The new year is nearly upon us, and so are some pretty big Disneyland milestones and events!

Disneyland is in the middle of some pretty big expansion plans, as well as its 70th Anniversary Celebration. All of that will continue into 2026, along with several events you should mark on your calendar if you plan to visit “The Happiest Place on Earth” before 2027!

While TONS of stuff are slated to happen at Disneyland in 2026, any diehard (or casual) Disney fans should be aware of these five dates that could impact your next Disneyland vacation.

After Dark Events

Disneyland recently revealed its 2026 After Dark Events and dates! These after-hours events are separately ticketed themed events held at Disneyland Park, and feature unique entertainment, special character encounters, event-specific food and beverages, shorter ride wait times, limited-edition merch, and more!

These events take place from 9 PM until 1 AM, but guests with tickets can enter the park at 6 PM. That’s not all — Disneyland is also introducing a NEW theme this year in addition to its four returning themes! Of note, expect the park to close early on these days for non-event guests.

Let’s take a look at the parties and their 2026 dates!

Disneyland After Dark: Sweethearts’ Nite

• Thursday, January 22nd
• Sunday, January 25th
• Tuesday, January 27th
• Tuesday, February 3rd
• Thursday, February 5th
• Sunday, February 8th
• Tuesday, February 10th
• Thursday, February 12th
• Tuesday, February 17th

Disneyland After Dark: 70 Years of Favorites (NEW)

• Tuesday, March 3rd
• Thursday, March 5th

Disneyland After Dark: Disney Channel Nite

• Sunday, April 12th
• Tuesday, April 14th
• Thursday, April 16th

Disneyland After Dark: Star Wars Nite

• Tuesday, April 28th
• Thursday, April 30th
• Monday, May 4th
• Wednesday, May 6th

Disneyland After Dark: Pride Nite

• Tuesday, June 16th
• Thursday, June 18th

Season of the Force

While specific dates have yet to be announced, Disneyland’s Season of the Force Star Wars celebration will be returning to the park with nighttime experiences, limited-time offerings, and more!

2025’s Season of the Force included Shadows of Memory: A Skywalker Saga — a projection show that turned the spires of Batuu into a “canvas for the legendary story of the Skywalkers.” As well as…

Fire of the Rising Moons — a different Star Wars-themed view of the Disneyland fireworks, with “galactic” music filling the air! Keep an eye out for plenty of new Star Wars souvenirs and snacks, as well!

This specially themed season will likely take place in the spring, and we’ll let you know about those dates as soon as they’re announced!

New Smugglers Run Experience

Disney announced that Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run will feature characters from The Mandalorian in 2026! 

New missions with the Mandalorian and Grogu will be added to the attraction in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in both Disney World and Disneyland starting May 22nd, 2026!

Most importantly, for the first time ever, you and your crew get to CHOOSE the destination of your adventure! The responsibility falls to the Engineer in your party, who will select where you go.

During your journey, you’ll team up with the likes of the Mandalorian, Grogu, and Hondo.

The story will involve Hondo Ohnaka discovering a deal on Tatooine between ex-Imperial officers and some pirates, and your job is to “borrow” the Millennium Falcon and track down a lucrative bounty.

The new version of the ride will coincide with the release of The Mandalorian and Grogu, a new Star Wars film debuting in theaters.

D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event

Plenty of Disney fans will head to Anaheim for the D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event from August 14th through the 16th!

This fan event — held at the Anaheim Convention Center and the Honda Center — will be a weeklong celebration with a couple of events at Angel Stadium and Disneyland Park before it culminates in a major expo and showcase on the 14th, 15th, and 16th! The showcase floor at the convention center will have plenty of unique shopping opportunities paired with Disney exhibits revealing future plans and Disney secrets.

At the Honda Center, get ready for three nights of big-time Disney reveals that focus on Disney entertainment, Disney Parks and experiences, and more!

Disneyland’s 70th Anniversary End Date

We previously mentioned that Disneyland is currently celebrating its 70th anniversary, and that party will continue into the summer of 2026!

The celebration — which includes special entertainment, decorations, ride overlays, limited-time treats, exclusive merch, and more — does not have an end date yet, but we know it won’t be around in the latter half of the year.

At this point in time, we can only speculate when the event will end (which will likely be before Halloween Time starts in mid-to-late August). So if you want to catch the famous Paint the Night Parade — a beloved nighttime parade that has returned specifically for this event — one last time, we recommend doing so well before then.

There’s a lot going on at Disneyland, and still so many dates to be revealed! We’re constantly ready for those announcements, so keep it posted right here at the Disney Food Blog for all the latest updates!

NEW After Hours Event Announced for Disneyland

Which 2026 Disneyland events intrigue you the most? Let us know in the comments!