The Paint the Night Parade is one of our all-time favorite Disney parades. It's the parade to make you love Disney parades. It combines all the nostalgia of the Main Street Electrical Parade with modern technology and upbeat music. The "When Can We Do This Again" music comes from Owl City's "When Can I See You Again?" from the "Wreck-It Ralph" soundtrack. It also samples a bit of "Baroque Hoedown" from the Main Street Electrical Parade. It's a nice nod to the original nighttime parade. Here's everything to know about this parade in 2026, including your last chance to see it.
FAQs
- When can I see Paint the Night? Paint the Night is back from Jan. 30 through Aug. 20, 2026.
- Which park has Paint the Night? You can find this parade at Disneyland Park.
- Is there any other entertainment for the Disneyland 70th? You can enjoy World of Color Happiness in Disney California Adventure. Wondrous Journeys fireworks, Tapestry of Happiness and the Celebrate Happy cavalcade are at Disneyland Park.
- Do I need a park ticket to see Paint the Night? Yes, you need a park ticket. You can save a lot of money with the kids' summer tickets — only $50 for a Park Hopper! You can find promotional and other discount tickets through Undercover Tourist.
- How can I get a reserved spot to watch the parade? You don't need a reserved viewing area, but you can get one as part of a parade dining package and A Story of Celebration guided tour.
- Is there a Paint the Night Parade on nights with Disneyland After Dark? The parade does not run on days when the park closes early for Disneyland After Dark events.
Overview of Paint the Night
Paint the Night features more than one million sparkling lights, giving the audience an exciting and electrifying light show. Plus, it's full of Disney and Pixar characters and electrifyingly lit-up dancers! So we're very hoppy to report that our favorite parade is back at Disneyland Park for the Disneyland 70th Celebration! Read on to find out, "When can we do this again?"
The 70th also brings back Wondrous Journeys fireworks, World of Color Happiness!, projection shows, a cavalcade and so much more!
The parade was a hit at Disneyland Park in 2015 and 2016 when it debuted for the Diamond Anniversary Celebration. Then, in April 2018, Paint the Night returned for the Pixar Fest at Disney California Adventure. Our frog family has been singing the song from the parade ever since!
It returned as of May 16, 2025, for the Disneyland 70th. Then it took a break during the holidays. It is back again at Disneyland through Aug. 20, 2026! We get so hoppy seeing Tinker Bell waving her wand and leading the way.
There is a new change to the opening float drum as of 2025, with a 70 added for the Disneyland 70th Anniversary Celebration.
The parade lost the tall "Frozen" float when it hopped to Disney California Adventure due to the low Red Car Trolley cables in Hollywood Land. But it gained the "Incredibles" float. Good news! The "Frozen" float is back, but, sadly, the "Incredibles" float is not. You can see characters and stories from films such as "Peter Pan," “Monsters, Inc.,” “Cars,” “Toy Story,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast” and more.
When Does Paint the Night Parade End at Disneyland?
The Paint the Night Parade is back for a limited time. It is part of the Disneyland 70th Anniversary Celebration and will run for an extra week through Aug. 20, 2026! It runs nightly except for nights when the park closes early for Disneyland After Dark events.
This parade takes place in the dark. If you have smaller tadpoles or get tired early, this parade is worth staying up for! Get those naps in midday so you don't miss it.
We are always singing our little frog hearts out:
When can we do this again?
Whoa-oh-oh-oh
I never want this to end
Whoa-oh-oh-oh
Tips for the Best Viewing of Paint the Night at Disneyland
This parade is a popular attraction for tourists and locals alike. It’s like a rock concert on wheels, and groupies of all ages come for it. That means it takes some planning to get a good viewing spot.
Plan Ahead and Consult the Schedule
Make sure to check the Hours & Events Calendar for show times before visiting. The parade times can vary each night but are generally 8:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. in the fall and cooler months. But in summer months, it can be a bit later, around 8:45/8:50 p.m. and 10:45/10:50 p.m. Check the schedule for your visit. The parade runs before and after fireworks.
On nights when the park closes at 11 p.m., there may be only one parade at 8:30 p.m.
Your last night to see this parade is Aug. 20, 2026.
Know When to Hop in Place
You cannot claim a spot until exactly two hours before the first parade time. Cast members patrol the route, especially on Main Street, to prevent people from sitting any earlier than two hours before the parade. But then the curb spots fill up about two hours in advance. Bring bubble wands, stickers and snacks to entertain tadpoles while you wait.
It's also a great time to let tadpoles nap so they can last long enough to see the parade. Keep your stroller close by for naps. After all, the parade falls after bedtime for most kids.
