Getting Creative at EPCOT’s International Festival of the Arts 2026
(Updated October 27, 2025)
(PeterPanFan, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 DEED, via Flickr)
Calling all creatives! EPCOT, Walt Disney World’s festival central, is bringing back its annual International Festival of the Arts in January, and you’re invited. Whether you enjoy it visually, through performances, or through savory cuisine, you’ll be immersed in a world of artistic excellence from January 16 to February 23, 2026.
Details for this year’s festival are still in the works, but activities remain fairly consistent each year. In the meantime, check out how artists were able to express themselves at the 2025 festival as a preview of the creative adventures waiting for you this year.
Key Takeaways
- For Visual Art Lovers
- For Performing Arts Fanatics
- For Culinary Arts Enthusiasts
- Planning Your Visit
- Be Close to the Fun at Rosen Inn Lake Buena Vista
For Visual Art Lovers
What sets EPCOT’s International Festival of the Arts apart from other art exhibitions is that it allows visitors to get in touch with their creative side and interact with the exhibits.
(Inside the Magic, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 DEED, via Flickr)
Awaken your inner artist and add your touch to the Paint by Numbers Mural. Every day, EPCOT includes a massive mural in the park where guests can be a part of the magic and hand paint squares, watching artwork come to life throughout the day.
Admire the Disney chalk art around EPCOT throughout the festival, or let your kids’ artistic abilities shine by having them create chalk art of their own. You and the art can become one in the same through EPCOT’s Artful Photo Ops, where you can insert yourself into a display and appear as part of the work itself!
Embark on a creative quest with Scavenger Hunt: Figment’s Brush with the Masters, a pay-to-play activity where you search for Figment around World Showcase with the help of a trusty map. Winners will receive a prize when they complete their hunt.
Disney has earned its iconic status through its animation, and during the International Festival of the Arts, you can become part of the process at Animation Academy. Get step-by-step instructions from a Disney artist and master the art of drawing Disney characters. Keep an eye out for showings that include schedules where guests can meet the artists, as well.
When you’re not exploring exciting attractions, tour the art galleries of World Showcase for unique artwork to add to or start your collection at home.
For Performing Arts Fanatics
Artistic talents take an athletic turn at World Showcase for Art Defying Gravity. Watch as professionally trained acrobats display their graceful abilities through strength, agility, and contortion-like stunts.
You can also watch the creation of artwork in action during Art in Performance events, where the audience gets a live view of an artist painting a Disney character.
It wouldn’t be a Disney experience without musical numbers, including from the theater department. Watch Disney stars take the stage at the America Gardens Theatre during the Disney on Broadway concert series. Last year’s series included performances from Broadway stars such as Adam Jacobs from Aladdin, Kissy Simmons from The Lion King, and Patti Murin from Frozen.
For Culinary Arts Enthusiasts
Frequent visitors of EPCOT may be familiar with the park’s “Drinking Around the World” activity, but during the International Festival of the Arts, you get to snack around the world, too.
Food studios stationed throughout the park offer creatively prepared cuisine as delicious fuel for the day’s fun. 2025’s festival saw the debut of new booths, including Opening Bites for snacks inspired by Broadway and classic Disney films.
The culinary tour included Japanese dishes at Goshiki, Mexican delights at El Artista Hambriento, and French treats at L’Art de la Cuisine Francaise. Smoked sausage and Black Forest mousse at The Artist’s Table and Pastoral Palate offered savory fuel for the day’s adventures.
Fictional Victuals also made its debut at last year’s festival, offering unique dishes such as squid ink pasta with lump crab, charred octopus, and a black cocoa brownie for dessert.
Planning Your Visit
(Inside the Magic, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 DEED, via Flickr)
EPCOT’s International Festival of the Arts is one of the park’s shorter festivals, beginning around mid-January and lasting until late February. The best part about attending the festival is getting to enjoy EPCOT’s popular attractions at the same time, as festival access is included with admission to the park.
If the idea of navigating your festival activities seems overwhelming, snag one of Disney’s EPCOT Festival Passports, which offers checklists for every booth and useful information on festival offerings.
It’s most ideal to enjoy every artistic aspect of the festival in one day, but it’s hard to do so without proper planning. Lovers of live theater will want to make sure they consult a times guide or entertainment schedule, as performances occur sporadically throughout the day. Some performers also have short sets or only come out a few times a day.
Be Close to the Fun at Rosen Inn Lake Buena Vista
Craving cozy beds and convenience close to the fun? Luckily for you, Rosen Inn Lake Buena Vista is the closest Rosen hotel to Disney’s parks. Come to our hotel and enjoy complimentary shuttle services to all our famed theme parks, making transportation one less thing for you to worry about during your vacation.
When your time out on the town is through, come take pleasure in our ample amenities suitable for people of all ages. From delicious dining and relaxing swimming pools to an exciting arcade and an invigorating splash pad, Rosen Inn Lake Buena Vista offers enjoyment for everyone.