Disneyland holidays 2026: Dates, returning Christmas traditions and what to expect
Disneyland Resort has revealed new details for its 2026 holiday season, including new winter attire for Mickey Mouse and friends, the return of “World of Color — Season of Light” and a new Disneyland Park location for Santa Claus. Holidays at the Disneyland Resort runs Nov. 13, 2026, through Jan. 6, 2027, across both theme parks, Downtown Disney District and the resort hotels.
Disneyland Resort is unwrapping another season of twinkling lights, merry entertainment and familiar traditions across both theme parks. Although the celebration is arriving earlier than last year, this is simply because of how the calendar lines up. Guests should expect a largely familiar holiday package filled with returning favorites rather than a sleigh-load of newly announced experiences. The offerings below run the full season unless a different date range is noted.
Disneyland Park
Holiday season Disneyland attraction overlays
Haunted Mansion Holiday
- What: Festive transformation of Haunted Mansion inspired by “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas”
- Where: New Orleans Square
- When: Aug. 21, 2026 – Jan. 6, 2027
Courtesy of Disneyland
It’s a Small World Holiday
- What: Festive transformation of It’s a Small World with décor and music, plus nighttime projections on the attraction’s façade
- Where: Fantasyland
- When: Nov. 13, 2026 – Jan. 6, 2027
Courtesy of Disneyland
It’s a Small World Holiday Projections
- What: The attraction’s facade lights up in stages each evening, set to the attraction’s theme song and traditional holiday tunes
- Where: Fantasyland, outside of It’s a Small World
- When: Nov. 13, 2026 – Jan. 6, 2027, as dusk falls
Live entertainment for holiday season 2026 at Disneyland Park
“A Christmas Fantasy Parade”
- What: A 40-minute holiday parade featuring prancing reindeer, marching toy soldiers, dancing gingerbread cookies, Mickey and Minnie sorting letters to Santa with Chip ‘n’ Dale, Anna, Elsa, and Olaf from “Frozen,” a “Toy Story” spaceship float, the Disney princesses at a Candlelight Ball, and Santa Claus
- Where: Main Street, U.S.A. Disney also recommends viewing spots near It’s a Small World Holiday and Matterhorn Bobsleds.
- When: Nov. 13, 2026 – Jan. 6, 2027. Consult the Disneyland app for showtimes.
“Believe … in Holiday Magic” fireworks
- What: A 15-minute fireworks spectacular over Sleeping Beauty Castle, with more than 80,000 lights on the castle and snowfall effects
- Where: Snow falls at It’s a Small World Holiday, on portions of Main Street, U.S.A., and along the Rivers of America
- When: Nov. 13, 2026 – Jan. 6, 2027. Consult the Disneyland app for showtimes.
Wintertime Enchantment at Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle
- What: Sleeping Beauty Castle decked in icicles, wreaths, and garland, with thousands of lights illuminated in stages each evening as snow falls and music plays
- Where: Sleeping Beauty Castle, at the end of Main Street, U.S.A.
- When: Nov. 13, 2026 – Jan. 6, 2027
Character appearances
Mickey and friends debut new holiday attire
Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and their friends will greet guests in new holiday attire at Disneyland Park from Nov. 13, 2026, through Jan. 6, 2027. Disney describes the outfits as combining the spirit of holiday travel with a wintry alpine gathering.
Artist Concept/Disneyland Resort
‘Holiday Fun with Santa & Friends!’ returns to Fantasyland Theatre in 2026, featuring Santa Claus and a rotating roster of characters including Chip ’n’ Dale, Goofy and Pluto.
Courtesy of Disneyland
The continuous daytime celebration includes sing-alongs, arts and crafts, story time featuring “A Christmas Carol,” animated holiday shorts, live music from The Dickens Yuletide Band, holiday treats, shopping and winter-themed photo opportunities. Specific dates have not been announced; in 2025, the offering ran from Nov. 15 through Dec. 24.
Dining and shopping at Disneyland Park
Holiday menus for 2026 have not been announced. In past seasons, holiday souvenirs have been available park-wide, with the largest selection at the Emporium and Plaza Point, both on Main Street, U.S.A.
Disney California Adventure Park
You may see Disneyland Resort literature categorize specific holiday activities at California Adventure as part of Disney Festival of Holidays, Disney ¡Viva Navidad!, or on their own. Seeing as all of these events take place during regular park hours and do not require a separate ticket, we’ve simplified the events’ offerings in our list below and presented all of California Adventure’s holiday activities together, with no distinction as to which mini-event each one “belongs” to.
The term “Disney Festival of Holidays” refers to the celebration of multicultural traditions and offerings.
Holiday season California Adventure attraction overlays
Mater’s Jingle Jamboree
- What: Holiday version of Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree, with Mater singing classic holiday tunes rewritten with his own lyrics as guests spin through his decorated junkyard (listen to the Cars Land holiday soundtrack)
- Where: Cars Land
- When: Nov. 13, 2026 – Jan. 6, 2027
Courtesy of Disney
Luigi’s Joy to the Whirl
- What: Holiday version of Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters, with Luigi’s family of roadsters performing festive dances in his decorated backyard, set to the same Cars Land holiday soundtrack
- Where: Cars Land
- When: Nov. 13, 2026 – Jan. 6, 2027
Live entertainment for the 2026 holiday season at Disney California Adventure
Mickey’s Happy Holidays
- What: Cavalcade featuring Mickey & Friends and Pixar characters
- Where: Disney California Adventure parade corridor
- When: Nov. 13, 2026 – Jan. 6, 2027
Holiday Toy Drummers
- Where: Paradise Gardens Park near the San Fransokyo bridge
- What: Band of percussionists dressed as toy soldiers
- When: Nov. 13, 2026 – Jan. 6, 2027
Disney ¡Viva Navidad!
