EPCOT kicks off the new year with color, imagination, and a whole lot of Broadway. The EPCOT International Festival of the Arts is back for 2027. Disney has confirmed the dates, plus a first look at what’s coming back to the park’s youngest seasonal celebration.
Here’s what we know so far, so you can start planning your winter trip.
What Is the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts?
The EPCOT International Festival of the Arts is the youngest of EPCOT’s four seasonal festivals. It joins the Flower & Garden Festival, the Food & Wine Festival, and the Festival of the Holidays on the calendar. Disney calls it a living gallery, and it blends visual, culinary, and performing arts throughout the park. Think interactive photo ops, chalk art, paint-by-number murals, and Food Studios that turn art into edible creations. All of it is included with regular EPCOT admission.
Photo Credit: Disney Parks Blog
2027 Festival of the Arts Dates
The 2027 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts runs January 15-March 1, 2027. That’s an extra week longer than in recent years, so you’ll have more room to fit it into a winter trip.
DISNEY ON BROADWAY Concert Series
America Gardens Theatre once again hosts the DISNEY ON BROADWAY Concert Series. Broadway performers come to EPCOT to sing the iconic songs they helped make famous on stage. A new pair of performers takes over every two weeks, so the lineup keeps changing throughout the run. Disney hasn’t revealed the full list of 2027 performers yet.
Admission to the concerts is included with EPCOT park entry, and seating is first-come, first-served, with shows running several times each evening. Want guaranteed seating instead? Look for a dining package once reservation dates go on sale, which pairs a meal at a select EPCOT restaurant with priority seating. Those packages tend to book quickly, so set a MouseDining dining alert and you’ll know the moment reservations open.
Photo Credit: Disney Parks Blog
Food Studios
The Food Studios are where the festival’s culinary side really shines, blending inventive flavors with artistic presentation. For 2027, Disney has confirmed more than 20 Food Studios spread throughout the park. Menus haven’t been released yet. We’ll update this article with the lineup once it’s released, so check back closer to the festival. In the meantime, use the My Disney Experience app for current offerings and prices once it opens.
Photo Credit: Disney Parks Blog
Artists and Art Galleries
Beyond the food and music, the festival is really about watching art happen in real time. Visit the Chalk Art Galleries and you can watch artists paint Disney characters in a matter of minutes. Live music from festival musicians fills the park too. Names, dates, and locations for visiting artists usually land closer to the event, so check DisneyWorld.com as the festival approaches.
Photo Credit: Disney Parks Blog
What Else Is There to Do at the Festival?
Returning favorites include Animation Academy, where you learn to draw beloved Disney characters step by step. There’s also the Expression Section, a giant paint-by-number mural guests help complete together. Artful Photo Ops are scattered throughout the park, and exclusive festival merchandise rounds out the experience for art lovers who want to take a piece of the festival home.
Disney Lorcana at the Festival
Disney Lorcana Trading Card Game returns as the festival’s presenting sponsor for 2027. Illumineers will find a few exclusive extras woven into the event, including festival-only promo items and gifts with purchase. Fan-favorite experiences are back too, like the Ink & Find Scavenger Hunt, the Collection Quest, and the Illumineer’s Lounge. It’s a perfect side quest for card game fans.
Do I Need a Separate Ticket for the Festival of the Arts?
No. Standard EPCOT park admission covers festival access, including the galleries, murals, photo ops, and Broadway concerts. Extra costs are limited to individual Food Studios items, festival merchandise, optional workshops, and dining packages for guaranteed concert seating.
Our take: Festival of the Arts is a great pick if you want a slower-paced EPCOT visit without one headline event dominating the day. The chalk art, the mural, and the rotating Broadway lineup give you plenty to fill an afternoon without sprinting between attractions. That extra week Disney added for 2027 also gives you more flexibility to fit it into a January or February trip.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of Festival of the Arts
- Check the Broadway lineup before you book. Performers rotate every two weeks, so confirm who’s on stage during your visit if seeing a specific artist matters to you.
- Try the Expression Section mural early in the festival. The best sections fill in fast as the weeks go on, so an early visit means more open space to contribute.
- Budget time for Animation Academy. It’s a free, hands-on activity that often gets overlooked next to the food and concerts, but it’s a highlight for a lot of families.
- Book Broadway dining packages as soon as they open. Guaranteed seating is worth it if there’s a performer you don’t want to miss. A MouseDining alert can help you catch the reservation window.
- If you’re into Disney Lorcana, swing by the Illumineer’s Lounge and Collection Quest early in your visit. Those festival-exclusive experiences tend to draw a dedicated crowd.
Brief History of the EPCOT Festival of the Arts
The EPCOT International Festival of the Arts debuted in 2017, making it the newest of EPCOT’s four seasonal festivals. The idea was simple: bring visual, culinary, and performing arts together under one celebration, the same way Disney had already done with Food & Wine and later with Flower & Gardens. Since then, the festival has grown steadily. It now includes an expanding roster of Food Studios and a rotating cast of visiting artists and Broadway performers, with a lineup that stays fresh every two weeks.
Stay Updated with Mouse Dining
The 2027 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts opens January 15. Disney will keep releasing details on Food Studios menus, the Broadway performer lineup, and dining packages in the weeks ahead. Set a MouseDining dining alert so you’re first in line when reservations open, and check back with us as more festival news comes in.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the 2027 EPCOT Festival of the Arts?
The festival runs January 15-March 1, 2027.
Do I need a special ticket for the Festival of the Arts?
No. Standard EPCOT park admission includes festival access, the art galleries, the mural, and the Broadway concerts. Only individual food items, merchandise, and optional dining packages cost extra.
Is the DISNEY ON BROADWAY Concert Series free?
Yes, admission is included with EPCOT park entry. Seating is first-come, first-served, though guests can book a dining package for guaranteed seating once reservations open.
How many Food Studios will be at the 2027 festival?
Disney has confirmed more than 20 Food Studios will be located throughout the park for the 2027 festival.
