New: 2026 Candlelight Processional Narrators - EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays 2026 Guide
Updated: Sep 9
✨ Updated September 8, 2026: Disney has released the 2026 Candlelight Processional celebrity narrator lineup, new performance times and Candlelight Processional Dining Package details. We also have information about the returning Behind the Seeds: Glimmering Greenhouses tour. Festival menus, Cookie Stroll treats and full entertainment schedules are still to come.
One of our favorite things to experience at Walt Disney World is the EPCOT Festival lineup with each one brings its own unique energy to the park. From the creativity and color of the Festival of the Arts, to the floral beauty of Flower & Garden, and the delicious global bites of Food & Wine, it all builds to one final celebration: the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays. ✨
Christmas time at Disney truly is the most magical time of year. EPCOT transforms into a festive wonderland filled with dazzling decorations, joyful entertainment, and holiday treats from around the world. This seasonal festival brings heartwarming traditions to life through food, music, and storytelling.
In 2026, Festival of the Holidays runs daily from November 27 through December 30, and is included with regular EPCOT admission.
Planning your visit? Explore our EPCOT International Festival Maps for up-to-date booth locations, Storytellers, and Cookie Stroll stops all organized in one easy downloadable guide, including a preliminary planning map based on returning offerings for EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays.
Jump to What You Need 🎄
🍽️ Holiday Kitchens: Global Festive Flavors
Who doesn’t love great food—especially when it’s themed for the holidays? One of the signature experiences at every EPCOT festival is exploring the food booths, and Festival of the Holidays is no exception.
For 2026 they are still "cooking" up the menu, but in 2025, there were 20+ Holiday Kitchens stationed throughout World Showcase and beyond, each offering seasonal dishes and beverages that reflect holiday traditions from around the world.
From savory bites to indulgent desserts, these limited-time menus are filled with unique flavors and comforting classics. Whether you're looking for something warm and hearty or sweet and nostalgic, there’s something festive at every stop.
Here’s a peek into of what you might find:
🇲🇽 Las Posadas Holiday Kitchen (Mexico Pavilion): Tostada de Carne — Braised beef tips slowly cooked Mexican-style atop a fried corn tortilla with black beans, crispy onions, and queso fresco
🇫🇷 Le Marché de Noël Holiday Kitchen (France Pavilion) — Crème de Saumon Fumé en Brioche aux Grains de Sésame, Concombre et Radis: Smoked salmon spread on a sesame brioche roll with cucumber and radishes
🇯🇵 Shi Wasu Holiday Kitchen (Japan Pavilion): Toshikoshi Soba — Buckwheat soba noodles in hot dashi broth topped with shrimp tempura and chopped green onion
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Hungry for all the festive flavors? Disney is still "cooking up" its Festival of the Holidays Menu, but you can take a peek at our full 2025 EPCOT Festival of the Holidays Foodie Guide, packed with booth-by-booth menus, [NEW] dishes, Cookie Stroll stops, and planning tips to help you snack your way around World Showcase like a pro. 🍪✨ It’s the perfect companion to this guide!
🥂 Seasonal Sips & Holiday Flights
The Festival of the Holidays isn’t just about the food—the drink selections are just as festive! Each Holiday Kitchen offers a variety of seasonal beverages, from cozy classics to creative holiday cocktails.
Whether you're sipping a hot mulled wine, sampling a festive mimosa or cider flight, or trying a spiced holiday cocktail, there’s something for every palate. You’ll also find wine, beer, and sangria flights scattered throughout the booths—perfect for sharing (or not 😄).
We’re especially excited to try a few of the more unique offerings this year—and maybe discover a new holiday favorite!
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Many of the drinks come in small portions, so it’s easy to taste around the world without overdoing it. Grab a festival passport to keep track of what you try!
🍪 2026 Holiday Cookie Stroll - Returning in 2026
Who doesn’t want an excuse to eat Christmas cookies at Disney? While Disney lists this as a scavenger hunt, we like to think of it as more of a cookie crawl—and a very tasty one at that!
🍬 Here’s how it works:
Pick up a Festival Passport at most festival kiosks or park entrances
Purchase any five of the designated cookies (look for the cookie icon in your passport or on our Festival of the Holidays Food Guide)
Get your passport stamped at each cookie booth
Bring your stamped passport to Shimmering Sips to claim your completer treat!