People in the front row remain seated for the parade. People behind them must stand up to make room for more viewers. So claiming a spot early is important if you want to remain seated.
Know the Parade Route and Which Direction the Parade Travels
Many nights, there are two parades.
The first parade (and only parade on nights with one parade) runs just before fireworks, kicking off from "it's a small world" at 8:30/8:45 p.m. (Actual parade times vary per night and season.) The parade ends at Town Square before the 9:30 p.m. fireworks start. That means if you watch the parade on Main Street U.S.A., then you can stand up, move into the street and see the fireworks/projection show.
The second show is at 10:30/10:45 p.m. It is a lot less crowded. You can sit on the curb after fireworks and rest while you wait for the second parade. It starts at Town Square and travels to "it's a small world."
It’s always a good idea to know which direction the parade is flowing and where. Here is the expected parade direction for each show (subject to change):
- The first parade usually travels the parade route from "it's a small world" to Town Square near the park entrance.
- The second parade travels in the opposite direction.
At The Hub, the parade travels on the Tomorrowland side of the circle, which means it does not pass directly in front of the castle. So avoid a spot in front of Adventureland, Frontierland or the castle.
Assess the crowds during your visit to make a plan for getting your spot. A less-crowded day makes it easier to get a good spot. Knowing where to sit and when to claim your spot can be the most anxiety-provoking part of the night. The best viewing of Paint the Night Parade at Disneyland is a spot in which you can see the parade coming for a while. That will give you the best viewing pleasure and a chance to watch the many dancers and sparkling floats for the longest amount of time. So know which direction the parade is coming toward you.
Cast members will start preparing about two hours before the parade (you’ll see them coming out with white ropes), and they may discourage you from camping out too early. If you want a front-row view, start keeping your eye on the situation about two to two-and-a-half hours before show time.
Location, location, location … You can sit along the entire parade route with the exception of pedestrian crossings/walkways and reserved areas. Avoid sitting in a spot that may not be a viewing location. You may think it's a front-row spot only for a cast member to come by and ask you to move because it's actually a walkway. Avoid the frustration by confirming your viewing spot with a cast member.
Also, avoid sitting behind a crossing area. People walking between you and the oncoming parade could be distracting. They could also get in the way of your photos and videos. Tad, our family videographer, always makes sure to position us for better photos and videos away from crossings and blind corners. Of course, there are many more locations along the route.
We have found that the raised area across from "it's a small world" can have good sight lines as long as you are mindful of the parade direction and light poles. Since there is a "Tapestry of Happiness" projection show on "it's a small world" as well as fireworks projections, you might be able to time it to see the parade and multiple shows from that spot. Check the show times to know what happens when. You do have a longer wait between the parade ending and fireworks starting in this location compared to viewing locations on Main Street U.S.A.
Near the train station in Town Square makes for an easy exit after the parade. Most of the parade route is ground seating — so no curbs. If you can find a spot to sit that allows you to lean against a light pole or wall, your back will thank you.
If you want to watch the parade and fireworks on the same night, we recommend viewing from Main Street U.S.A. Once the parade passes, you can hop in the street to watch the fireworks. It gives you a castle view, plus you can see the projection on Main Street.
Accessible Viewing for Paint the Night
People using wheelchairs can view the parade from any viewing location they like, but there are a few designated viewing areas as well. You'll find them in Town Square, across from the Mad Hatter on one at the "small world" Promenade.
Consider a Paint the Night Dining Package
If you are not one to camp out on a curb or the cement for a few hours — hey, we toadally get the desire to maximize your time — you might consider an option that gives you a reserved viewing area. You can reserve a Paint the Night dining package at Plaza Inn up to 60 days in advance (Jan. 30 through Aug. 20, 2026). Enjoy a scrumptious lunch and reserved viewing for the parade! We review all the Disneyland Dining Packages in a blog post. The pricing and food options have changed.
The seating for this package is across from the train station and the Main Street Opera House. You do want to arrive early (7:30 to 7:45 p.m.) to be able to choose a curb seat.
Get Paint The Night Viewing with a Tour
Get a reserved area to watch Paint the Night with a tour. A Story of Celebration: 70th Anniversary Guided Tour at Disneyland Resort comes with some popcorn while you watch the parade, plus there are a few other perks. The viewing area is across from the train station near City Hall. Read more about it in our Disneyland guided tours post.
Plan Your Parade Viewing Around Other Nighttime Entertainment
We like hopping off the curb after the parade to watch the fireworks show if the timing works out. If seeing Paint the Night, Fantasmic!, the Wondrous Journeys fireworks or the Tapestry of Happiness projection show on "it's a small world" are on your must-do list, it will take some planning to pull it all off. We think a multi-day ticket is the way to go.
