Festivals. Concerts. Food. (That's our personal fave!) Events are some of the biggest reasons to visit Walt Disney World Resort. In fact, many of the Disney World events have become so popular that people time their trips just to attend! Separately ticketed events continue to remain popular, such as Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party and Disney Jollywood Nights, plus Disney After Hours. Here is the full schedule of Disney World events in 2026 and beyond to help you plan your visit.
FAQs
- Are all Walt Disney World Resort events included with admission? EPCOT's seasonal festivals and the parks' daytime holiday festivities are included in your park ticket. Separately ticketed events include Disney After Hours, Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party and Disney Jollywood Nights. The good news is you can save on Disney World daytime and after-hours tickets with Undercover Tourist!
- What are runDisney events? runDisney is a magical theme park race experience that takes you through storied lands where you'll encounter the magic of Disney, meet beloved characters, enjoy special moments and receive commemorative medals to celebrate your accomplishments. You can sign up for runDisney events on the runDisney website.
- When are the exact dates of Disney World events? Event dates can vary each year. Bookmark this post as we'll be sure to update as exact dates are announced closer to each event.
Nevertheless, for those of you who have already picked your dates, this post also serves as a guide for what will be hoppening while you're there. You'll find all of the Walt Disney World events in 2026 on our Crowd Calendar. You can also see crowd levels and park recommendations on the days that events are taking place. We've even got a whole post detailing some of the very best times to plan a Disney World trip in 2026 and beyond. Be sure to bookmark this page if you've got a trip coming up to stay up-to-date on all of the exciting events to come!
Full Schedule of Events at Disney World in 2026 and Beyond
Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend — Jan. 7-11, 2026
The Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend features Goofy's Race and a Half Challenge, Dopey Challenge, runDisney Kids Races, Walt Disney World 5K & 10K, Walt Disney World Half Marathon and the headlining race, the Walt Disney World Marathon. The courses of the longer races take runners through all four Walt Disney World Resort theme parks.
If you're planning a trip that overlaps with a race, you should know that Disney races are some of the Disney World events that will bring in heavy crowds. Crowd levels are usually affected by the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend since the event brings in thousands and thousands of runners and spectators each year. Traffic around the resort is also affected by the Walt Disney World Marathon. When visiting during this special event, expect travel time between the Disney parks to take longer. We have a separate post on what to expect at the Disney World Marathon if you want to start planning!
Disney After Hours — Select nights from Jan. 12 to Sept. 24, 2026
Disney After Hours events hoppen in winter through summer, with select dates available at Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and EPCOT! These separately ticketed events allow guests to stick around after normal park hours with limited crowds. That means you’ll encounter little-to-no lines while you wait for rides, character meet-and-greets and other experiences at the parks. Furthermore, you'll get complimentary popcorn, ice cream and bottled beverages throughout the night! Check out our Disney After Hours guide for more details.
- Magic Kingdom: Select dates between Jan. 12 and July 27, 2026
- Hollywood Studios: Select dates between Jan. 14 and Sept. 12, 2026
- EPCOT: Select dates between Jan. 22 and Sept. 24, 2026
At Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, a themed Disney After Hours event — H2O Glow After Hours — takes place during the spring and summer seasons, as well. H2O Glow After Hours runs on select nights from June 2 to Sept. 5, 2026. At this event, you can expect low wait times for attractions, a DJ dance party with characters along the beach and more.
EPCOT International Festival of the Arts — Jan. 16 to Feb. 23, 2026
Grab a paintbrush, and let your imagination flow! This EPCOT festival celebrates visual, performing and culinary arts. There are gallery exhibits, living statues, artist appearances and much more that take place during the festival — including the popular Disney on Broadway Concert Series.
EPCOT International Festival of the Arts is included with admission to the park, but there may be separately ticketed events within the festival itself if you are looking for additional experiences such as culinary classes or art workshops. Here is our full guide to the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts to inspire you.
Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend — Feb. 26 to March 2, 2026
Inspired by the Disney Princesses, this event celebrates strong, determined women. Weekend events include the Disney Princess Yoga, Disney Princess 5K, Disney Princess 10K, Disney Fairy Tale Challenge and the headlining event, the Disney Princess Half Marathon. The half-marathon takes runners through Magic Kingdom and EPCOT. Traffic around the parks is typically affected by this race every year.
EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival — March 4 to June 1, 2026
As the second event in the yearly lineup of the EPCOT festivals, the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival blossoms each spring. This festival features tons of topiaries spread throughout the park. There is an abundance of food offerings at the outdoor kitchens scattered around World Showcase, World Celebration, World Discovery and World Nature to enjoy while admiring the character topiaries.
Guests can also delight in the hundreds of butterfly species residing at the festival's screened butterfly house. Plus, the Garden Rocks Concert Series is back at the America Gardens Theatre on select nights. EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival is included with regular admission to EPCOT. This is one of the most colorful and popular Disney World events!
runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend — April 16-20, 2026
Grab your bestie! Though this runDisney event offers up a new theme each year, it's always memorable. This year's events include Surprise Yoga, runDisney Springtime Surprise 5K, runDisney Springtime Surprise 10K, runDisney Springtime Surprise 10-Miler, runDisney Springtime Surprise Splash and runDisney Springtime Surprise Challenge.
Banana Ball — May 29-30, 2026
For the first time ever, Banana Ball is hitting a home run at ESPN Wide World of Sports. The Loco Beach Coconuts will be facing off against the Party Animals in a weekend filled with trick plays, diving catches and on-the-field shenanigans. While the Ticket Lottery List is closed, a limited number of Tickets Inclusive of Food & Beverage will be available for fans to purchase soon, so keep your eyes peeled!
Cool KIDS' SUMMER — May 26 to Sept. 8, 2026
Returning for its second year, Cool KIDS' SUMMER offers even more family fun all across the resort. From dancing with "Toy Story" friends at Diamond Horseshoe in Magic Kingdom to playing games with Goofy at CommuniCore Hall in EPCOT, your tadpoles will have a blast with their favorite characters.
EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival — Aug. 27 to Nov. 21, 2026
The popular EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival runs every fall. If you're looking for Disney World events with plenty of food and drink, this is one of them! The festival features more than 25 international marketplace kiosks, which offer tapas-sized portions of regional specialties, as well as recommended wine and beer pairings. Plus, enjoy epic entertainment with the Eat to the Beat! Concert Series.
This is a major event, and we recommend using our EPCOT Food & Wine Festival guide to help you make the most of it! EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival is included with regular theme park admission.
Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party — Select nights from Aug. 7 to Oct. 31, 2026
Boo to you — Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party will return on Aug. 7 and run on select nights through Oct. 31, 2026, at Magic Kingdom Park! This separately ticketed event offers guests the opportunity to stay after normal park hours in their costumes to enjoy unique characters, attraction overlays, treat stops, photo opportunities and specialty food and drink. Enjoy exclusive entertainment, including Mickey’s Boo-To-You parade, Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular stage show and Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular fireworks. Head over to our not-so-scary guide for all the details!
Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend — Oct. 22-25, 2026
The Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend combines the magic of a runDisney race with the festivities of the Food & Wine Festival. Races usually include the Disney Wine & Dine 5K, Disney Wine & Dine 10K, and the Half Marathon. Half-marathoners and Disney Two-Course Challenge participants can celebrate at an exclusive post-race party at the Food and Wine Festival. General registration opened Feb. 11, 2025.
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party — Select Nights in November and December 2026
Experience all four Walt Disney World Theme Parks this summer with the 4-Day, 4-Park Magic Ticket! Valid for arrivals from May 26 to Sept. 26, 2026.
Boo to you! Savings on Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party have materialized with discount party tickets through Undercover Tourist! As an extra treat, you can lock in your spooky season Walt Disney World Resort vacation package or hotel stay for a refundable $200 deposit.
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Celebrate the holiday season with Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, back at Magic Kingdom Park! This special event occurs after regular park hours and requires a separate party ticket to enjoy all its exclusive offerings. Running from 7 p.m. to midnight on select nights, the party features rare characters, special entertainment, jolly-good treats, ride overlays and more! There is even “snowfall” on Main Street intermittently throughout the night.
Enjoy big highlights such as Mickey's Once Upon A Christmastime Parade, Mickey's Most Merriest Celebration castle stage show, the new Frozen Holiday Surprise Show and Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Show. There are also plenty of opportunities to meet your favorite Disney characters, some of whom are decked out in their holiday finest. Check out our festive party guide for all the exciting details!
While Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is a separate event, there are still many festive holiday Disney World events. Each one brings merriment with the right touch of Disney. Let our complete guide to Disney World holiday events be your holiday planner! (Consider it our gift to you.)
