellers Guide
One of the best free things to do during the festival is catching the international Holiday Storytellers, who bring global holiday traditions to life throughout the day across World Showcase. This builds directly on the lineup we covered in our Holiday Storyteller Guide from last year. For 2026, confirmed storytellers include:
- 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 Morocco and France – Hanukkah Storyteller
- France Pavilion – Père Noël
- United Kingdom Pavilion – Father Christmas
- Canada Pavilion – Canadian Holiday Voyageurs
Gingerbread Spaceship Earth and EPCOT Holiday Decor
EPCOT’s holiday decor returns in full force, with every World Showcase pavilion decked out in its own festive theme. The centerpiece is once again the Gingerbread Spaceship Earth display, with the Celebration Countdown presented by CITIZEN lighting up the icon every 15 minutes after dark with new song and light shows this year.
Spaceship Earth itself also gets a nightly holiday lighting treatment, separate from the gingerbread countdown, so don’t mix the two up when you’re planning your evening photo stops.
Candlelight Processional, JOYFUL!, and Live Entertainment
The Candlelight Processional returns to America Gardens Theatre with its traditional retelling of the Christmas story, backed by a full orchestra and mass choir. Disney has not yet announced this year’s celebrity narrators or the Candlelight Processional Dining Package details, but we’ll update this section the moment that drops.
Also returning this year:
- JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season – a gospel, jazz, and R&B performance covering both Christmas and Kwanzaa traditions
- Voices of Liberty Dickens Carolers – Victorian-style holiday caroling from the Voices of Liberty
Festival Kitchens and the Holiday Cookie Stroll
The Holiday Kitchens are back with seasonal bites and drinks from around the world. As usual, Disney has not released the full menu yet, so keep an eye on the Disney Eats Foodie Guide closer to the festival.
The Holiday Cookie Stroll also returns this year. Buy five qualifying cookies from participating Holiday Kitchens, collect a stamp for each in your Festival Passport, and redeem a completed passport for a bonus treat.
Olaf’s Scavenger Hunt, Scentsy Fragrances, and Other Festival Favorites
A few festival staples are confirmed to return for 2026:
- Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition Scavenger Hunt, the World Showcase scavenger hunt we covered last year in our Olaf scavenger hunt breakdown
- Festive Fragrances presented by Scentsy, back for its third year with all-new scents covering everything from Noche Buena to Diwali, similar to what we detailed in last year’s Scentsy fragrance guide
- Living with the Land: Glimmering Greenhouses, the holiday overlay of the boat ride we covered in our Glimmering Greenhouses preview
Disney has not announced new fragrances, scavenger hunt prizes, or PhotoPass MagicShot locations yet, but if last year’s PhotoPass MagicShots lineup is any indication, expect a similar rollout closer to opening week.
What We’re Still Waiting to Hear
A few pieces are still pending official confirmation: Candlelight Processional narrators and dining package pricing, the full Holiday Kitchens menu, this year’s PhotoPass MagicShot locations, and whether the Scentsy lineup or Olaf scavenger hunt prize will change. We’ll be updating this guide as each of those lands, so check back rather than searching for a separate article.
EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays 2026: Dates and Full Guide
For the full festival hub with everything else happening at EPCOT this season, visit our EPCOT Festival Guide. Join the Realm at fantasylandnews.com/the-realm for updates the moment more 2026 festival details are confirmed.
