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My family never really needs a reason to visit the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida because we love Disney so much. But I do think a good reason to visit in January and February is the Epcot International Festival of the Arts.
Like Epcot’s other festivals, the Festival of the Arts takes place all over Epcot theme park. It begins on January 16, 2026, and runs through February 23, 2026. It is actually one of Disney World’s newest festivals.
I’ve really loved going these past few years. I feel like every year it gets better and better. And this year’s may the best festival yet!
Why do I think this? Well, keep reading to find out what Epcot has on tap for this year’s Festival of the Arts. And, because we’re Green Vacation Deals, we’ll also give you some tips at the end to help you save money on your trip.
Entertainment
DISNEY ON BROADWAY Concert Series
Enjoy Disney showtunes performed by Broadway stars!
During the DISNEY ON BROADWAY Concert Series, stars from Disney Broadway musicals sing fantastic songs (including Disney tunes) at the America Gardens Theatre, an open air theater that’s part of the American Adventure Pavilion in the World Showcase.
The stars include:
- Susan Egan (Beauty and the Beast)
- Sierra Boggess (The Little Mermaid)
- James Monroe Iglehart (Aladdin)
- Adam Jacobs (Aladdin)
- Isabelle McCalla (Aladdin)
- Anastacia McCleskey (Tarzan)
- Ainsley Melham (Aladdin)
- Ashley Brown (Mary Poppins, Beauty and the Beast)
- Mandy Gonzalez (Aida)
- Michael James Scott (Aladdin, Tarzan)
- Kissy Simmons (The Lion King)
- Josh Strickland (Tarzan)
Here’s a schedule of performances:
- January 16: Isabelle McCalla (“Aladdin”) and Adam Jacobs (“Aladdin”)
- January 17: Sierra Boggess (“The Little Mermaid”) and Michael James Scott (“Aladdin”)
- January 18: Isabelle McCalla (“Aladdin”) and Adam Jacobs (“Aladdin”)
- January 19: Isabelle McCalla (“Aladdin”) and Adam Jacobs (“Aladdin”)
- January 20: Sierra Boggess (“The Little Mermaid”) and Michael James Scott (“Aladdin”)
- January 21: Sierra Boggess (“The Little Mermaid”) and Michael James Scott (“Aladdin”)
- January 22: Isabelle McCalla (“Aladdin”) and Adam Jacobs (“Aladdin”)
- January 23: Sierra Boggess (“The Little Mermaid”) and Michael James Scott (“Aladdin”)
- January 24: Isabelle McCalla (“Aladdin”) and Adam Jacobs (“Aladdin”)
- January 25: Sierra Boggess (“The Little Mermaid”) and Michael James Scott (“Aladdin”)
- January 26: Isabelle McCalla (“Aladdin”) and Adam Jacobs (“Aladdin”)
- January 27: Isabelle McCalla (“Aladdin”) and Adam Jacobs (“Aladdin”)
- January 28: Sierra Boggess (“The Little Mermaid”) and Michael James Scott (“Aladdin”)
- January 29: Sierra Boggess (“The Little Mermaid”) and Michael James Scott (“Aladdin”)
- January 30: Anastacia McCleskey (“Tarzan”) and Josh Strickland (“Tarzan”)
- January 31: Mandy Gonzalez (“Aida”) and Kissy Simmons (“The Lion King”)
- February 1: Anastacia McCleskey (“Tarzan”) and Josh Strickland (“Tarzan”)
- February 2: Anastacia McCleskey (“Tarzan”) and Josh Strickland (“Tarzan”)
- February 3: Mandy Gonzalez (“Aida”) and Kissy Simmons (“The Lion King”)
- February 4: Mandy Gonzalez (“Aida”) and Kissy Simmons (“The Lion King”)
- February 5: Anastacia McCleskey (“Tarzan”) and Josh Strickland (“Tarzan”)
- February 6: Mandy Gonzalez (“Aida”) and Kissy Simmons (“The Lion King”)
- February 7: Anastacia McCleskey (“Tarzan”) and Josh Strickland (“Tarzan”)
- February 8: Mandy Gonzalez (“Aida”) and Kissy Simmons (“The Lion King”)
- February 9: Anastacia McCleskey (“Tarzan”) and Josh Strickland (“Tarzan”)
- February 10: Anastacia McCleskey (“Tarzan”) and Josh Strickland (“Tarzan”)
- February 11: Mandy Gonzalez (“Aida”) and Kissy Simmons (“The Lion King”)