Disney Jollywood Nights — Select Nights in November and December 2026
As one of the newer holiday offerings, Disney Jollywood Nights is a separately ticketed event taking place from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. on select nights. This event combines the holidays with the glitz and glam of the past.
The event features the return of the fan-favorite "Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM" nighttime spectacular, plus even more special entertainment such as a DJ Dance Party, Latin Street Fair, sing-along at the Hyperion Theater and a holiday special at Theater of the Stars hosted by Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog (you know us frogs will be there!) There are also two limited-capacity entertainment areas at the Hollywood Brown Derby and the Hollywood Tower Hotel Courtyard.
Guests also could meet Mickey Mouse and friends, Powerline Max, Phineas and Ferb, Edna Mode and select characters from "The Incredibles." The party includes access to favorite rides such as Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Slinky Dog Dash, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster and so much more.
Enjoy special PhotoPass stops and holiday-themed Magic Shots around the park, as well as specialty food offerings. Check out our Jollywood Guide for all the jolly details!
EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays — November and December 2026
EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays celebrates many holiday traditions. Storytellers from many of the countries, such as La Befana at the Italy pavilion, recount holiday customs from their respective countries. Santa Claus even makes special appearances too! There's also seasonal food from each country available for purchase, including the famous Cookie Stroll. Buon appetite!
The Candlelight Processional tells the story of Christmas with a celebrity narrator, accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra and mass choir. The Candlelight Processional is typically performed three times nightly. Much like other EPCOT festivals, the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays is included with regular admission to EPCOT. We have tips on all of these festivities (and yes, the food too) in our full guide!
Additional Experiences Offered During the Holiday Season at Disney World
While not technically holiday events, here are some additional offerings you can expect during Disney's merry season:
Holiday Celebrations at Disney's Animal Kingdom — November and December 2026
Guests can see their favorite characters in their holiday best, including Mickey and Minnie at Adventurers Outpost. The Merry Menagerie, life-size animal puppets of penguins, foxes, polar bears and more, create a winter wonderland at Discovery Island. At night, guests can check out the Tree of Life Awakenings — Holiday Edition, during which the tree shimmers and sparkles along to a musical score. There were also special seasonal decorations and food to enjoy around the park!
Holiday Celebrations at Disney's Hollywood Studios — November and December 2026
Share a meal with Santa Goofy, Minnie Mouse and friends at Hollywood & Vine for a Christmas feast. Sunset Season's Greetings lights up Tinseltown as snow falls and dazzling projections light up the Hollywood Tower Hotel to tell special holiday tales from your favorite characters.
Enjoy a special holiday finale to the Frozen Sing-Along, featuring our favorite snowman, Olaf. Plus, guests may have a chance to see Santa Claus himself!
Holiday Celebrations at Disney Springs — November and December 2026
The main highlight of the holidays at Disney Springs is the Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll, with fun Disney-themed trees throughout. In the evening, guests visiting Town Center encounter a magical snowfall. Enjoy lots of festive food, including Jock Lindsay's Holiday Hangar Bar, returning again with holiday decor and a limited-time menu. Plus, you can spend one-on-one time with Santa!
Other Exciting Dates to Watch For
In addition to these events, there are also some key dates to keep an eye out for. While not all of these have confirmed dates, your trip may coincide with one of the following:
- Frozen Ever After — now open with Audio-Animatronics figure updates
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad — refurbishment to include new track, updated ride vehicles and new rainbow cavern scene, reopening May 3, 2026
- Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin — now open as of April 8, 2026, with new gameplay and interactive features
- Soarin' Across America — an immersive flight experience across new scenic vistas beginning May 26, 2026
- Bluey & Bingo at Conservation Station — play some of your favorite games with your Blue Heeler pals beginning May 26, 2026
- Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run — new mission with The Mandalorian and Grogu coming May 22, 2026
- Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets — a Muppetational transformation opening May 26, 2026
- Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! — embark on a road trip to find Mickey and Minnie's best pals beginning May 26, 2026
- The Magic of Disney Animation — explore the world of Walt Disney Animation Studios and its beloved, playful creations, late summer 2026
We hope you found this list of Disney World events hopful as you plan your visit. By now, you've realized that the parties, festivals and events are some of the best reasons to visit! If you're looking for more tips, check out the When to Visit Orlando page on our Orlando Planning Timeline!
Related: The Very Best Times to Go to Disney World in 2026 and Beyond
Hoppy planning!