🍪 Typical Cookie Stroll Locations & Cookies
CommuniCore Hall — Experimental Prototype Cookies of Tomorrow
Prototype Cookie
Ginger-Molasses Cookie
Salted Caramel Spaceship Earth Cookie
Connections Café
Holiday Sugar Cookie
The Odyssey — Holiday Hearth Desserts
Cranberry-Oatmeal Cookie (Plant-based)
Bavaria Holiday Kitchen - Germany
Hazelnut Linzer Cookie
American Holiday Table — American Adventure
Chocolate Cookie featuring SNICKERS
L’Chaim! Holiday Kitchen
Mickey-Shaped Almond Black & White Cookie
Rugelach
Yukon Holiday Kitchen — Canada
Maple Leaf Shortbread Cookie
Mele Kalikimaka Holiday Kitchen
Coffee–Mocha Cookie
Nochebuena Cocina
Cinnamon-Spiced Chocolate Crinkle Cookie
Sunshine Seasons — The Land
Peanut Butter Cookie
We'll update this guide as soon as Disney announces the 2026 Cookie Stroll locations and treats.
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Want to snack smart? We’ve marked all the Cookie Stroll booths on our 2026 Festival of the Holidays Map with a 🍪 icon, so you can plan your path and skip the backtracking!
🍽️ EPCOT Dining Guide
🍴 Looking for a full meal between all those cookie stroll stops? Browse our EPCOT Dining Guide to discover the best table service and quick service spots—plus a few hidden gems.
🧭 Olaf’s Holiday Traditions Expedition — Returning for 2026!
We love participating in EPCOT’s seasonal scavenger hunts. Whether we’re spotting Spike the Bee during Flower & Garden, searching for hidden Figments during Festival of the Arts, or tracking down Remy and friends during Food & Wine, these interactive games are a highlight of every trip.
For the Festival of the Holidays, the spotlight turns to Olaf—and he’s off exploring holiday traditions around the World Showcase! In this festive scavenger hunt, you’ll look for little Olaf figures placed throughout the pavilions, each holding a different holiday item or symbol.
🗺️ Here’s how it works:
Purchase your scavenger hunt map - at the Creations Shop, World Traveler, or many festival merchandise kiosks (2025 price $11.99 plus tax)
Search for Olaf and identify the holiday tradition he’s showcasing in each pavilion
Once complete, return your map to Disney Traders, Gateway Gifts, or World Traveler to claim your prize!
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: This is a great way to keep little ones engaged as you explore the festival—and a fun excuse for grown-ups to poke around every nook and cranny of World Showcase.
🎢 Want to know more about the fun rides and shows available year-round at EPCOT?
Check out our full EPCOT Attractions Guide to see what’s worth riding between Holiday Kitchen stops and Storyteller showtimes!
🎭 Festival of the Holidays Entertainment
📖 World Showcase Storytellers
One of the most enchanting parts of the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays is the return of the World Showcase Storytellers. In each country, performers share traditional holiday tales, legends, and customs that bring the season to life. From Father Christmas to mischievous barn gnomes, each one offers a peek into how different cultures celebrate.
Each performance lasts about 15–20 minutes, and they’re scheduled multiple times daily throughout the festival.
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: These storytellers are a hidden gem—don’t rush past them! They’re especially fun for kids and a great way to take a break from the crowds and food booths.
Confirmed 2026 World Showcase Storytellers
Disney has confirmed the return of these holiday performances for the 2026 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays. Individual performance times have not yet been released.
Mexico – Las Posadas Celebration: Dancers, piñatas and lively mariachi music bring this traditional Mexican holiday celebration to life.
Norway – A Mischievous Magical Barn Santa: Sigrid attempts to share Norwegian Christmas traditions while Barn Santa makes his hilariously mischievous appearance.
China – Chinese Lion Dancer: A colorful lion-dance performance celebrates happiness, good fortune and the Lunar New Year.
Germany – Adventskalender: Discover the German tradition of counting down the days until Christmas with an Advent calendar.
Italy – La Befana: The kindhearted Christmas witch who visits children on the eve of the Epiphany shares her charming holiday story.
Japan – Daruma Storyteller: Ring in the Japanese New Year while learning the story behind the Daruma doll, a traditional symbol of perseverance and good luck.
Between Morocco and France – Hanukkah Storyteller: Storyteller Zachary shares the legends, music and traditions of Hanukkah celebrations around the world.