- February 12: Mandy Gonzalez (“Aida”) and Kissy Simmons (“The Lion King”)
- February 13: Ainsley Melham (“Aladdin”) and Ashley Brown (“Mary Poppins”)
- February 14: Susan Egan (“Beauty and The Beast”) and James Monroe Iglehart (“Aladdin”)
- February 15: Ainsley Melham (“Aladdin”) and Ashley Brown (“Mary Poppins”)
- February 16: Ainsley Melham (“Aladdin”) and Ashley Brown (“Mary Poppins”)
- February 17: Susan Egan (“Beauty and The Beast”) and James Monroe Iglehart (“Aladdin”)
- February 18: Susan Egan (“Beauty and The Beast”) and James Monroe Iglehart (“Aladdin”)
- February 19: Ainsley Melham (“Aladdin”) and Ashley Brown (“Mary Poppins”)
- February 20: Susan Egan (“Beauty and The Beast”) and James Monroe Iglehart (“Aladdin”)
- February 21: Susan Egan (“Beauty and The Beast”) and James Monroe Iglehart (“Aladdin”)
- February 22: Ashley Brown (“Mary Poppins”), Ainsley Melham (“Aladdin”), Susan Egan (“Beauty and The Beast”), James Monroe Iglehart (“Aladdin”)
- February 23: Ashley Brown (“Mary Poppins”), Ainsley Melham (“Aladdin”), Susan Egan (“Beauty and The Beast”), James Monroe Iglehart (“Aladdin”)
Please note that this schedule is subject to change, such as if a performer were to get sick.
Each day, there are three performances:
- 5:30 PM
- 6:45 PM
- 8:00 PM
DISNEY ON BROADWAY Dining Package
You can’t buy separate tickets to the DISNEY ON BROADWAY performances – they’re included for free with park admission.
However, if you want to guarantee that you’ll get a seat, you should take advantage of a Disney on Broadway Dining Package.
How it works is that you’ll eat a meal at one of the participating restaurants the day of the performance. At the meal, your server will give you (and everyone at your table) concert seating badges. Before the performance, you’ll bring your badge and get in the special line for those who got the Dining Package. This line is guaranteed seats and will also get to enter the theater first.
The restaurants included are:
- Biergarten Restaurant
- Chefs de France
- Coral Reef Restaurant
- Garden Grill Restaurant
- La Crêperie de Paris
- La Hacienda de San Angel
- Le Cellier Steakhouse
- Nine Dragons Restaurant
- Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue
- Rose & Crown Dining Room
- Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya
- Spice Road Table
- Teppan Edo
- Tutto Italia Ristorante
- Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria
You’ll need to make reservations in advance for all except one. When you make your reservations, you’ll select the time of the performance you want. Reservations for the DISNEY ON BROADWAY Dining Packages will be available starting December 17, 2025.
The only restaurant that does not require advanced dining reservations is Regal Eagle, as long as there is still same-day dining package availability when you get there. (So if you choose to eat at Regal Eagle, you’ll want to do so earlier rather than later.)
Additional Entertainment
Musical Performances
In addition to the DISNEY ON BROADWAY concert series, musicians will be performing at CommuniCore Plaza each day.
Showtimes will be available on the My Disney Experience app.
Visual Art
Also at CommuniCore Plaza, you can watch an artist paint a Disney character in just a few minutes!
Again, check the My Disney Experience app for times.
Exhibits
Once Upon A Stage: The Magic of DISNEY ON BROADWAY
Fans of the Disney Broadway shows won’t want to miss this exhibit, held inside CommuniCore Hall between 9:00 AM and 9:00 PM. It showcases authentic props and costumes as well as some behind-the-scenes details from stage productions like Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King and Aladdin.
Interactive Art
Learn to Draw
Are you an artist, or would you like to be?
