Disney World Events 2026: What Is On and When

Disney World runs something almost every week of the year. Some events are included with a normal park ticket. Others need a separate one, cost more than a day in the park, and sell out months ahead.

This is the whole calendar in one place, and which is which.

What is on right now

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is running at Magic Kingdom, from 7 August to 31 October 2026. It needs a separate ticket, and every 2026 night has sold out. Full detail in our Not-So-Scary guide.

EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival runs until 21 November 2026 and is included with park admission. See the Food and Wine guide.

Separate ticket, or included?

This is the distinction that catches people out, so it is worth being blunt about it.

The EPCOT festivals are included, but the food and drink booths are not. Budget separately for those or the day gets expensive quickly.

During Festival of the Holidays the Candlelight Processional also runs nightly at EPCOT, included with admission. Our Candlelight Processional guide covers the 2026 narrators and the dining packages that guarantee a seat.

The year, roughly

Exact dates shift each year. Disney has now confirmed everything below through spring 2027.

January to February

EPCOT Festival of the Arts runs from 15 January to 1 March 2027, through the quietest weeks of the year, which makes it one of the best value times to visit. Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend is 6 to 10 January 2027 and the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend 25 February to 1 March. Race weekends fill the resorts even when the parks look quiet.

March to May

EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival runs from 10 March to 31 May 2027. Topiaries, garden displays and the outdoor kitchens. The runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend is 8 to 11 April 2027.

August to October

Not-So-Scary from early August, and Food and Wine from late summer through the autumn. The Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend is 22 to 25 October 2026, and it has sold out. August is hot and wet but the party season starting early is a genuine reason to consider it.

November to December

The busiest stretch for events. Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom (25 nights, 8 November to 22 December), Jollywood Nights at Hollywood Studios (15 nights, 7 November 2026 to 5 January 2027) and Festival of the Holidays at EPCOT (27 November to 30 December).

Three things worth knowing before you book

Party nights close the park early to everyone else. On a Not-So-Scary or Very Merry night, Magic Kingdom shuts to day guests at 6pm. If you have a normal ticket for that date you lose the evening, including the regular fireworks. Check the party calendar before choosing park days, not after.

Popular nights sell out months ahead. Every 2026 Not-So-Scary night has sold out, according to Disney. If a specific date matters, book it as soon as tickets go on sale rather than waiting.

Events push crowds around rather than adding them evenly. A party night can mean a quieter day at that park and a busier one at the others. Our crowd calendar covers the pattern.

Planning around events

If the event is the reason for the trip, book the event first and build the rest of the days around it. If it is a bonus, treat the separate-ticket ones as optional and check whether the date clashes with an early park close.

See also our best time to visit guide and the trip cost calculator, which lets you add the extra ticket cost to a budget.

Every date on this page checked against Disney’s events calendar and runDisney on 11 October 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Running one of the races? Our runDisney guide covers all four race weekends, the challenge distances, and why registration has usually closed before people start looking.

Guides now live for each: Not-So-Scary, Very Merry, Jollywood Nights, Disney After Hours, Festival of the Arts and runDisney.