France – Père Noël: Père Noël reads the touching Christmas letter of a young girl named Babette while sharing French holiday traditions.
United Kingdom – Father Christmas: Father Christmas appears in his lush holiday robes to share the Christmas traditions of the United Kingdom.
Canada – Canadian Holiday Voyageurs: This energetic musical group shares customs from across Canada—and may have you rockin’ around the Christmas tree before they are finished.
2026 Storytellers schedule - TBA
We will update with all released times once the Festival opens.
Father Christmas - United Kingdom Pavilion Festival of the Holidays EPCOT Père Notel - Festival of the Holidays EPCOT Norway Barn Elf Storyteller - Festival of the Holidays EPCOT Hanukkah Storyteller Festival of the Holidays EPCOT Holiday Storyteller - Festival of the Holidays EPCOT
🌐 Curious about the pavilions behind the storytellers? Dive deeper into each country with our EPCOT World Showcase Guide, packed with cultural tips, dining options, and family-friendly must-dos.
🎅 Where to Find Santa at EPCOT (2026)
For this year’s Festival of the Holidays, Santa is rgeturnin to CommuniCore Hall for his daily meet-and-greets—swapping last year’s Odyssey location for a spot in EPCOT’s new festival hub. Perfect for snapping that festive family photo before he heads back to the North Pole!
In recent years, Santa has greeted guests daily from late November through December 24. Exact 2026 times have not yet been announced.
And don’t forget—Santa’s always busy traveling the world, too. During the Festival of the Holidays you’ll also find a few familiar versions of St. Nick sharing their unique traditions across World Showcase:
🇫🇷 Père Noël appears in the France Pavilion, where he tells the charming story of Babette and her heartfelt Christmas letter.
🇳🇴 Barn Santa pops up in the Norway Pavilion, getting into all kinds of mischievous fun during a comedic storytelling performance with Sigrid.
🇬🇧 Father Christmas tells stories of Christmases past and holiday traditions in the United Kingdom Pavilion
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: These aren’t just character sightings—they’re full performances, and some of the most delightful moments in the festival. Check your Festival Passport or My Disney Experience app for showtimes!
🎅 Santa Goofy at The Odyssey - Returning in 2026
If you love a good holiday mash-up, you have to pop over to The Odyssey for one of EPCOT’s most delightfully goofy (literally!) meet and greets. Santa Goofy is decked out in his bright red suit, striking his best “jolly hero” pose, and ready to ham it up for festive photos. He’s equal parts cheerful, chaotic, and completely charming, everything you want in a holiday character moment.
From November 27 - December 30, 2026 you can catch Goofy Santa: Times TBA
🎅 Want to meet more characters beyond Santa Claus? See who you can find around the park with our EPCOT Character Meet and Greet Guide- updated for 2026!
🎄 Immersive Holiday Experiences
🎄 Glittering Grove presented by Balsam Hill -Returning in 2026
After you visit Santa Goofy don’t miss wandering through the Glittering Grove inside the Odyssey Pavilion, a cozy indoor walkthrough featuring beautifully decorated Christmas trees inspired by festive traditions from around the globe. Twinkling lights, detailed ornaments, and cool AC make this one of our favorite quiet “wow” moments of Festival of the Holidays.
✨ Celebration Countdown – Presented by Citizen - Returning in 2026
Inside CommuniCore Hall, the Celebration Countdown presented by Citizen invites guests into a continuous holiday light show experience where festive projections, twinkling effects, and seasonal music build toward a “countdown to the holidays” vibe. This walk-through style experience runs throughout the day, offering a cool, low-crowd place to pause, reset, and enjoy EPCOT’s modern take on holiday cheer.
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: CommuniCore Hall is fully indoors, air-conditioned, and perfect for escaping afternoon heat, rain, or sensory overload while still taking in holiday entertainment.
🎄 Spaceship Earth Gingerbread Display - Returning in 2026
Located in CommuniCore Hall, this stunning 8-foot-tall gingerbread version of Spaceship Earth was made of hundreds of hand-crafted gingerbread triangles. It even lit up and “danced” periodically throughout the day—just like the real thing!🧁 Guests can also purchase gingerbread kits at the nearby Experimental Prototype Cookies of Tomorrow Holiday Kitchen.