- What: A celebration of Latino holiday traditions, with a street party featuring live musicians, dancers, and José Carioca, Panchito, and Donald Duck in their fiesta best. Mirabel and other members of la familia Madrigal from “Encanto” appear for meet-and-greets, and Three Kings Day is commemorated Jan. 6 with decor and a photo opportunity.
- Where: Disney California Adventure, centered on Paradise Gardens Park
- When: Nov. 13, 2026 – Jan. 6, 2027. Consult the Disneyland app for showtimes.
Courtesy of Disneyland Resort
“World of Color — Season of Light”
“World of Color — Season of Light” returns to Disney California Adventure for the 2026 holiday season. The nighttime spectacular combines fountains, lighting, animation and holiday music in Paradise Bay.
Disney has confirmed the show’s return but has not yet published its 2026 performance schedule. Guests should consult the Disneyland app for showtimes closer to their visit.
Dining and shopping at California Adventure
Festive Foods Marketplace
- What: Outdoor marketplace booths serving holiday dishes and drinks drawn from cultures and celebrations around the world. Guests can order ahead at any marketplace and pick up at the respective location.
- Where: Performance Corridor, between Buena Vista Street and Paradise Gardens Park
- When: Nov. 13, 2026 – Jan. 6, 2027
A Sip and Savor Pass is available again, with six digital coupons redeemable for select food and nonalcoholic drinks at participating marketplaces. The pass can be split between two people. Full booth lineups and menus for 2026 have not been announced.
In past seasons, the largest holiday merchandise selection has been at Elias & Co. on Buena Vista Street and at Festival Gifts.
Holiday season throughout the Disneyland Resort
Holiday decor and Christmas lights
Seasonal decorations appear resort-wide from Nov. 13, 2026, through Jan. 6, 2027. At Disneyland Park, wreaths and garlands cover the storefronts, lampposts and rooftops of Main Street, U.S.A., while Sleeping Beauty Castle receives lavish garlands and nighttime lighting. New Orleans Square, Frontierland, Mickey’s Toontown and Fantasy Faire each receive distinctive holiday touches, and “it’s a small world” Holiday glows with more than 50,000 lights and video projections.
Courtesy of Disneyland
At Disney California Adventure, a 50-foot Christmas tree anchors Buena Vista Street, while Cars Land celebrates with automotive-inspired decorations.
Downtown Disney District adds trimmed trees, twinkling lights and decorated shop windows, and each Disneyland Resort hotel displays its own holiday tree.
Meet Santa Claus
Santa Claus has a new stop at Disneyland Park in 2026. Through Dec. 24, Santa will appear at the Mickey’s Toontown Trolley Barn near Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin.
Disney says Santa will also appear at other locations throughout Disneyland Resort but has not yet provided a complete location schedule. Guests should check the Disneyland app or inquire at the individual venue for same-day appearance times.
Check the venue for appearance times on the day of your visit.
Courtesy of Disney
Holiday Time at the Disneyland Resort Guided Tour
Holiday Time at the Disneyland Resort Guided Tour is a two-hour walking experience spanning both theme parks. Along the way, guests learn about Disneyland’s history with the holiday season, ride It’s a Small World Holiday, and watch “A Christmas Fantasy Parade” from a reserved viewing area. The 2025 tour cost $120 per person, plus tax, and did not include theme park admission. Disney has not yet released 2026 dates or pricing. Book here.
Downtown Disney District during the holidays
Chip and Dale’s Ornament Trail
- What: A family-friendly hunt for character ornaments hidden on holiday trees throughout the district. Guests pick up a map and stickers, find the ornaments, place the matching stickers, and turn the map in for a holiday keepsake. One keepsake per map.
- Where: Ornaments are hidden throughout the Downtown Disney District. Maps are sold at select merchandise locations in Downtown Disney and the Disneyland Resort hotels.
- When: Nov. 13, 2026 – Jan. 6, 2027, or while supplies last. The 2026 map price has not been announced. The 2025 map cost $10.
Downtown Disney also adds festive food, entertainment, and decor throughout the district for the season. Live music details for the Downtown Disney Live! stage have not been announced.
Courtesy of Disneyland
Disneyland Resort hotels’ holiday activities 2026
Santa Claus appears at all three hotels, and each has its own holiday tree. Disney has not yet announced 2026 holiday character dining. In 2025, Storytellers Cafe at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa hosted two new holiday meals, Daisy’s Holiday Pajama Party and Mickey’s Christmas Carol Feast, and Goofy’s Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel ran a holiday version. We will update this section as details are released.
These activities are not announced yet
Several pieces of the season are still open:
- Holiday food and beverage menus, including Festive Foods Marketplace menus
- Merchandise collections
- Hotel character dining
- 2026 pricing and booking for the Holiday Time guided tour
- Santa’s complete resort-wide appearance schedule
- Whether Life Day returns to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
For more information
Everything listed above is included with theme park admission except the Holiday Time guided tour, the Chip and Dale’s Ornament Trail map, food, and merchandise. A park reservation is required in addition to a valid ticket.
For dates, ticket options, and full details, visit Disneyland.com. You can see everything the resort offered last year in our 2025 holiday guide.
More Attractions Magazine stories:
Follow us:
Whether you’re ready for your next Disney Destinations vacation or your first, our trusted partner Mouse Fan Travel will handle the planning so you can focus on the memories. They offer free vacation-planning services and have nearly 20 years of experience creating memorable Disney vacations. Visit Mouse Fan Travel for a fee-free, no-obligation quote today.
