Lighting towers for the Disneyland Christmas special taping are now standing in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle. The towers went up in the Central Plaza by Saturday morning, October 24, though there was no stage in place yet.
The lights have gone up for the taping of the Disney Christmas special in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle! No stage yet though
— Matt Desmond (@DisneyScoopGuy) October 24, 2026
We caught the setup early in the day. Our photo shows two tall towers wrapped in green standing on either side of the walkway in the hub, each one hung with rows of stage lights. The Partners statue stands in the distance between them, and guests are still walking through the plaza underneath.
A Permit Covers October 23 Through 26
The towers line up with a City of Anaheim building permit for the Central Plaza labeled “Holiday Film ’26.” It covers the installation of two light truss towers and runs from October 23 through October 26, so the production gear is set to be in the park through Monday.
Disney tapes a holiday special at Disneyland every fall, usually in late October, long before the park’s Christmas season begins. Last year’s overnight taping in front of the castle was for “The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration” on ABC. Disney has not announced the title, hosts or performers for this year’s special, or when it will air.
The Castle Is Already Dressed For The Holidays
The towers are the newest piece of a castle that has been changing day by day. Snow and icicles have been going onto Sleeping Beauty Castle over the past few weeks, and Disneyland added even more icicles to the castle this week.
That does not mean the full holiday show is here yet. Holidays at the Disneyland Resort runs from November 13, 2026, through January 6, 2027. Once the season starts, Wintertime Enchantment at Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle transforms the castle each evening. Until then, guests are seeing the decorations go up in pieces rather than the finished season.
What It Means If You Are At The Park
For now, the towers are simply standing in the hub, and guests can walk past them. A stage has not been built yet, and our photo shows guests moving freely through the plaza around the towers. If you are visiting this weekend, you can expect to see crews and equipment around the castle while the setup continues.
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