As Disneyland works to celebrate diversity through music, food, art and experiences throughout the year, we’re going to take a closer look at the hoppenings for Celebrate Soulfully and Black History Month at Disneyland. This celebration expands offerings to honor Black heritage and culture during Black History Month at Disneyland in February and also for Juneteenth during the whole month of June. There are also a few year-round offerings and exhibits we will get into if you can’t visit in February or June. Plus there are a few changes this year that we will hop into!
Hop To
Celebrate Black History Month in February
In February, you can enjoy Black History Month at Disneyland Resort. Here is a look at what's hoppening in 2026.
You can enjoy uplifting performances by award-winning Gospel music stars, recording artists and community choirs. Gospel means "good news." Gospel music celebrates the power of a song. It's about perseverance and finding joy in the face of adversity.
"Celebrate Gospel" has been a Disneyland Resort tradition for more than a decade. It used to take place at Disney California Adventure but hopped to Disneyland in 2022. But there's another change for 2026. You no longer need a park ticket to experience the music. The Gospel performances are moving to Downtown Disney over two weekends! You can see performances at the Downtown Disney Live stage by the lawn and Din Tai Fung. They take place on Friday and Saturday in 2026.
Hop over to our Guide to Downtown Disney to learn about parking, validation and dining.
Here's what to expect in February:
- Friday Feb. 20, 2026 — Sacred Groove at 2, 3, 4 and 5 p.m. and Mahogany Band at 6:30, 7:30, 8:30 and 9:30 p.m.
- Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026 — Headliner Hezekiah Walker at 7 p.m. and other choirs/DJ for Celebrate Gospel 2 to 10:10 p.m.
- Friday, Feb. 27, 2026 — Singers of Soul at 2, 3, 4 and 5 p.m. and Mahogany Band at 6:30, 7:30, 8:30 and 9:30 p.m.
- On Sat., Feb. 28, 2026 — Headliner Yolanda Adams at 7 p.m. and other choirs/DJ for Celebrate Gospel 2 to 10:10 p.m.
Walker and Adams are Grammy Award-winning Gospel legends.
Other acts on Feb. 21 include:
- De’Ante Duckett & The Justified Crew
- Sacred Groove
- Azusa Pacific University Gospel Choir
- Second Baptist Church Anchored Praise Choir
- Lorenzo Johnson & Praizum
- Friendship Baptist Church Mass Choir
- Greater LA Cathedral Choir Set
Other acts on Feb. 28 include:
- Greater LA Cathedral Choir
- Singers of Soul
- Azusa Pacific University Gospel Choir
- Lorenzo Johnson & Praizum
- Friendship Baptist Church Mass Choir
- FReSH Generation
- FM2 & Intentional
Free Crafts
Guests can do free crafts such as coloring "stained glass window" or add a flower to the Wall of Giving Flowers. You could write what you are thankful for on the flower.
History Panels
Learn about the rich history of gospel music and trailblazing Black figures from history panels around the resort.
Disneyland Park:
- Frontierland – Dom Flemons
- Main Street, U.S.A.– Martha Blanding, Frederick Douglass and Scott Joplin
- Mickey’s Toontown
- New Orleans Square – Leah Chase and Ron Husband
- Tomorrowland – Guion S. Bluford Jr.
Disney California Adventure Park:
- Buena Vista Street – Floyd Norman
- Hollywood Land – Lanny Smoot, Austin Traylor, Marlon West and Olun Riley
- Downtown Disney District
Downtown Disney LIVE! Stage:
- Nikkolas Smith
Food During Black History Month
During "Celebrate Soulfully," you may be able to try special treats in parks, hotels or Downtown Disney on select days in 2026. The food we ate last year was excellent.
During February, enjoy live music, special food offerings and shopping in honor of Black History Month.
Entertainment and Art at Downtown Disney or Hotels
In the past, during each night in February, the Downtown Disney LIVE! stage hosted live bands nightly. Performances highlight R&B, hip hop, reggae, funk, Motown, jazz and doo-wop. Here's a look at past offerings that could return for 2026.
Every Saturday evening in February, talented Black artists performed at Jazz Kitchen Coastal Grill & Patio.
The Lovepop store has featured a Black is Beautiful Pop-Up card for Black History Month.
You could meet Black artists or see their work in the parks.
Pixar Place Hotel
Joe Gardner from "Soul" performs smooth jazz tunes on the piano afternoons and evenings year-round
Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
Take in the vibrant energy of summer as live performers grace the Pool Deck. They showcase a diverse range of easy listening genres, including neo soul, lo-fi hip hop and R&B. Showtimes daily are every hour on the hour between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Look for special menu items at GCH Craftsman Bar and Hearthstone Lounge
Disneyland Hotel
Fridays and Saturdays during June offer jazz, blues and Neo soul over at Broken Spell Lounge and other acts in the lobby. Showtimes include 5:30 p.m., 6:45 p.m., 8 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. Look for special menu items at Broken Spell Lounge.
