The EPCOT International Festival of the Arts returns January 15 through March 1, 2027. That is a 46-day run, a full week longer than the 2026 festival, which ran January 16 through February 23. It is the first of EPCOT's four annual festivals, and the extra week makes it easier to fit into a late-winter trip.
What's confirmed so far
Walt Disney World announced the 2027 dates in September 2026. Disney Lorcana Trading Card Game returns as the festival's presenting sponsor, with exclusive offerings and gifts with purchase available only during the event.
Disney has also confirmed the return of several festival staples:
- Disney on Broadway Concert Series at the America Gardens Theatre.
- Food Studios, with 19 locations planned across the park.
- Hands-on art activities and the Figment scavenger hunt.
- Visiting artists working in the park. The lineup has not been announced yet.
Specific performers, menus, and merchandise are typically released closer to the start date.
How the festival works
Festival of the Arts celebrates visual, performing, and culinary arts. The festival experiences are included with EPCOT admission, while food and drink from the Food Studios are an extra cost. Some experiences, such as the concert series dining packages, are sold separately.
Planning around it
The longer run gives you more choices, and late January through February is traditionally a calmer stretch at Walt Disney World outside of holiday weekends. Presidents Day weekend is the notable exception to plan around.
If you want to spend a full day at the festival, consider these steps:
- Check the concert schedule once it is released, and decide whether a dining package fits your plans.
- Plan your Food Studios sampling as a progressive meal rather than a single stop.
- Leave room for the rest of EPCOT. Many guests find the festival works best as an addition to a regular EPCOT day rather than the whole reason to visit.
If you are visiting in late February, note that Flower & Garden does not begin until March 10, so there is a short gap with no festival after the Arts run ends on March 1.
Our take
Festival of the Arts is the festival we recommend most often to travelers who want something different from the food-heavy fall season. The extra week is a real improvement, and it lines up well with a winter getaway from colder places. If you are choosing between Arts and Flower & Garden, pick Arts for a lighter, creative day and a quieter park, and pick Flower & Garden if gardens, topiaries, and spring weather are your priority.
Planning a winter trip to Walt Disney World? We can help you time your visit around the festival and choose the right resort and dining plans.
