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The Universal Orlando Resort during the holidays has special Christmas entertainment, a parade, decor & more. Our Universal Orlando Christmas 2026 Guide tells you all about these great festivities.
Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s
This holiday parade takes place nightly at Universal Studios Florida, from November 14, 2026 through January 3, 2027. Since the parade is featuring Macy’s, you’ll get to see gigantic Macy’s balloons!
Plus, there are colorful, detailed floats, featuring some familiar favorites (in the past, this has include the Minions from Illumination’s Despicable Me, and characters from DreamWorks Animation’s Madagascar and Shrek).
And what Christmas parade would be complete without an appearance from Santa Claus?
You can see for yourself how much fun it is here:
The Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular
Are you a fan of How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss (the inspiration for the show)? Do you enjoy live entertainment? Are you looking for ways to get into the Christmas spirit this year? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should definitely check out the Grinchmas show.
This live show, starring (of course) the Grinch, combines humor, music, and some heartwarming moments. It even features music recorded by Mannheim Steamroller.
To watch the Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular, you’ll need admission to Universal’s Islands of Adventure.
Also at Islands of Adventure, you’ll get to enjoy photo opportunities with – and perhaps some listen to some singing by – residents of Whoville.
Tip: When we attended in the past, we had to walk quite a bit to get to the theater (the old Blue Man Group theater). Where to go is fairly clearly marked – you start off in Seuss Landing – but it takes longer to get to the theater than it initially seems. So you definitely want to get there well before showtime.
Holiday Tribute Store
This fun and charming store is located in Universal Studios Florida. And it’s themed to the holidays!
Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
You can tell it’s Christmas time at Hogsmeade (in Universal’s Islands of Adventure) and Diagon Alley (in Universal Studios Florida) as well as wizarding Paris (in Epic Universe)! All three sections are full of beautiful Christmas decorations.
Enjoy the special holiday elements in the performances of Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees (at Universal Studios Florida) as well as The Frog Choir (Islands of Adventure).
And when the sun goes down until park close, Hogwarts Castle in Islands of Adventure lights up with The Magic of Christmas.
The Grinch & Friends Character Breakfast
At this holiday themed character breakfast, you’ll get to see the Grinch as well as residents of Who-ville
This special meal takes place at Circus McGurkus Cafe Stoo-pendous, located in Islands of Adventure. The breakfast is a sit-down meal that includes one plated entree and one non-alcoholic beverage.
We’ll let you know more about reservation info for the 2026 Grinch & Friends Character Breakfast when it becomes available.
Holidays at How to Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk
Snoggletog will take flight at How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk this holiday season.
Holidays at SUPER NINTENDO WORLD
Holidays at SUPER NINTENDO WORLD will be like no other holiday celebration out there!
Green & Red Coconut Club at Universal CityWalk
Red Coconut Club at Universal CityWalk will get in the holiday spirit with seasonal spirits, signature cocktails, mocktails, wines, beers, and soft drinks.
Seasonal Treats
Exclusive food and drinks will be available at the theme parks and Universal CityWalk. It includes everything from tasty snacks to holiday cocktails.
Characters
Be on the lookout for characters decked out in holiday attire. This includes Earl the Squirrel, who is available for a meet and greet.
Universal Studios Orlando Hotels at Christmas
If you stay at a Universal Studios hotel in Orlando during the Christmas season, you can enjoy the gorgeous holiday decor throughout the resort. You can see the Christmas decorations in this video of Portofino Bay.
Not sure which Universal Orlando hotel is best for you and your family? Check out our Universal Orlando Hotel Finder.
Universal Holiday Tour
This special walking tour includes exclusive experiences and fun entertainment. You’ll find these activities at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure parks. Here’s what you get:
- Exclusive character meet and greet with The Grinch and his dog Max
- Exclusive character meet and greet with Santa
- Reserved viewing area for the Universal Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s
- Reserved seating for the Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular
This tour is available from November 14, 2026 through January 2, 2027. The cost of the tour depends on the date; it ranges from between $70 to $90.
You can purchase the tour online here.
Please note that the tour does not include park admission – you’ll need to buy that separately (and it will need to be a park-to-park admission ticket).
Universal Orlando Discount Tickets
I know reading this is going to want to make you visit the Universal Orlando Resort this holiday season!
But before you book your trip, make sure you click on this link. You can find discount tickets to the theme parks and cheaper prices for the Universal Orlando hotels. You can even save money here by booking your hotel and tickets together!