EPCOT Festival of the Arts: The Complete 2027 Guide
If you ask me, the EPCOT Festival of the Arts is one of the most underrated events at Walt Disney World. It does not get quite the same level of attention as Food and Wine or the Festival of the Holidays, but in my opinion it absolutely deserves a spot on your radar. The combination of incredible food, live Broadway performances, interactive art experiences, and a genuinely creative atmosphere makes it one of the most unique festivals EPCOT has to offer. And the fact that it takes place in January and February, when the parks tend to be quieter and the Florida weather is at its most pleasant, makes it an especially appealing time to visit.
If you are planning a Walt Disney World trip in early 2027 or just starting to think about it, here is everything you need to know about the EPCOT Festival of the Arts.
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Planning a Walt Disney World vacation? Be sure to check out my guides to Walt Disney World in 2026 and Walt Disney World in 2027!
What Is the EPCOT Festival of the Arts?
The EPCOT Festival of the Arts is Walt Disney World’s annual winter celebration of all things creative, running each year in January and February. It is the newest of EPCOT’s four annual festivals, having debuted in 2017, and it has quickly become one of the most beloved. Where Food and Wine focuses on global cuisine and the Festival of the Holidays leans into cultural traditions, the Festival of the Arts puts creativity front and center in every form imaginable: culinary arts, visual art, performance art, and interactive experiences that let guests participate in the magic themselves.
The Food Studios are stocked with some of the most visually stunning and creative dishes of any EPCOT festival. The Disney on Broadway Concert Series brings Tony-nominated performers to the America Gardens Theatre stage for nightly shows. Chalk artists and live painters transform public spaces into galleries. And Figment, EPCOT’s beloved purple dragon and unofficial mascot of imagination, is woven throughout the entire experience.
Like all EPCOT festivals, the Festival of the Arts is included with regular EPCOT park admission. Food Studio items, paid activities, and merchandise are purchased separately, but the performances, galleries, and general festival atmosphere all come with your ticket.
2027 EPCOT Festival of the Arts Dates
Official dates for the 2027 EPCOT Festival of the Arts have not yet been announced. Based on previous years, the festival typically runs from mid-January through late February. The 2026 festival ran January 16 through February 23, and 2027 dates are expected to follow a similar pattern. Disney typically announces festival dates and initial details in the fall of the prior year. I will update this post as soon as 2027 details are confirmed!
Food Studios
The Food Studios are the Festival of the Arts’ answer to the Global Marketplaces at Food and Wine, and they bring a creative twist that is entirely their own. Every dish at the Festival of the Arts is designed to be as visually striking as it is delicious. Presentation matters here in a way that sets this festival apart from the others, and the result is a lineup of food that is genuinely fun to photograph before you eat it.
Past favorites have included the Enchanted Rose dessert, rainbow Popcorn Chicken and Waffles, Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwiches, warm brie in a bread bowl from the France-inspired booth, and Figment-themed treats that are as whimsical as you would expect. The booths are spread throughout World Showcase and World Celebration, so you can graze your way around the park just as you would at any other EPCOT festival.
The 2027 Food Studio menus have not yet been announced. Disney will release a full Foodie Guide closer to the festival opening, and I will update this post as soon as it is available.
Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine
Similar to the Cookie Stroll at the Festival of the Holidays and Emile’s Fromage Montage at Food and Wine, the Festival of the Arts has its own food stroll called the Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine. Using your Festival Passport, purchase five designated colorful dishes from the Food Studios and collect a stamp for each one. Once you have all five stamps, redeem your passport for a prize. You do not need to complete it in a single visit, which makes it a fun activity to work on across multiple days if you are spending a few days at EPCOT during the festival.
Disney on Broadway Concert Series
The Disney on Broadway Concert Series is the crown jewel of the EPCOT Festival of the Arts, and it is genuinely one of the best free entertainment experiences at Walt Disney World. Held nightly at the America Gardens Theatre in the American Adventure Pavilion, the series features Broadway performers who have starred in some of Disney’s most beloved stage productions, from The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast to Aladdin, The Lion King, and more.
Each performer pair brings their own set list, featuring songs from their Broadway shows alongside other Disney favorites. Performers rotate every few days throughout the festival, so if you are visiting for multiple days, you may have the opportunity to catch more than one lineup. Past performers have included Sierra Boggess, Adam Jacobs, Mandy Gonzalez, Ashley Brown, Susan Egan, James Monroe Iglehart, Josh Strickland, and many more. The festival typically wraps up with a Grand Finale performance featuring multiple performers together on stage, which is always a special evening.
Shows typically take place three times nightly at 5:30 PM, 6:45 PM, and 8:00 PM. The 2027 performer lineup has not yet been announced. I will update this post as soon as it is released!
One of the things that makes the Disney on Broadway Concert Series so enjoyable compared to the Candlelight Processional at the Festival of the Holidays is that it is significantly easier to get a seat without a dining package. The January and February crowds are lighter overall, and for most performances you can arrive 20 to 30 minutes before showtime and find a good spot. That said, if you want to be in the very front rows or are visiting during a weekend, arriving earlier or booking a dining package is still a smart move.
Disney on Broadway Dining Packages
A Disney on Broadway Dining Package includes a meal at a participating EPCOT restaurant plus guaranteed seating in a priority section at one concert performance. Dining package guests enter the theatre through a dedicated queue and are seated in the front rows, though specific seat assignments are not made within that section.
