UPDATED June 1, 2026

There’s nothing like planning a trip to Disney World, only to get there and realize that you – and thousands of other people – have picked the wrong time to visit.

We’ve been there, staring down Main Street, U.S.A. while the hordes make their way to Cinderella Castle like something out of The Walking Dead, all because it’s a special holiday weekend, or there’s a runDisney event, or something else that’s brought people to the parks. Or maybe you just want to know when special events are happening in Disney World. Well, we’ve got you covered because we’re going to give you every single date you need to know for Disney World in 2026.

Before we get started, you should know that we have done the homework for you, and we’ve got a calendar of special events in Disney World you can download! Drop us your email and sign up at the link below!

 

CURRENT EVENTS

Before we dive into the events by month below, here is a look at ongoing events that are happening RIGHT NOW around Disney World.

March 4th-June 1st

The 2026 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival is NOW RUNNING from March 4th through June 1st, 2026. This is a great time to visit EPCOT, because the festival brings topiaries, gardens, food booths, entertainment, special activities, and so much more to the park.

You’ll especially want to check out the Garden Rocks concert series, which brings a lot of popular acts to America Gardens Theatre in the American Adventure Pavilion.

May 26th – September 8th, 2026

For the second year in a row, Cool KIDS’ SUMMER has brought some really cool offerings to Disney World during the hottest months of the year in addition to several NEW experiences!

From May 26th through September 8th, 2026, guests can enjoy these additional experiences AND MORE:

• BOTH Disney World Water Parks — Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon — are OPEN!
• Disney World Resort hotel guests can visit either of the Water Parks FOR FREE on their arrival day!
• Soarin’ Across America debuted in EPCOT;
• A fresh version of “Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live!” debuted at Hollywood Studios;
• The Walt Disney Studios Courtyard officially opened in Hollywood Studios;
• Bluey’s Wild World at Conservation Station opened at Animal Kingdom (PLEASE BE AWARE that Bluey’s Wild World requires a Virtual Queue to access through June 1st! After that date, a traditional standby line will be available.)
• Disney Character experiences have EXPANDED across the Resort, including special appearances at select Resort hotels, the return of GoofyCore at CommuniCore Hall in EPCOT, and Toy Story characters joining guests at Magic Kingdom’s Diamond Horseshoe for Jessie’s Roundup, extra Disney pals in the parks for Early Entry, and MORE!

June 2026

June is when things get hot in Disney World…and we’re talking about the weather. However, there’s not a lot going on during this month.

June 2nd – September 5th

H2O Glow After Hours is an extra-ticket event held at Typhoon Lagoon Water Park for select dates during the summer! The 2026 event will return for select nights from June 2 – September 5, 2026. 

This extra ticket event features glow-in-the-dark fun after the sun goes down with shorter wait times for the park’s waterslides, a DJ dance party, exclusive menu items, Disney character appearances (including Powerline Max, Chip ‘n’ Dale as the Rescue Rangers, Scrooge McDuck, Launchpad McQuack, and Donald and Daisy in tropical outfits), and more.

June 25th

June 25th is Moonlight Magic at one of Disney’s water parks, Typhoon Lagoon. Several Moonlight Magic events are scheduled for the water park, including the following dates: August 4th, August 20th

July

July brings a big holiday to the parks, and that means crowds. Oh, yeah, it’s also starting to get uncomfortably hot in Florida.

July 4th (AND the 3rd and 5th!)

July the 4th is a HUGE holiday for Disney World because EPCOT usually brings special character interactions to the American Adventure Pavilion, plus a special nighttime show, while Magic Kingdom has special fireworks on that evening.

In fact, Magic Kingdom will celebrate with the special fireworks show “Disney’s Celebrate America! — A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky” for THREE nights in 2026: July 3rd, 4th, and 5th! And EPCOT will present the “Heartbeat of Freedom” finale after Luminous on July 3rd, 4th, and 5th, as well.

Expect both parks to be PACKED.

July 6th

Disney has announced some HUGE changes for the Carousel of Progress at Magic Kingdom — the entire ride is changing! A Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic will be added.  AND each scene will be completely overhauled to feature new decades — and we’ll even get a glimpse into the future. 

