Disney World is already making plans for 2027, and one of our favorite EPCOT festivals is getting some BIG changes! The EPCOT International Festival of the Arts is returning in 2027, bringing back the incredible food, Disney artwork, Broadway performances, and interactive experiences that have made this festival a favorite among Disney fans.

While we’re still waiting for the full menus and entertainment schedules, Disney has confirmed some interesting changes for next year’s event. One gives us MORE time to enjoy the festival, another puts a popular Disney trading card game in the spotlight, and the third makes us ask questions about our beloved Food Studios. Let’s take a look at what’s changing!

The Festival Is Getting LONGER!

We’ll start with some good news, because this is a change we’re happy to see! Disney has confirmed that the 2027 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts will run from January 15th through March 1st, 2027. That’s a pretty significant extension compared with the 2026 festival, which ran from January 16th through February 23rd. In fact, we’re getting an entire additional week! The 2026 festival lasted 39 days, while the 2027 event will run for 46 days. For a festival that has traditionally had one of the shortest runs on EPCOT’s calendar, that’s a welcome change.

Festival of the Arts has always been one of those events where we wish we had a little more time. Between trying all the food, browsing the artwork, meeting Disney artists, and catching performances, it’s easy to fill an entire day without making it through everything. The visiting artists and Broadway performers change throughout the event, so you often get something different on a return trip. An extra week also gives guests planning late-February Disney World vacations a better chance to catch the festival before it disappears for another year.

Disney Lorcana Is Taking Center Stage

If you visited the 2026 Festival of the Arts, you probably noticed Disney Lorcana making its presence known. The popular Disney trading card game brought several interactive experiences to EPCOT, giving fans opportunities to participate in special activities and collect exclusive merchandise. For 2027, Disney is taking that relationship a step further.

The festival’s official name is now EPCOT International Festival of the Arts Presented by Disney Lorcana Trading Card Game. That’s a pretty prominent position for a game that only made its Festival of the Arts debut in 2026! Disney has also confirmed the return of several Lorcana experiences, including the Ink & Find Scavenger Hunt, Collection Quest, and Illumineer’s Lounge. The festival will also offer exclusive promotional items and gifts with purchase.

And there’s another reason collectors might want to pay attention. During D23 in 2026, Disney announced that Figment will appear on a Disney Lorcana trading card for the first time, with an exclusive EPCOT card planned for the festival. Given Figment’s popularity among Festival of the Arts fans, we think that collectible could attract serious attention.

We’re curious to see how much of the festival’s merchandise and activities will revolve around Lorcana this year. The partnership makes sense. Festival of the Arts celebrates Disney artwork and creativity, and Lorcana centers on collecting beautifully illustrated Disney characters. Still, it’s a noticeable shift for an event that has traditionally focused on Disney artists, food, and Broadway entertainment. Whether you’re a dedicated Lorcana collector or just want to admire the artwork without learning the rules of a trading card game, it’ll be interesting to see how Disney weaves the partnership into the overall festival experience.

Wait…Are We Getting FEWER Food Studios?

Now, THIS is the announcement that caught our attention. Disney has confirmed that the 2027 Festival of the Arts will feature 19 Food Studios throughout EPCOT. That might sound like plenty of food, and it is! But here’s why we’re raising an eyebrow. In 2026, Disney advertised more than 20 Food Studios, along with additional locations serving festival-exclusive food and drinks.

For 2027, the official announcement specifically mentions 19. So, are we losing some of our favorite festival booths? It’s possible, but we don’t have enough information to say for certain. Disney hasn’t released the complete 2027 Food Studio lineup or menus, and the difference could involve how certain food locations are being counted. Still, it’s something we’ll be watching.

The Food Studios are arguably one of the biggest reasons to visit Festival of the Arts. Unlike the Food & Wine Festival, which tends to emphasize international flavors, Festival of the Arts gives Disney’s culinary teams a chance to get creative with presentation. We’re talking dishes that look like miniature paintings, desserts that belong in an art gallery, and food combinations that occasionally make us wonder what was happening in the test kitchen. Sometimes those experiments become our favorites!

