Disney Confirms Dates and Details for Festival of the Arts 2026

In 2017, Walt Disney World introduced a new festival, and the results speak for themselves. Historically, January and February had been two of the three slow months for Orlando tourism. That’s no longer the case, as people like you and me have fallen in love with the early-year festival.

Well, I’m happy to report that we just learned a lot about the 2026 version of this exhibition. Disney has confirmed the dates and details for the 2026 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts. Here’s what you need to know.

What Are the Dates?

Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

Let’s get right to it. The 2026 version of Festival of the Arts will debut on January 16th. It’ll run for five weeks, ending on February 23rd. That’s one day earlier than in 2025, which means we have a good idea of how Disney wants to run this event.

 From now on, it’s safe to expect the festival to start on a Friday and end on a Monday. For 2026, you’ll again have 38 days to enjoy all the activities.

What’s the Festival of the Arts?

As a reminder, the Festival of the Arts differs from the others at EPCOT. This one celebrates the arts in all forms, with several unique settings and installations. 

More street performers appear during this exhibition, and they do everything from performing live concerts to creating art on stage. Should you notice a Disney artist drawing anything, you should stop and watch. You’ll be amazed by what artists can create in just a matter of minutes. Some of these artists perform signings, too. You can ask them about their craft in between their drawing sessions.  

Chalk art and 3D art are also on display in multiple locations. Disney invites children to grab a piece of chalk and add to the community drawings. As for the 3D art, Disney can make walking paths look like they have collapsed. It’s visually engaging and rather extraordinary to track, once you understand the artistic mechanics.

Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

Little touches like these populate all parts of EPCOT during the Festival of the Arts. Some are more subtle, while others are in-your-face. For instance, you can enter a famous piece of art and have your picture taken. With America celebrating its 250th anniversary in 2026, I presume that the installation of Washington Crossing the Delaware, the Emanuel Leutze painting, will return. A more Disney-focused one in 2025 allowed guests to stand with the penguins, as if they were a part of Mary Poppins. 

These sorts of photo ops will elevate your Festival of the Arts visit. You’ll take pictures that will make you smile for years to come, and I speak from experience when I say that. Oh, and Figment’s Brush with the Masters Scavenger Hunt will return in 2026. That’s always a fun time for families.

What’s the Best Reason to Go?

Most DVC members would list two aspects of the Festival of the Arts as the best reasons to attend. The first one is the Food Studios, the kiosks where Disney chefs serve works of art. 

Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

These Cast Members draw inspiration from famous illustrations and turn them into meals, one of which is the iconic Andy Warhol image of a soup can. EPCOT serves Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup at Pop Eats!, but it’s an edible painting to anyone with a working knowledge of art history. 

Other Food Studios serve extraordinarily colorful dishes and drinks, all of which are Insta-worthy. Guests can and do create dozens of TikToks based on their experiences dining around the various Food Studios. Disney has promised more than 20 of them for the 2026 event.

Of course, the Food Studios rarely sell out. That’s not the case with the other primary draw of the Festival of the Arts. Many people go just for the DISNEY ON BROADWAY Concert Series. During these shows, actual Broadway performers sing their best-known songs three times per night at America Gardens Theatre.

Disney hasn’t released the 2026 schedule of musicians yet. However, the Disney Parks Blog did say this: “Every two weeks, a new pair of performers takes the spotlight, making each visit to the festival a fresh experience.” So, the schedule will differ slightly from recent years.

As always, seating will be on “a first-come, first-served basis,” but dining packages will return. These packages provide guests with dinner and a show, as your meal guarantees your seating for DISNEY ON BROADWAY. 

I view this package and the Candlelight Processional in the same light. Those of you who plan to attend the concerts should book a dining package. Otherwise, you’ll struggle to get a seat at these sold-out concerts.  Since you’re going to eat anyway, you might as well ensure that you have seats for the live performances.

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