Participating restaurants and pricing for 2027 have not yet been announced. In past years, restaurants that have offered the package include Le Cellier Steakhouse, Rose and Crown Dining Room, Biergarten Restaurant, Garden Grill, Coral Reef Restaurant, La Crêperie de Paris, La Hacienda de San Angel, Nine Dragons Restaurant, Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya, Teppan Edo, Tutto Italia Ristorante, Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria, Spice Road Table, Chefs de France, and Regal Eagle Smokehouse. Adult prices in past years have ranged from approximately $36 to $99 depending on the restaurant, with child prices ranging from approximately $21 to $45. I will update this section with confirmed 2027 details as soon as they are available.
*Regal Eagle Smokehouse has historically offered same-day dining packages only, subject to availability, on Fridays through Mondays. Child prices are for ages 3-9 and do not include tax or gratuity. Most restaurants use one table-service dining plan credit; Le Cellier Steakhouse uses two.
Art Experiences and Activities
Beyond the food and the concerts, the EPCOT Festival of the Arts is packed with interactive and visual experiences that make it unlike any other festival in the Disney calendar. This is where the festival really earns its name.
Animation Academy
One of the most popular activities at the festival, Animation Academy gives guests the chance to learn how to draw a Disney character led by a Disney animator. Sessions typically take place twice a day at America Gardens Theatre and last about 30 minutes. The classes are fast-paced and may not be ideal for very young children, but older kids and adults tend to love them. They fill up quickly, so arriving about 30 minutes before your desired session is strongly recommended.
Figment’s Brush with the Masters Scavenger Hunt
This Figment-themed scavenger hunt is one of the most charming activities at the festival and a wonderful way to explore World Showcase at a slower pace. Guests purchase a map and sticker set at select merchandise locations including Creations Shop and World Traveler, then search for Figment-themed picture frames hidden throughout the pavilions. Each time you find a frame, you add the corresponding sticker to your map. Once completed, return your map to Disney Traders or World Traveler for an artful prize. The map was $9.99 in 2026; 2027 pricing has not yet been confirmed.
Visual Art in Performance
Watch a talented artist paint beloved Disney characters and scenes right before your eyes. These live painting demonstrations have featured artists like Trevor Carlton and Stephen Fishwick in past years and typically take place in World Showcase Plaza on Thursdays through Sundays throughout the festival. Even if you only catch a few minutes of a demonstration, it is genuinely impressive to watch.
Art Defying Gravity
This performance experience showcases acrobatics, strength, and grace in a series of awe-inspiring live acts. Performances have historically taken place in World Showcase Plaza on Saturdays through Wednesdays throughout the festival, giving it a slightly different schedule than the painting demonstrations so guests can catch both.
Paint-By-Number Mural
One of the most interactive and community-driven experiences at the festival, the Paint-By-Number Mural invites guests to pick up a brush and add to a large collaborative Disney-themed mural. Located in World Nature on the walkway near the Imagination! pavilion, it is typically open from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily. It is free, low-pressure, and a lovely way to feel like you are part of something bigger.
Kids’ Chalk Art
Located at the bridge to World Showcase Plaza, the Kids’ Chalk Art area gives younger guests their own creative corner to contribute to the festival. Open daily from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, it is a sweet, simple activity that lets little ones feel like artists too.
Chalk Art Galleries
Also along the bridge to World Showcase Plaza, you will find professional chalk artists at work creating stunning large-scale pieces. These are worth slowing down to watch and photograph, especially as the pieces develop throughout the day.
Photo Opportunities
The EPCOT Festival of the Arts features some of the most creative photo opportunities of any Disney event, including life-sized step-in painting frames scattered around the park that let you become part of the artwork. Disney PhotoPass Magic Shots are also available at select locations. These are genuinely fun for families and a highlight of the festival for many guests.
Tips for Visiting the EPCOT Festival of the Arts
January and February are some of the best months to visit EPCOT. Crowd levels are generally lower during the Festival of the Arts than at almost any other time of year. If you have flexibility in your travel dates, this is one of the most pleasant times to visit Walt Disney World overall, with shorter wait times, comfortable temperatures, and a festival that rewards a slower, more exploratory pace.
Weekdays are less crowded than weekends. Local Florida residents love the Festival of the Arts, particularly for the Disney on Broadway concerts on weekend evenings. If you want the lightest crowds at the Food Studios and the best shot at a walk-up concert seat, aim for a Monday through Wednesday visit.
Plan your Food Studio route ahead of time. The Foodie Guide, released by Disney before the festival opens, lists every booth, every menu item, and which dishes count toward the Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine. Reading through it in advance helps you prioritize the dishes you most want to try and build a logical walking route through the park.
Arrive early for Animation Academy. Classes fill up fast, and there are only two sessions per day. Showing up about 30 minutes before your preferred session time is the safest way to guarantee a spot.
Do not skip the photo frames. The step-in painting frames scattered around the park are one of the most fun and unique photo opportunities at any Disney event. They are free, family-friendly, and genuinely creative. Budget a little extra time to find them as you make your way around World Showcase.
Stay for the evening concert. The Disney on Broadway Concert Series in the evening, with a drink from a nearby Food Studio booth and the glow of World Showcase behind you, is one of those Walt Disney World experiences that sticks with you. Do not rush out of the park after dinner. Catch at least one performance before you go.
For the most up-to-date information on dates, performers, dining packages, and festival activities, be sure to visit the official Walt Disney World website.
Planning your first Walt Disney World vacation? Be sure to visit my step-by-step planning guide to get started!
Ready to Keep Planning?
Here are some resources to help!
- Guide to Walt Disney World in 2026
- Guide to Walt Disney World in 2027
- EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival Guide
- EPCOT Festival of the Holidays Guide
- EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival
Walt Disney World Resort Guides:
- Disney Value Resort Hotels
- Disney Moderate Resort Hotels
- Disney Deluxe Resort Hotels
- Disney Deluxe Villas
Walt Disney World Dining Guides:
Walt Disney World Attraction Guides:
