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Mark Your Calendars! October 14th Is a Big Day for EPCOT Festival Fans

Mark Your Calendars! October 14th Is a Big Day for EPCOT Festival Fans

Listen up, EPCOT Festival fans! We’ve got some news that you’ll want to hear (and make sure to grab your calendars so you can write the date down — you don’t want to miss this!)

Candlelight Processional

Even though it’s over a month away from the start of the 2026 EPCOT Festival of the Holidays, October 14th is a special day for this year’s festival because that’s when reservations open for one of their most beloved traditions! And we have everything you need to know about it and how to grab them!


In just a few days, you’ll be able to start booking dining package reservations for this year’s EPCOT Festival of the Holidays Candlelight Processional! These dining packages GUARANTEE you a seat at one of the shows, and that’s a BIG deal since these shows can get extremely crowded, especially when the narrator is one of the more popular celebrities!

Josh Gad narrating the 2024 Candlelight Processional

This year’s Festival of the Holidays runs from November 27th through December 30th, and each night, there will be three shows of the Candlelight Processional with a celebrity narrator. There will be a different celebrity every two to three nights, so if you aren’t able to make it one night, you’ll have another chance to see them! Performances are held nightly at 4:45 PM, 6:30 PM, and 8 PM at the America Gardens Theatre in the America Pavilion.

Chrissy Metz at the EPCOT Candlelight Processional

Now, you can always wait in the standby line for these shows, but that doesn’t guarantee your spot, and you may be waiting several hours to get in, which is why we recommend grabbing a dining package if you REALLY want to see one of the celebrities! Each dining package includes a guaranteed seat per person at one of the Candlelight Processional shows on the same day plus:

  • An entrée and dessert, or a full buffet (if applicable), and a nonalcoholic drink (or an alcoholic drink for Guests ages 21+) at most restaurants
  • Two small plates, a shared tagine, a shared dessert platter, and a nonalcoholic drink (or an alcoholic drink for Guests ages 21+) at Spice Road Table

2022 Dining Package Ticket

These packages open on October 14th, and you can choose from the following restaurants:

Adults are considered ages 10 and up while children are ages 3 to 9.

Candlelight Processional Dining Package Sign

You can also try to get same-day dining package reservations at Regal Eagle Smokehouse, which costs $43 per adult and $26 per child, and these sell out FAST, so make sure you’re lined up early to secure one!

Regal Eagle Dining Packages

Wondering which day to grab a dining package for? Here is the list of narrators, so you know what day to reserve when you’re booking your package:

  • Nov. 27 & 28 – Auli‘i Cravalho
  • Nov. 29 – Dec. 1 – Gary Sinise
  • Dec. 2 & 3 – To Be Announced
  • Dec. 4 & 5 – Whoopi Goldberg
  • Dec. 6 & 7 – Robin Roberts (NEW)
  • Dec. 8 & 9 – Jason Kelce (NEW)
  • Dec. 10 – 12 – Neil Patrick Harris
  • Dec. 13 & 14 – To Be Announced
  • Dec. 15 & 16 – Lauren Daigle
  • Dec. 17 – 19 – Ralph Macchio
  • Dec. 20 & 21 – Henry Winkler
  • Dec. 22 & 23 – Lacey Chabert (NEW)
  • Dec. 24 & 25 – Jodi Benson
  • Dec. 26 & 27 – Simu Liu
  • Dec. 28 – 30 – Eva Longoria

Auli’i Cravalho at the Candlelight Processional

These narrators are joined by a 51-piece orchestra, the Voices of Liberty, and a choir of more than 150 Disney Cast Members and community singers. It’s truly a must-do each year since each narrator brings their own unique touch as they tell the story of Christmas. Year after year, I still shed tears because of how beautiful this performance is.

Candlelight Processional

We’ll keep you updated with the available dates as they sell out, so stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for more Disney news, updates, tips, and tricks!

SNEAK PEEK at Disney’s 2026 Holiday Collection (Looks Like I’m Buying ANOTHER Backpack)

DON’T MISS A MOMENT
OF HOLIDAY MAGIC

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  • The COMPLETE schedule of events for the Holiday Season
  • How to avoid the crowds on Disney World’s busiest days (and when Disney World closes their parks due to capacity!)
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  • And, of course, we’ll tell you where to eat!

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Are you headed to the EPCOT Festival of the Holidays this year? Let us know in the comments below!

Important Disney Dates Simplified – Get a list of all of your important dates for your upcoming Disney vacation so you don’t miss a thing.