We’ll have to wait for the official Foodie Guide to know whether we’re losing any booths, which favorites are returning, and what new dishes Disney has planned. We’re hoping the smaller announced number doesn’t mean fewer opportunities to eat our way around EPCOT. Because when it comes to festival food, we’re not particularly interested in practicing restraint.

Disney on Broadway Is Coming Back!

Fortunately, some of our favorite Festival of the Arts traditions aren’t going anywhere. Disney has confirmed that the DISNEY ON BROADWAY Concert Series will return to the America Gardens Theatre in EPCOT’s American Adventure pavilion. These performances bring Broadway stars to EPCOT to perform songs from Disney’s stage productions, including favorites from The Lion King, Aladdin, and Beauty and the Beast. It’s one of the festival’s highlights, especially if you love musical theater.

The complete 2027 performer schedule hasn’t been announced yet, but Disney has confirmed that concerts will take place several times each evening. The performances are included with regular EPCOT admission, with first-come, first-served seating. And if you prefer having a guaranteed seat instead of spending your evening waiting in line, Disney has also confirmed that DISNEY ON BROADWAY Dining Packages will return. These packages pair a meal at a participating EPCOT restaurant with guaranteed seating at a concert later that day. Disney hasn’t announced the participating restaurants, prices, or booking dates for 2027, so we’re still watching those details.

Your Favorite Festival Traditions Are Returning

While the dates, Lorcana partnership, and Food Studio count are the biggest changes we’ve spotted, Disney has also confirmed several returning festival experiences. And we’re glad to see some familiar favorites on the list!

• Animation Academy will return, allowing guests to learn how to draw Disney characters with guidance from an animator.
• The Expression Section: A Paint-by-Number Mural is also returning, letting guests contribute to a massive collaborative painting.
• Disney has also confirmed the return of Artful Photo Ops, where guests can step inside scenes inspired by famous works of art.

Throughout the festival, guests can expect to see chalk artists creating artwork, live demonstrations featuring Disney character paintings, and musical performances. And, of course, Disney artists will showcase their work throughout EPCOT. The complete artist appearance schedule hasn’t been released, but Disney says additional information about participating artists, dates, and locations will be available on its website.

Festival-exclusive merchandise is also returning, although we haven’t seen the full collection yet. There are still a few experiences from 2026 that we’re waiting to hear more about, including the Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine and Figment’s Brush with the Masters Scavenger Hunt. Both are featured on Disney’s festival website as 2026 highlights, but Disney hasn’t confirmed their 2027 return. We’re hoping they’ll be back!

What Else Is Disney Keeping Under Wraps?

Even with these announcements, some pretty big pieces are still missing from the 2027 festival picture. We haven’t seen the complete Food Studio lineup, menus, or prices. Disney also hasn’t released the DISNEY ON BROADWAY performer schedule, dining package details, or complete list of visiting artists. And while we know Lorcana will play a significant role, we’re still waiting for more information about the exclusive merchandise and promotional offers.

There’s also the question of whether the 19 announced Food Studios represent a smaller festival food lineup or just a different way of counting participating locations. For now, that’s the detail we’re most curious about.

We’re Ready for Another Year of Festival Food!

The 2027 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts is already shaping up to be an interesting one. We’re getting a longer festival, a much bigger spotlight on Disney Lorcana, and a Food Studio announcement that has us wondering what menu changes might be coming. Personally, we’re thrilled about the extra week. Festival of the Arts has always felt like it ends just when we’re getting into a good rhythm of eating, browsing artwork, and making excuses to buy another Disney print. But we’ll be keeping a close eye on that Food Studio lineup.

The 2027 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts runs January 15th through March 1st, 2027, and we’ll bring you the latest updates as Disney releases more information. In the meantime, check out our complete guide to EPCOT’s Festival of the Arts to start planning your visit! Stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for more Disney World news, festival updates, and food reviews!

ALL of the DFB Food Booth REVIEWS for the EPCOT Festival of the Arts

What are you excited for at the Festival of the Arts? Let us know in the comments below!