Disneyland Announces 2026 Holiday Celebration Details

The holiday season is returning to the Disneyland Resort, bringing back beloved seasonal traditions alongside new experiences, festive entertainment, limited-time food and beverages, and plenty of holiday merchandise.

Holidays at the Disneyland Resort will take place November 13, 2026, through January 6, 2027, transforming Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure Park, the resort hotels, and the Downtown Disney District into a holiday celebration.

Holiday Magic Returns to Disneyland Resort

Disneyland Park will once again be filled with holiday décor and seasonal entertainment. Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and their friends will debut festive new outfits inspired by holiday travel and a wintry alpine gathering.

Santa Claus will also have a new stop along his holiday route. From November 13 through December 24, guests can visit Santa at the Mickey’s Toontown Trolley Barn near Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin, in addition to his seasonal appearance at Redwood Creek Challenge Trail in Disney California Adventure Park. Guests will have the opportunity to share their holiday wishes and take photos with Santa.

Over at Disney California Adventure, “World of Color – Season of Light” returns with a spectacular combination of music, animation, water, and light. The seasonal presentation features moments from films including Beauty and the Beast and Inside Out, paired with holiday classics and fan-favorite songs.

Disneyland Park will also welcome back several fan-favorite holiday experiences, including “A Christmas Fantasy Parade,” featuring Disney characters, toy soldiers, dancing reindeer, and gingerbread cookies.

The nighttime spectacular “Believe…in Holiday Magic” will also return, complete with festive fireworks and magical snowfall.

Seasonal overlays will once again transform popular attractions, including Haunted Mansion Holiday and “it’s a small world” Holiday. In Cars Land at Disney California Adventure, Mater’s Jingle Jamboree and Luigi’s Joy to the Whirl will also return for the celebration.

Sleeping Beauty Castle Becomes a Winter Wonderland

One of the most iconic sights of the Disneyland holiday season will return as Sleeping Beauty Castle transforms into Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle.

The castle will shimmer with icicles, wreaths, and other seasonal decorations. Each evening, guests can experience Wintertime Enchantment at Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle, featuring more than 80,000 twinkling lights and gentle “snowfall” along portions of Main Street, U.S.A., and other areas of Disneyland.

New Holiday Merchandise and Seasonal Treats

Disneyland Resort will introduce new holiday merchandise collections for the 2026 season, including the Mickey Mouse and Family Christmas Collection and the Disney Vintage Holiday Collection.

The collections will feature festive apparel, accessories, home décor, and other holiday gifts.

Guests can also look forward to a variety of limited-time holiday food and beverages. Returning favorites include the cool mint and chocolate cookie Mickey elf shake from Schmoozies! and the merry cranberry crispy chicken sandwich at Galactic Grill.

New seasonal novelties will also make their debut, including the Mickey Train Light-Up popcorn bucket and Holiday Stitch Christmas Tree sipper.

For an additional-cost experience, guests can book the Holiday Time at the Disneyland Resort Guided Tour. The tour includes stories about Walt Disney and his family, holiday traditions from around the world, and reserved viewing for “A Christmas Fantasy Parade.”

Disney Festival of Holidays Returns to Disney California Adventure

Beginning November 13, Disney Festival of Holidays will once again celebrate the diverse traditions of the season at Disney California Adventure.

The festival will feature cultural music and dance performances, seasonal food and beverages, and celebrations inspired by the many ways families observe the holidays.

Entertainment will include the energetic Holiday Toy Drummers and the “Mickey’s Happy Holidays” cavalcade.

On select dates, guests can also experience “Mirabel’s Gifts of the Season” at Paradise Gardens Park, where Mirabel and her friends from Encanto bring stories and songs to life.

Over on Buena Vista Street, “A Musical Christmas with Mariachi Alegría de Disneyland & Miguel!” will feature bilingual holiday songs performed by Mariachi Alegría de Disneyland and Miguel from Pixar’s Coco.

The popular Disney ¡Viva Navidad! celebration will also return with live music, specialty dishes, and character appearances inspired by Latin American holiday traditions.

On select dates, the Disney ¡Viva Navidad! Street Party will feature The Three Caballeros, Mexican folklórico dancers, mariachis, Brazilian samba dancers, and more. Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, and The Three Caballeros will also appear in festive attire at Paradise Gardens Park.

Six Festive Food Marketplaces

Foodies will once again have plenty to explore throughout Disney California Adventure, with six Festive Food Marketplaces serving a mix of returning favorites and new seasonal dishes and beverages.

Among the returning offerings is the popular braised pork belly adobo.

Guests looking to sample multiple offerings can purchase a Sip and Savor Pass, which includes six digital coupons redeemable for select food and nonalcoholic beverages at participating marketplaces and select dining locations throughout Disney California Adventure.

Holiday Magic at the Disneyland Resort Hotels

The holiday celebration extends beyond the theme parks to the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort.

Santa Claus will make seasonal appearances at select times at the Disneyland Hotel, Pixar Place Hotel, and Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa.

At Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, guests can once again admire the towering 7-foot-tall gingerbread display inside the Great Hall lobby, inspired by the hotel’s distinctive Craftsman architecture.

Three holiday-themed character dining experiences will also return for a limited time. These include Goofy’s Kitchen Celebrates the Holidays! at the Disneyland Hotel and Daisy’s Holiday Pajama Party for breakfast and brunch at Storytellers Cafe, followed by Mickey’s Christmas Carol Feast for dinner.

Reservations will be available at a later date.

Additional seasonal offerings will include holiday treats and menu items at Broken Spell Lounge at the Disneyland Hotel and holiday-themed treatments such as the Joy of Holiday body treatment at Tenaya Stone Spa.

Guests planning an extended holiday getaway can also take advantage of a hotel offer providing up to 20% savings on select stays of three or more nights for visits between October 11 and December 18, 2026. Reservations for the offer begin September 22, 2026, subject to availability and restrictions.

Downtown Disney Gets Into the Holiday Spirit

The holiday celebration will continue at the Downtown Disney District, where guests can find festive décor, seasonal shopping, special food and beverages, and live entertainment.

The Downtown Disney LIVE! Stage will feature nightly holiday entertainment along with “snowfall,” while live bands and DJs perform holiday favorites.

Families can also take part in Chip and Dale’s Ornament Trail. After purchasing an activity map at participating retail locations, guests can search Downtown Disney for hidden ornaments and redeem their completed map for a festive holiday keepsake.

Seasonal menus, sweet treats, and holiday beverages will also be available at participating Downtown Disney locations.

The festivities officially begin November 13, 2026, and continue through January 6, 2027, giving Disneyland fans nearly two months to experience the holiday magic.

Clint Gamache

Clint Gamache is the owner of ThrillGeek. He started ThrillGeek to share his love of theme/amusement parks and pop culture with the world. You can find him at Halloween Horror Nights. Also, be sure to follow him on Twitter/X, Instagram @iamcg83