The holidays are arriving early at Walt Disney World! The official announcement on the Disney World Christmas events 2026 include the return of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, the beloved after-hours holiday celebration at Magic Kingdom.
This separately ticketed event returns on select nights from November 8 through December 22, 2026, bringing festive entertainment, holiday-themed attractions, character greetings, sweet treats, and plenty of Christmas magic to guests of all ages.
Key Dates to Know
Party Dates
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party will take place on select nights:
November: 8, 9, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 24, 25, 27, 29
December: 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 18, 20, 22
Guests with party tickets can enter Magic Kingdom as early as 4:00 PM, giving them three extra hours of park time before the event officially begins at 7:00 PM.
Ticket Sales Begin in July
Guests staying at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels, Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Hotels, and Shades of Green can purchase tickets beginning July 9, 2026.
Tickets become available to the general public on July 16, 2026.
Holiday Entertainment Highlights
This year’s party will feature many returning favorites, including:
- Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade
- Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks
- Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration
- Frozen Holiday Surprise at Cinderella Castle
- Club Tinsel and Disney Junior dance parties
Guests can also meet favorite Disney characters in their holiday attire, including:
- Anna and Elsa
- Santa Jack Skellington and Sally
- Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse
- Santa Claus at Storybook Circus
Holiday Attraction Overlays
Several Magic Kingdom favorites will receive festive holiday enhancements, including:
- Space Mountain
- Tomorrowland Speedway
- Mad Tea Party
- Jungle Cruise
- Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor
Popular attractions like TRON Lightcycle / Run, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Peter Pan’s Flight, Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, and many more will also be available during the party.
Cookies, Cocoa & Exclusive Merchandise
Party guests can once again enjoy complimentary cookies and festive beverages at select locations throughout the park. Exclusive event merchandise will also be available for purchase at the Emporium.
Disney Jollywood Nights Returns for an Expanded 2026 Season
Holiday glamour is returning to Disney’s Hollywood Studios as Disney Jollywood Nights returns for 2026—with its longest season yet!
This separately ticketed after-hours event combines old Hollywood elegance, festive entertainment, specialty food and beverages, unique character encounters, and shorter attraction wait times in a stylish holiday atmosphere.
Key Dates to Know
For the first time ever, Jollywood Nights will extend into January, with events taking place on select nights from November 7, 2026 through January 5, 2027.
Event Dates:
November: 7, 14, 16, 21, 23, 28
December: 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 23
January: 3, 5
Guests can enter Disney’s Hollywood Studios beginning at 5:30 PM, with the party running from 7:30 PM until 12:30 AM.
Ticket Sales Begin July 9
As with Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, select Walt Disney World Resort hotel guests, Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin guests, and Shades of Green guests can purchase tickets beginning July 9, 2026. General ticket sales open July 16, 2026.
Entertainment Highlights
Jollywood Nights features an impressive lineup of exclusive holiday entertainment, including:
- Disney Holidays in Hollywood starring Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy
- What’s This? Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-Along
- The returning Glisten! Holiday Skating Spectacular
- Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! nighttime fireworks spectacular
- The elegant Twilight Soirée at the Tip Top Club
- Pixar Disco dance party in Pixar Plaza
- Live holiday music and seasonal entertainment throughout the park
Special Character Encounters
Guests can meet an incredible lineup of rare Disney characters, including:
- Phineas and Ferb
- Max Goof as Powerline
- Chip ‘n’ Dale Rescue Rangers
- Stitch dressed as Santa
- The Mandalorian and Grogu
- Chewbacca celebrating Life Day
- Duffy
- Scrooge McDuck
- Bing Bong
- Lotso
- Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald, Daisy, Goofy, and Pluto
Additional character appearances will be announced closer to the event.
Attractions with Lower Wait Times
Many of Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ most popular attractions will be available during the event, including:
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
- Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
- Slinky Dog Dash
- Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
- The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
- Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets
- Toy Story Mania!
- Alien Swirling Saucers
- Star Tours
With limited attendance and festive offerings around every corner, Jollywood Nights continues to be one of Walt Disney World’s most unique holiday experiences.
EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays Returns November 27 – December 30, 2026
The holiday celebrations continue at EPCOT as the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays presented by AdventHealth returns from November 27 through December 30, 2026.
This beloved seasonal festival invites guests to experience holiday traditions from around the world through festive entertainment, seasonal food and beverages, dazzling decorations, and unique cultural experiences throughout World Showcase.
Holiday Traditions from Around the World
One of the festival’s most popular offerings is the return of the Holiday Storytellers, who share seasonal traditions and celebrations from their respective countries.
Guests can discover:
- Las Posadas in Mexico
- Père Noël in France
- Father Christmas in the United Kingdom
- La Befana in Italy
- A Mischievous Magical Barn Santa in Norway
- Hanukkah traditions between Morocco and France
- And many more holiday customs from around the globe
Santa Claus and Holiday Character Encounters
Guests can enjoy special appearances by Santa Claus throughout the festival, including meet-and-greet opportunities in CommuniCore Hall.
Additional holiday fun includes:
- Goofy dressed in his holiday best at The Odyssey
- Père Noël in France
- Barn Santa in Norway
- Festive character interactions around World Showcase
Holiday Entertainment Returns
Several fan-favorite entertainment offerings are returning in 2026:
Candlelight Processional
A cherished EPCOT tradition, the Candlelight Processional features celebrity narrators, a mass choir, and live orchestra retelling the Christmas story nightly at the America Gardens Theatre.
JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season
This energetic show blends gospel, jazz, R&B, and holiday music to celebrate Christmas and Kwanzaa traditions.
Voices of Liberty Dickens Carolers
The beloved Voices of Liberty transform into Victorian-era Dickens Carolers, performing classic holiday favorites with stunning harmonies.
Holiday Kitchens and Cookie Stroll
Food lovers can once again enjoy seasonal flavors from around the world at EPCOT’s popular Holiday Kitchens.
Guests can also participate in the returning Holiday Cookie Stroll, collecting stamps by purchasing qualifying cookies throughout the festival before redeeming a special holiday treat.
Seasonal Decor and Festive Experiences
EPCOT shines during the holiday season with:
- Holiday decorations throughout World Showcase
- The returning Gingerbread Spaceship Earth Display
- The Celebration Countdown presented by Citizen, featuring special holiday music and lighting every 15 minutes
- Holiday lighting effects on Spaceship Earth after dark
Holiday Overlays and Family Fun
Several seasonal experiences return for 2026, including:
Living with the Land: Glimmering Greenhouses
Experience this fan-favorite attraction transformed with festive lights and holiday décor throughout the greenhouses.
Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition
Join Olaf on a scavenger hunt around World Showcase as he discovers holiday traditions from around the world.
Scentsy’s Festive Fragrances
This interactive sensory experience returns with holiday-inspired fragrances celebrating seasonal traditions from across the globe.
From festive food and cultural traditions to heartwarming entertainment and holiday décor, the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays continues to be one of the most beloved holiday experiences at Walt Disney World.
More Holiday Magic Across Walt Disney World
The holiday season extends far beyond the special events, bringing festive décor, seasonal entertainment, holiday treats, and magical experiences throughout Walt Disney World from November 13, 2026, through January 6, 2027.
Holiday Cheer at Magic Kingdom
Magic Kingdom transforms into a Christmas postcard during the holiday season. Guests can stroll down a beautifully decorated Main Street, U.S.A., admire the towering Christmas tree, and enjoy festive entertainment throughout the park.
Fan-favorite holiday experiences include:
- Frozen Holiday Surprise, where Elsa, Anna, Olaf, and Kristoff help transform Cinderella Castle into a sparkling winter wonderland.
- The return of the beloved Jingle Cruise, featuring holiday-themed jokes, decorations, and seasonal fun aboard Jungle Cruise.
- Festive décor and photo opportunities throughout the park, including Cinderella Castle, Tomorrowland, and Liberty Square.
On non-party nights, guests can also enjoy Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away, while Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade takes center stage during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
Celebrate the Season at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Disney’s Hollywood Studios continues the holiday fun with festive décor, seasonal entertainment, and special character experiences.
Highlights include:
- Sunset Seasons Greetings, featuring holiday projections on the Hollywood Tower Hotel.
- For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration, complete with holiday surprises and appearances from Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf.
- Holiday-themed character encounters with Woody, Jessie, and Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story Land.
