updated September 2026
If you love Disney, good food, beautiful things, and a festival that encourages you to get a little creative yourself, EPCOT International Festival of the Arts deserves a spot on your Disney World vacation list.
As the first of EPCOT’s annual festivals, Festival of the Arts kicks off the new year with a celebration of visual, culinary, and performing arts. EPCOT becomes part gallery, part food festival, part Broadway stage—and, honestly, a pretty great place to wander with a snack in your hand.
What I love about this festival is that you don’t have to be an “art person” to enjoy it. There is something here for foodies, Disney fans, Broadway lovers, families, collectors, and anyone who simply enjoys seeing EPCOT transformed into something a little different.
And unlike some Disney events, much of the festival experience is included with regular EPCOT admission.
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What Is EPCOT Festival of the Arts?
The EPCOT International Festival of the Arts debuted in 2017 and has quickly become one of EPCOT’s most popular seasonal celebrations.
The festival brings together three different kinds of creativity:
- Visual arts
- Culinary arts
- Performing arts
You’ll find artwork and artists throughout EPCOT, creative food and drinks at more than 20 Food Studios, interactive experiences, colorful photo opportunities, festival merchandise, and the DISNEY ON BROADWAY Concert Series at America Gardens Theatre.
There is a lot happening, but that’s part of the fun.
My advice? Don’t try to do everything. Pick the parts of the festival that interest you most and build those into your EPCOT day.
Related article: Exploring the Vibrant World of Epcot Festivals
2027 EPCOT Festival of the Arts
Disney has announced that the 2027 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts will take place January 15 through March 1, 2027, giving guests several weeks to experience the festival.
The 2027 festival will once again bring together visual, culinary, and performing arts, along with interactive experiences, Disney artwork, Food Studios, merchandise and the DISNEY ON BROADWAY Concert Series.
And there are a few things I’m especially excited to see return.
Disney Lorcana Returns to Festival of the Arts
Disney Lorcana Trading Card Game returns as a featured part of the 2027 festival.
Fans can look for exclusive festival offerings, including promotional items and gifts with purchase, along with returning experiences such as the Ink & Find Scavenger Hunt, Collection Quest and Illumineer’s Lounge.
If you’re traveling with a Disney Lorcana fan, this is one of those additions that could turn a regular EPCOT day into something they are particularly excited about.
DISNEY ON BROADWAY Concert Series
One of the highlights of Festival of the Arts is the DISNEY ON BROADWAY Concert Series at America Gardens Theatre.
Broadway performers take the stage throughout the festival, performing songs from Disney productions they have helped bring to life on Broadway along with other favorite Disney songs.
For 2027, Disney says a new pair of performers will take the spotlight approximately every two weeks, so the lineup will change throughout the festival.
And the best part? The concerts are included with EPCOT admission.
Shows are performed several times each evening, with seating available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Want guaranteed seating?
Disney will again offer Festival of the Arts dining packages, allowing guests to enjoy a meal at a participating EPCOT restaurant and receive reserved seating for a concert. Details and reservations for the 2027 dining packages will be released at a later date.
If seeing a particular performer is high on your list, this is something I would plan ahead for rather than simply hoping to find a seat that evening.
Related article: An Epcot Festival Dining Package Guide
The Food Studios: Art You Can Eat
Let’s talk about one of my favorite parts of any EPCOT festival: the food!
Festival of the Arts takes the idea of culinary creativity seriously. The Food Studios aren’t simply serving another collection of festival snacks—they’re designed around the idea that food can be art, too.
For 2027, Disney says guests can expect more than 20 Food Studios throughout EPCOT.
You’ll find beautifully presented dishes, creative flavor combinations, colorful desserts and specialty drinks.
And this is one area where I recommend pacing yourself.
You don’t need to eat an entire dish at every booth. KC and I often share festival items so we can try more things without completely filling up halfway around World Showcase.
Pro tip: If you’re visiting with other people, consider sharing several dishes. Festival food is much more fun when everyone gets to sample a little bit of everything.
As Disney releases the 2027 menus, I’ll update this guide with the details you’ll need to plan your food stops.
See Art Being Created Right in Front of You
One of the things that makes Festival of the Arts different from the other EPCOT festivals is that you’re not just looking at finished artwork.
You can actually watch artists create it.
Throughout the festival, you’ll find artists painting Disney characters, musicians performing, and artists working in different mediums.
The Chalk Art Galleries are another festival favorite, with artists transforming walkways and public spaces into colorful works of art.