Here are a few suggestions to see it all:
- Disneyland Park: Watch three shows at "it's a small world." If you can get in place early across from "it's a small world," you can watch Tapestry of Magic, Paint the Night and Wondrous Journeys fireworks all from that one spot. Then, you have a Fantasmic dining package (reserve up to 60 days in advance), and you can go watch the second show of Fantasmic! at Rivers of America. You can also try standby areas.
- Disneyland Park: The above plan also works in reverse. You can watch the 9 p.m. Fantasmic! Stay in place to watch fireworks. Then head to the parade route to watch Paint the Night, followed by the last showing of Tapestry of Happiness.
- Park Hopping: Watch Paint the Night on Main Street, then hop into the street after the parade passes to watch fireworks. As soon as the fireworks end, race to Disney California Adventure (must enter by 10 p.m.) to see World of Color Happiness. It helps if you can join a 10:15 p.m. virtual queue for World of Color at noon that day. If you still have spring in your step, hop back to Disneyland to watch the last Tapestry of Happiness projection show on "it's a small world." This plan does not work well in reverse. Fireworks start shortly after the first World of Color ends, and it's too hard with crowds to make it in time for fireworks. But you can see the second parade.
Both parks offer amazing nighttime entertainment, but it's difficult or impossible to get it all in on the same night, so we recommend taking at least two or three nights to enjoy the shows — spend at least one night at Disney California Adventure to see World of Color Happiness! Any of these shows offers a great way to put a grand finale on your day, but many of the shows overlap or are scheduled pretty tightly together. It becomes extremely challenging to move before, during and after the nighttime entertainment due to crowds.
If you're a quick walker who is not laden down by strollers, you just may be able to pull off seeing more than one show. Remember that a plan that looks good on paper may not play out in reality. The parks are moving large masses of people in the evening, so any movement takes longer than usual.
If you have a Park Hopper ticket and only one night to do it all, we have advice. Our frog family loves park hopping. We do this many times in a single day because the entrances are right across from each other. However, nighttime movement slows us down. You can catch two or three nighttime shows on a night where the show times work out — that means seeing Paint the Night followed by the fireworks and maybe even the second Fantasmic! show. Fantasmic usually has two shows, but there is almost never more than one fireworks show. The fireworks and Fantasmic! won’t be running every night during most seasons. They may only be available on weekends and in summer and during Holiday Time, so check the entertainment calendar.
If visiting on a night with all the nighttime entertainment, view Paint the Night first, followed by fireworks. Then you can race to either the second showing of Fantasmic! in Disneyland Park or to World of Color Happiness! in Disney California Adventure. Plan ahead. We recommend a Fantasmic! dining package to reserve a spot that is pretty much front and center. For Fantasmic!, you can join a virtual queue at noon that day.
Plan your parade viewing area near the direction you want to head after the fireworks.
See the Second Parade (if there is one)
People can camp out for two hours for the first Paint the Night. But after fireworks end, you have one hour before the last Paint the Night. We plop ourselves on a curb after fireworks end with a snack to rest and wait for the last parade. Since the second parade starts in Town Square, you can watch it near the train station near the park exit, then exit the park before the rest of the parade crowd. On some nights, there is only one parade, so check the show times and entertainment calendar (and park hours) for your visit.
Parent Tips for Waiting
Many young children may find it difficult to sit still and wait for a parade. Parents must plan ahead by bringing a blanket or lily pad to sit on, and provide food and maybe some activities. For us, we like to enjoy snacks from our favorite quick-service restaurants and stands nearby. Mobile order is a lifesaver. But order well in advance — we are talking a few hours before you want to eat — from Main Street U.S.A. locations such as Refreshment Corner, Jolly Holiday or the Little Red Wagon.
One parent might take the littles to do some souvenir shopping. We also entertain the kiddos with the bubble wands and light-up toys. Just before the parade, the crowd is usually very entertaining and excited. Other ideas include people watching or napping. One parent can even take the kids on some rides while the other holds the spot, but try to be in place at least 30 minutes before the show.
Cast members might play some crowd games to get people excited. Photographers might come by to take some fun shots. This is always a great opportunity to ask for Magic Shots, especially if you have Lightning Lane Multi Pass, which includes unlimited photo downloads for the day.
After experiencing Paint the Night parade, your entire family will be asking, “When can we do this again?” Our frog family just can't get enough of this awesome parade!
We're always happy to give you advice for the best viewing of Paint the Night Parade. We'll continue to share as we discover more tips. Have a tip of your own? Share them below. If you have questions about the parade, let us know those too.
Related: Fantastic Tips for Viewing Fantasmic! at Disneyland
Related: Best Places to View Disneyland Fireworks
Keep hopping!
