The Most Magical Time of Year Is Almost Here
Walt Disney World has officially pulled back the curtain on its 2026 holiday season, revealing dates for three of the most beloved seasonal events in all of theme park entertainment. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, Disney Jollywood Nights, and the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays are all returning this fall and winter, and tickets for the after-hours parties go on sale soon. As LaughingPlace reported, the overall 2026 holiday season at Walt Disney World runs from November 13, 2026, through January 6, 2027, bringing nearly two months of Christmas cheer to all four parks, Disney Springs, and the resort hotels.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
The flagship holiday party at Magic Kingdom returns on select nights from November 8 through December 22, 2026. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is a separately ticketed after-hours event that transforms Magic Kingdom into a winter wonderland, featuring exclusive entertainment, complimentary cookies and cocoa, holiday-themed overlays on classic attractions, and special character experiences you won’t find during regular park hours.
Resort hotel guests get first access to tickets, with sales opening on July 9. General ticket sales begin July 16. If past years are any indication, popular dates will sell out fast, so Christmas party shoppers should move quickly once sales open. Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party nights have already sold out for 2026, proving just how fast Disney’s ticketed events can go.
Disney Jollywood Nights
Disney Jollywood Nights at Hollywood Studios is back, running on select nights from November 7 through January 5, 2027, the first time the event has extended into January. The Hollywood Studios holiday party has quickly become a fan favorite since its debut, blending retro Hollywood glamour with Disney holiday magic in a way that feels completely distinct from the Magic Kingdom party experience.
Extending into the new year is a notable expansion that gives guests more flexibility to attend, particularly for those visiting during the typically busy period between Christmas and New Year’s.
EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays
EPCOT’s International Festival of the Holidays runs from November 27 through December 30, 2026, once again beginning the day after Thanksgiving. Unlike the after-hours parties, this festival is included with regular EPCOT admission, making it one of the best values in Walt Disney World’s holiday lineup. The festival celebrates holiday traditions from around the world through food, storytelling, and entertainment across EPCOT’s World Showcase.
The Candlelight Processional, one of the most beloved traditions in all of Walt Disney World, returns as part of the festival, featuring a celebrity narrator telling the Christmas story alongside a live choir and orchestra.
When Do Tickets Go on Sale?
For Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, Disney Resort hotel guests can purchase tickets beginning July 9, with general sales opening July 16. Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members can save on select nights. Jollywood Nights tickets follow the same July 9 and July 16 sale windows, while EPCOT Festival of the Holidays is included with regular park admission and requires no separate ticket. Keep an eye on Walt Disney World’s official website for the latest information as it becomes available.
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