Celebrate Soulfully at Downtown Disney in June 2026
BOOK NOW AND SAVE UP TO 30% on select stays at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, the Disneyland Hotel, Pixar Place Hotel or the Villas at Disneyland Hotel through Sept. 8, 2026. Plus, you can secure your Disneyland hotel reservation for a refundable $200 deposit today, and pay the remainder 30 days prior to check-in!
Here's a look at what's hoppening in June 2026.
Disney On the Yard – Yardfest: Powered by Celebrate Soulfully on June 19, 2026
This community event returns to Downtown Disney District in 2026. During the day, join a celebration of the spirit and traditions that you might find at historically Black colleges and universities. Experience drum majors and Drum Major Mickey Mouse accompanied by a drumline.
Year-Round Offerings at Disneyland Resort
You can celebrate all year long with these offerings.
Eudora’s Chic Boutique Featuring Tiana’s Gourmet Secrets at Disneyland
The backstory to this New Orleans Square retail store is that Tiana collaborated with her dressmaker mother, Eudora, to open a shop. The shop sells accessories to create and serve masterful Orleans-style cuisine and more. It also sells clothing and ears inspired by Tiana. It's located near Blue Bayou.
Meet Tiana
My little sister Lily loves to meet Tiana. We feel very bonded to her as frogs, you know. You can find her in New Orleans Square, sometimes on the Mark Twain Riverboat and sometimes at the Royal Hall. She also appears during Disney Princess Breakfast Adventure character dining at Napa Rose.
Meet Ariel
Ariel (from the live-action film) can be found over by "it's a small world" year-round!
Enjoy Some Gumbo and other Traditional New Orleans Fare at Tiana's Palace
Tiana's Palace, located in New Orleans Square, is a new restaurant. The Cajun/Creole restaurant is based on the Disney film, "The Princess and the Frog," and its protagonist, Tiana. It's located in the building of the former French Market restaurant. You can read up on the menus and see photos in our post on Tiana's Palace.
Meet and Watch Black Superheroes in Action at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure
Do not miss out on seeing the Dora Milaje in action at Avengers Campus. You can also meet Black Panther. Toadally cool. We cover all the Avengers Campus characters in another post.
Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln Video in Main Street Opera House at Disneyland
Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln is back! As of Feb. 13, 2026, it alternates with Walt Disney - A Magical Life. There, you can watch the Frederick Douglass video.
Produced in collaboration with National Geographic, this short video plays in the lobby of the Main Street Opera House at Disneyland Park, outside of "Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln." It tells the story of the relationship between Frederick Douglass — an African American advocate for freedom, justice and democracy — and Abraham Lincoln. It recognizes their work together in the fight against slavery. Robin Roberts narrates the presentation, which features expert testimonials and the family of Douglass. It plays before the doors open for Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.
A cast member pointed out that there is an error in the video, so we will share that with you too. The video says that the Emancipation Proclamation freed slaves in the South. But what it did was free slaves in the Confederacy. Three Southern Union states still practiced slavery at that time. Chattel slavery was not abolished in all states until the 13th Amendment was established.
Five & Dime
At Disney California Adventure, soulful singer Dime and her jazz quintet perform hits of the 1920s and 1930s. You can find them driving through Hollywood Land to their show spot in front of the Carthay Circle fountain.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
Splash Mountain at both Disneyland and Disney World underwent a major re-theming with a new storyline, starring Princess Tiana. Get ready to be "goin' down the bayou" with Princess Tiana, Prince Naveen, Louis, Ray, Mama Odie and other favorites from the film "Princess and the Frog." To quote Tiana, these frogs think it's "the bee's knees!"
Tiana's Bayou Adventure, is centered on the backstory that Tiana is hosting a party and needs to head into the Bayou to find a special ingredient. We'll embark on a journey with her and Louis to find that special ingredient. Guests will be drawn in by original zydeco music — a special blend of rhythm and blues that originated in Louisiana — inspired by songs in the film. Louis will explain where this music is coming from. The band members sing and play instruments made from natural items found in the bayou. Imagineers describe this attraction as a love letter to New Orleans.
Are you ready to celebrate soulfully and celebrate Black History Month at Disneyland? Did you know you can save on theme park tickets and hotel stays with Undercover Tourist?
Related: Guide to Disneyland Special Events
Related: How to Plan for a Disneyland Trip
Stay cool!