You can learn to draw a Disney character at the Animation Academy! This experience takes place twice daily, at 12:30 PM and 1:30 PM, in American Gardens Theatre.
You’ll get to learn from an expert animator, such as:
- Sarah Schmidt
- Alex Maher
- Justin Dring
- Fidel Santiago
- Hannah Loflin
- Matthew Dewater
- Lon Smart
- Michael Montgomery
- Will Gay
- Luke Consolo
Wall Mural
Take part in painting a huge wall mural!
At Expression Section: A Paint by Numbers Mural, you can get paint, a brush and a number assigned to you. Then you’ll fill in a few squares of the mural that correspond with your paint color. This experience is available between 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM each day. You can find it on the walkway between the Imagination! Pavilion and the World Showcase.
Chalk Art
Also from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, children can draw their own chalk art creation. This takes place in World Celebration near the Imagination! Pavilion.
And if you’d simply like to enjoy chalk art, you’ll be happy to know that chalk drawings of Disney characters can be found throughout the World Showcase.
Photo Ops
Have you ever wanted to step into a painting and become part of a work of art?
At these fun themed photo opportunities, you can step into backdrops perfect for memorable photos. There will also be Disney PhotoPass photographers at each location to take your photo.
You’ll find the photo ops at the following locations:
- The Scream – Edvard Munch (Between Italy Pavilion and Germany Pavilion)
- Mona Lisa – Leonardo da Vinci (Between Italy Pavilion and Germany Pavilion)
- Forest Scene from Sleeping Beauty (Bridge to World Showcase)
- Teatime with Penguins from Mary Poppins (Bridge to World Showcase)
- Washington Crossing the Delaware – Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze (The American Adventure Pavilion)
- Luncheon of the Boating Party – Pierre-Auguste Renoir (International Gateway)
Scavenger Hunt
For $11.99 plus tax, you can purchase Figment’s Brush with the Masters, a child-friendly scavenger hunt. This scavenger hunt package, consisting of a map and stickers, is available at World Traveler, Disney Traders, and Creations Shop.
During the hunt, you’ll look for Figment hidden inside art at each of the World Showcase pavilions. (Keep an eye out for the Figment-themed picture frame.) Once you spot Figment, you’ll mark this on your map with a corresponding sticker. Return your completed map to World Traveler, Creations Shop or Disney Traders by February 23, 2026 and you can get a small keepsake.
Festival Food & Drinks
You can find beautiful and delicious dishes (and drinks!) at over 20 Food Studios (i.e. food booths or kiosks) throughout Epcot theme park. We discuss them in detail in our Festival of the Arts food & drinks guide.
The menus for 2026 have not yet been announced. In the past, guests were able to choose from a large selection of exquisite food, from a deconstructed key lime pie to roasted bone marrow to a sushi donut to hummingbird cake to cast-iron roasted PEI mussels and so much more. And drinks included everything from cocktails to beer to wine to a grape smoothie with freeze dried Skittles and more.
The Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine
The Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine is an enjoyable way to “earn” a prize just by buying dishes at the festival. If you purchase 5 out of a list of 7 select items, you’ll get a free treat!
Just make sure you pick up a Festival Passport, which is a small little booklet generally distributed wherever you find park maps. Each time you buy one of those special items, you’ll get a stamp added inside your Festival Passport.
We’ll let you know once those 7 eligible menu items have been announced.
Shopping
Art Pieces
Throughout the World Showcase, there are festival kiosks where you can purchase pieces of art, beautiful crafts, photography and more.
Epcot Travel Tips
Staying at one of the hotels nearest Epcot is the most convenient way to experience the Festival of the Arts. A couple of years ago, for example, we loved being able to walk back and forth between the festival and Disney’s Beach Club Resort!
The Disney Skyliner will be down for routine maintenance during part of the festival, from January 25 to January 31, 2026. But if your trip doesn’t include those dates, you might want to stay at a Disney resort with Skyliner access: Pop Century Resort, Riviera Resort, Art of Animation Resort and Caribbean Beach Resort.
And if you purchase your Disney World tickets here, you can save money on park admission!