Carousel of Progress will be closing on July 6th to make way for these massive changes. It is expected to reopen sometime in 2027. 

August 2026

Expect August to be hot in Disney World, too, although things are quiet at the beginning of the month.

August 7th – October 31st

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is a seasonal Magic Kingdom event requiring a separate ticket for entry. The event will return for select nights from August 7th through October 31st, 2026. 

Once inside, guests enjoy plenty of ghoulish fun and entertainment only available at the Party! Tickets are on sale now. 

August 27th – November 21st, 2026

The EPCOT Food & Wine Festival is an annual celebration of global cuisine in Disney World! The 2026 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival will run from August 27th through November 21st, 2026. 

This is one of the biggest festivals at EPCOT with a TON of food booths, the Eat to the Beat concert series, and so much more. Plan on spending a day or two just at EPCOT to enjoy the festival.

 

 

September 2026

The EPCOT Food and Wine Festival is still going strong in September, but crowds do tend to wind down a little bit once kids are back in school. The weather can still be hot, though, so plan ahead!

September 5th-7th

Labor Day weekend is the last big hurrah for summer, and a lot of folks like to spend it in Disney World. This means long lines and crowds.

September 10th

EPCOT will have another Moonlight Magic event for DVC members on September 10th.

November 2026

November kicks off the holiday season in Disney World, and you’ll see holiday decorations up in the parks as early as November 1st. The weather can be almost pleasant this time of year. Sometimes.

November-December

As we mentioned, the holiday season kicks off in Disney World in November and runs through December 31st. That means you’ll have a chance to see Santa, as well as buy tickets to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and Jollywood Nights. The EPCOT Festival of Holidays also kicks off the day after Thanksgiving and runs through December. So that’s more food booths, lots of holiday fun, the iconic Candlelight Processional, and more!

However, the best part may be all the wonderful holiday decor you’ll find in the parks, at the hotels, and in Disney Springs. The hotels also display their gingerbread creations for all to see — and believe us, those displays are PHENOMENAL.

November 26th-29th

Another super busy time of the year in Disney World is Thanksgiving weekend. This could be one of the most crowded days in the parks, so expect to deal with a lot of crowds and lines. If you’ll be spending Thanksgiving Day in Disney World, though, you’ll find plenty of restaurants with special Thanksgiving Day meals.

December 2026

The holiday season is in full swing come December, and the temperatures are generally comfortable. The first of the month isn’t too bad, but as we get closer to Christmas, the crowds start making their way to the parks.

December 25th

Who doesn’t want to spend Christmas in Magic Kingdom?

Well, it turns out that EVERYONE wants that, so you’ll find Magic Kingdom OVERLOADED with folks who want to feel that magical holiday cheer. However, the other parks can be crowded on Christmas Day, too.

December 31st

Magic Kingdom and EPCOT will also be VERY crowded on New Year’s Eve. EPCOT hosts a variety of dance zones and parties across World Showcase, as well as a special nighttime show, while you can count down to the New Year with fireworks in Magic Kingdom. But you’ll be doing it with a LOT of other people.

TBA

There are some things we know are going to happen in 2026, but we don’t have exact dates for.

The Magic of Disney Animation

As mentioned above, the Walt Disney Studios Courtyard opens in Hollywood Studios on May 26th.

But later in the summer, on a date that is to-be-announced, The Magic of Disney Animation (which will be housed in the new Walt Disney Studios section of the park) will open, as well!

Level99 Opening in Disney Springs

LEVEL99 is coming to Disney World’s shopping, dining, and entertainment district, Disney Springs in the summer of 2026!

LEVEL99 is an interactive, social entertainment experience. More specifically, it is a destination for “real-world, challenge-based, social entertainment” for adults featuring physical and mental challenges set in artistic environments, and it will open this summer. 

Knowing when to go to Disney World is part of the planning process, so if you can, choose your dates carefully so you can have the BEST trip possible. And stay tuned to DFB for more.

We Found EVERY SINGLE 2026 Disney World Ticket Price Increase So You Don’t Have To

Will you be visiting Disney World in 2026? Have you thought about when you’ll visit? Let us know how you decide in the comments.