- Minnie’s Holiday Dine at Hollywood & Vine, where guests can enjoy a festive meal alongside Disney characters dressed in their holiday best.
- Seasonal exhibits and holiday short films at Walt Disney Presents.
Holiday Adventures at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Disney’s Animal Kingdom offers a unique blend of holiday magic and nature-inspired celebrations.
Guests can experience:
- The enchanting Merry Menagerie, featuring artisan-crafted puppets of arctic animals roaming Discovery Island.
- The breathtaking Tree of Life Awakenings Holiday Edition, a nighttime projection show celebrating the season.
- Mickey and Minnie Mouse dressed in festive explorer attire at Adventurers Outpost.
- Holiday décor and seasonal touches throughout the park.
Seasonal Fun at Disney Springs
Disney Springs becomes a holiday destination all its own with shopping, entertainment, dining, and festive décor.
Holiday favorites returning in 2026 include:
- The popular Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll, featuring beautifully themed Disney-inspired trees.
- Nightly snowfall in Town Center.
- Holiday entertainment and live music throughout Disney Springs.
- Seasonal food and beverages, including the festive transformation of Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar.
- Holiday shopping at World of Disney, Disney’s Days of Christmas, and dozens of unique retail locations.
Meet Santa Throughout Walt Disney World
Santa Claus will be making appearances throughout all four Walt Disney World theme parks and Disney Springs during the holiday season. Guests can share holiday wishes, take festive photos, and experience a little extra Christmas magic during their visit.
Holiday Magic at Disney Resort Hotels
The Disney Resorts Collection becomes an attraction of its own during the holidays, with stunning Christmas decorations, themed treats, festive music, and larger-than-life displays.
Guests staying at Disney Resort hotels can enjoy:
- Beautifully decorated resort lobbies and Christmas trees.
- Seasonal food and beverage offerings.
- Complimentary Disney transportation.
- Early Theme Park Entry.
- Easy access to holiday festivities throughout Walt Disney World.
Holiday Savings for 2026
Disney has also announced several holiday travel offers for eligible guests, including discounts on select Disney Resort hotel stays and vacation packages throughout the holiday season.
Holiday Savings Available for 2026 Walt Disney World Vacations
Guests planning a holiday visit to Walt Disney World may be able to take advantage of several special offers:
Disney+ Subscriber Offer
- Available to eligible Disney+ subscribers enrolled in the Disney+ Perks program.
- Receive a FREE Park Hopper upgrade when purchasing a qualifying 4-night, 4-day room-and-ticket package.
- Save up to 25% on Disney Resort hotel rooms.
- Booking begins June 25, 2026.
- Valid for stays:
- September 25 – October 8, 2026
- October 19 – October 31, 2026
- November 15 – November 28, 2026
- December 13 – December 24, 2026
General Disney Resort Hotel Offer
- Save up to 20% on select Disney Resort hotel rooms.
- Booking begins June 25, 2026.
- Valid for stays October 4 – December 24, 2026.
Tip: Holiday travel is one of the most popular times to visit Walt Disney World. Combining these special offers with holiday events like Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, Jollywood Nights, and EPCOT’s Festival of the Holidays can help guests maximize both savings and seasonal magic. 🎄✨
With festive events, seasonal entertainment, holiday décor, unique dining experiences, and magical traditions around every corner, there has never been a better time to celebrate the holidays at Walt Disney World.
Whether you’re visiting for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, Jollywood Nights, the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays, or simply to soak in the festive atmosphere, Walt Disney World is the ultimate holiday destination for families, couples, and Disney fans of all ages.
Plan Your Holiday Disney Vacation Now
If you’re dreaming of snow on Main Street, U.S.A. during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party or the glamorous holiday atmosphere of Jollywood Nights, Walt Disney World offers unforgettable ways to celebrate the season. With ticket sales beginning in July and many dates expected to sell quickly, now is the perfect time to start planning your holiday getaway.
🎄 Contact our friends at DizN Vacations for personalized vacation planning, resort recommendations, ticket guidance, and holiday travel expertise at no additional cost.
✨ Join our private Facebook community, Destination DizN & Beyond, for Disney tips, news, planning advice, and vacation inspiration.
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The countdown to Christmas magic has officially begun!
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