🌲 Festive Fragrances Presented by Scentsy - Returning in 2026
Festive Fragrances presented by Scentsy is a hands-on sensory experience inside CommuniCore Hall that lets guests sample holiday-inspired scents — think cozy winter spices, piney evergreens, warm cookies, and classic Christmas aromas. It’s a quick, interactive stop that adds a fun multisensory layer to Festival of the Holidays beyond the usual sights and sounds.
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Celebration Countdown and Festival Fragrances are a great short stop between booths. CommuniCore Hall is fully indoors, air-conditioned, and perfect for escaping afternoon heat, rain, or sensory overload while still taking in holiday entertainment.
🎶 JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season - Returning in 2026
Get ready to clap your hands and feel the spirit of the season—JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season is back for the 2026 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays!
This high-energy performance celebrates both Christmas and Kwanzaa through powerful Gospel and R&B vocals. The uplifting music, soulful harmonies, and infectious energy make this a must-see show during the festival.
🎤 JOYFUL! will take place at CommuniCore Plaza in World Celebration this year.
🕒 Times TBA
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: JOYFUL! is one of the few performances located outside the World Showcase—so don’t forget to check your Festival Passport or the My Disney Experience app for exact showtimes if you're planning your day from front to back!
🎼 Voices of Liberty: The Dickens Carolers
The beloved a cappella Voices of Liberty transform into Dickens Carolers for the season, filling the rotunda at The American Adventure Pavilion with classic Christmas harmonies. They typically perform multiple times throughout the day, but 2026 showtimes haven’t been released yet — be sure to check the My Disney Experience app on the day of your visit for the most accurate schedule.
🌟 Candlelight Processional
A beloved tradition for many Walt Disney World guests, the Candlelight Processional is the crown jewel of the Festival of the Holidays entertainment lineup. Held at the America Gardens Theatre in the American Adventure Pavilion, this moving performance features a celebrity narrator retelling the story of Christmas, accompanied by a full choir and 50-piece live orchestra.
Many families attend year after year just for this experience - it’s that powerful and is one of the most popular experiences at any EPCOT festival. If you’re visiting during peak dates, understanding crowd planning during Christmas Break can make Candlelight Processional feel far more manageable.
🕯️ The Candlelight Processional runs nightly from November 27 through December 30, 2026 and has performances at 4:45 p.m., 6:30 p.m., and 8:00 p.m. at EPCOT’s America Gardens Theatre.
Dates | Narrator | First Time? |
November 27–28 | Auli‘i Cravalho | |
November 29–December 1 | Gary Sinise | |
December 2–3 | To Be Announced | |
December 4–5 | Whoopi Goldberg | |
December 6–7 | Robin Roberts | Yes |
December 8–9 | Jason Kelce | Yes |
December 10–12 | Neil Patrick Harris | |
December 13–14 | To Be Announced | |
December 15–16 | Lauren Daigle | |
December 17–19 | Ralph Macchio | |
December 20–21 | Henry Winkler | |
December 22–23 | Lacey Chabert | Yes |
December 24–25 | Jodi Benson | |
December 26–27 | Simu Liu | |
December 28–30 | Eva Longoria |
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Gary Sinise, Whoopi Goldberg and Neil Patrick Harris have traditionally been especially popular narrators. Jason Kelce’s first appearance may also draw a very enthusiastic crowd, so a dining package could be particularly valuable on those dates.
🎶 Candlelight Processional Dining Packages - Returning for 2026
The Candlelight Processional is one of EPCOT’s most beloved holiday traditions, and getting a seat can be tricky without a little planning.
Dining Packages are the easiest way to guarantee a spot without having to wait in the standby line.
Dining-Package Reservations for 2026 Openon October 14, 2026
How it Works
When you book a Candlelight Processional Dining Package, you’ll enjoy a fixed-price meal and receive guaranteed same-day seating for one performance. You’ll still want to arrive early for the best view within the reserved section, but it’s a big stress-saver compared to standby.