And if you happen to catch an artist working on a piece, stop for a minute and watch.
That’s part of what makes this festival special.
Related article: Meeting Disney Characters: The Magic in the Moment
Get in on the Art Yourself
You don’t have to be able to draw to participate in Festival of the Arts.
One of the most popular interactive experiences is the Expression Section: A Paint by Number Mural.
Guests can add their own little piece to a larger mural, creating a finished Disney-inspired work of art together.
There are also artful photo opportunities throughout the park that let you step directly into famous works of art.
This is one of the reasons I think Festival of the Arts works particularly well for families. Kids don’t have to simply walk through EPCOT looking at things—they can actually be part of the experience.
Animation Academy
Want to try your hand at drawing a Disney character?
Animation Academy gives guests the opportunity to learn from a Disney artist and create their own character drawing.
It’s a fun experience whether you’re naturally artistic or, like me, more of a “well, let’s see what happens” kind of artist.
And there’s something pretty cool about leaving EPCOT with artwork you created yourself.
Check the My Disney Experience app and the official Disney schedule for current times and availability during your visit.
Related article: The Disney Parks App Essential Guide
Artful Photo Opportunities
Festival of the Arts is one of those times when simply walking around EPCOT can turn into a photo opportunity.
Throughout the park, you’ll find colorful installations and artwork-inspired photo spots that allow you to step into the art—or at least pretend you know what you’re doing.
These are especially fun for families and groups because everyone can get involved.
And yes, sometimes the photo is worth stopping for even when you have absolutely no idea what the artwork is supposed to represent.
Festival Merchandise
Of course, Disney isn’t going to throw a festival without giving us things to take home.
Festival of the Arts merchandise typically includes specially designed apparel, accessories, artwork, collectibles and other limited-edition items celebrating the festival.
For serious Disney art collectors, this can be one of the biggest draws of the festival. You’ll often find artwork from Disney artists and pieces that you won’t see during the rest of the year.
If something catches your eye, don’t assume you’ll find it later. Festival merchandise can be limited and popular items may sell out.
Which EPCOT Festival Is Right for You?
EPCOT has four major annual festivals, and each one has its own personality.
Festival of the Arts: Creativity, Disney art, Broadway and beautifully presented food
Flower & Garden Festival: Gardens, topiaries, outdoor spaces and springtime
Food & Wine Festival: Global flavors, drinks and a huge emphasis on food
Festival of the Holidays: Holiday traditions, entertainment and seasonal food
There’s no wrong choice—but they’re definitely different experiences.
You can learn more about EPCOT’s other annual festivals here:
- EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival
- EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival
- EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays
Where to Stay for Festival of the Arts
If Festival of the Arts is a major part of your Disney World vacation, consider staying at an EPCOT-area resort.
Being close to EPCOT can make a big difference, particularly if you plan to spend multiple evenings enjoying the festival.
Disney’s BoardWalk area and the resorts around Crescent Lake give you easy access to EPCOT, and several options are within walking distance of the park.
You can learn more about your options here:
Disney World EPCOT Area Resorts
And here’s my favorite reason to stay nearby: you can enjoy a festival evening without feeling like you have to spend an entire day in the park.
Have dinner. Walk through the festival. See the Broadway show. Grab dessert. Then walk back to your resort.
That’s a pretty great Disney night.
My Tips for Enjoying Festival of the Arts
A few things I would keep in mind when planning your festival day:
Don’t try to do it all. There is simply too much happening. Choose the experiences that matter most to you.
Share the food. It’s the easiest way to sample more of the festival.
Check the entertainment schedule. If the DISNEY ON BROADWAY Concert Series is important to you, build your EPCOT day around the performance times.
Give yourself time to wander. Some of the best festival experiences aren’t something you schedule—they’re things you discover while walking around.
Watch for updated festival information. Menus, artists, merchandise, entertainment schedules and special experiences can change from year to year.
Don’t forget that EPCOT is still EPCOT. The festival is an addition to your park day, not the entire reason to rush through the attractions you came to experience.
Is Festival of the Arts Worth Visiting?
I think so—especially if you’re looking for something a little different.
Festival of the Arts has a very different personality from EPCOT’s other festivals. It’s colorful, creative, interactive and just a little quirky.
You can eat your way around World Showcase, admire Disney artwork, watch artists work, create your own piece of art, take some seriously fun photos and finish the evening with a Broadway performance.
And you don’t have to be an art collector or Broadway fanatic to enjoy it.
Sometimes you just need a good snack and a reason to wander around EPCOT.
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