Participating Restaurants & Prices (2026)
(Ages 10+ / Ages 3–9; Dining Plan credits noted where available)
Restaurant | Adult / Child | Dining Plan |
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall | $87 / $59 | 2 TS |
Biergarten Restaurant | $75 / $40 | 1 TS |
Chefs de France | $89 / $37 | 1 TS |
Coral Reef Restaurant | $82 / $34 | 1 TS |
Garden Grill—Breakfast | $73 / $46 | 1 TS |
Garden Grill—Lunch/Dinner | $86 / $55 | 1 TS |
La Crêperie de Paris | $59 / $31 | 1 TS |
La Hacienda de San Angel | $86 / $37 | 1 TS |
Le Cellier Steakhouse | $109 / $44 | 2 TS |
Nine Dragons Restaurant | $70 / $30 | 1 TS |
Rose & Crown Dining Room | $68 / $31 | 1 TS |
Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya | $85 / $40 | 1 TS |
Spice Road Table | $63 / $26 | 1 TS |
Teppan Edo | $89 / $40 | 1 TS |
Tutto Italia Ristorante | $85 / $36 | 1 TS |
Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria | $71 / $33 | 1 TS |
Same-Day Option: Regal Eagle Smokehouse offers a limited number of same-day dining packages for $43 per adult and $26 per child. The 2026 Regal Eagle package is not eligible for the Disney Dining Plan.
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Book your dining package with your preferred showtime in mind. If you’re planning to snack around the Holiday Kitchens, go for the early show. If you’d rather linger at the booths, pick a later performance so you’re not rushing.
🍽️ Want to know how EPCOT dining packages work?
While we wait for the 2026 Candlelight Processional Dining Package details to drop, head over to our Disney World Fireworks Dessert Parties & Dining Packages Guide for all the deets on how dining packages work at EPCOT and beyond!
Behind the Seeds: Glimmering Greenhouses Tour
The nighttime Behind the Seeds: Glimmering Greenhouses tour returns during the 2026 Festival of the Holidays. This one-hour walking tour takes guests inside The Land’s decorated greenhouses to see the sparkling light displays up close, learn about crops connected to holiday traditions and explore the sustainable growing techniques used throughout the pavilion.
Tours are scheduled nightly at 6:00, 7:00 and 8:00 p.m. from November 27 through December 30. Reservations open September 24, 2026. The currently listed price is $59 per person, plus tax, although it is worth rechecking when reservations officially open.
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: The regular Living with the Land boat ride receives the Glimmering Greenhouses overlay and is included with park admission. This walking tour is a separate, paid behind-the-scenes experience.
Festival Map — Your Guide to Booths, Benches & Breaks
When we were planning our own Festival of the Holidays day, we found ourselves on the hunt for the perfect map—something that showed not only where the food booths were, but also where to grab a seat, take cover from the rain, or enjoy a shady break between bites.
We couldn’t find exactly what we needed… so we made our own! We will be updating it for 2026 as soon as information is released.
🎉 Here’s our custom EPCOT Festival of the Holidays Map, updated for all released 2026 info - and available both as a JPG and as a downloadable PDF.
📍 It includes:
Typically Holiday Kitchen booth locations
Rest stops with seating
Covered and shaded areas (great for weather surprises)
Plus icons for scavenger hunt spots and more!
We will continue to update the map with any changes Disney releases right up until the beginning of the Festival.
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Download the map to your phone before your park day so you don’t have to rely on Wi-Fi or cell signal in the middle of World Showcase!
🗺️ Check out our EPCOT Festival Maps for booth locations, Storytellers, and Cookie Stroll stops — plus all of our fan-favorite festival maps in one place!
Ready to Celebrate the Holidays at EPCOT?
Whether you're sipping mulled wine, searching for Olaf, listening to a Storyteller share beloved traditions, or singing along to JOYFUL!, there's truly something for everyone at the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays. With festive food, heartwarming entertainment, and plenty of sweet moments to share, it’s the perfect way to wrap up your Walt Disney World year.
✨ As always, we’ll keep this guide updated as new details for 2026 are released—so check back often!
Looking for more planning help? Don’t miss these festival-friendly resources:
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: EPCOT can get busy during the holidays—especially in the evenings and on weekends. Arrive early, pace yourself, and don’t forget to soak in the joyful little details between snacks and shows!
Pixie Dust Hugs,
Bren, Lyn, and Kim
🎄Planning a full holiday trip to Walt Disney World?
Don’t miss our complete guides to the two biggest after-hours events of the season:
🎅 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party — parades, snowfall on Main Street, rare characters, and more at Magic Kingdom - updated for 2026
🎬 Disney’s Jollywood Nights — a glam nighttime celebration at Hollywood Studios with live music, cocktails, and vintage vibes - updated for 2026
Make the most of the merriest time of the year at every park!
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