Disneyland Resort has released its calendar of seasonal events and limited-time festivities for 2026, with a jam-packed calendar of celebrations at Disney California Adventure, Disneyland, and Downtown Disney. This shares a list of the special entertainment offerings, date ranges for each event, and more.
With the release of these dates, it’s also worth noting that Disney has already announced a variety of discount Disneyland ticket options and special offers for the first ~9 months of next year! For Summer 2026, families can get greater value with a special offer on theme park tickets for kids, which can be purchased for as low as $50 per day.
For winter through early summer visits, the 2026 California Resident Disneyland Ticket Deal is also making a return–and with a new twist. Golden State residents can save over 50% when they purchase 3-Day Park Hopper tickets for as low as $83 a day per person or a 3-Day Park Hopper with Lightning Lane Multi Pass for as low as $117 per person! It’s likely that another ticket promotion for the second half of summer and early fall will be released later, so you can always wait–but that deal almost certainly will not be as good. Anyway, here’s the calendar of events at Disneyland Resort in 2026…
Disneyland 70th Anniversary Celebration Resumes (January 2026 through August 9, 2026): The Disneyland 70th Anniversary Celebration honors seven decades of happiness and many moments of joy in the making. Guests will once again be able to “celebrate happy” with limited-time entertainment, specialty food and beverages, collectible merchandise and more.
Along with “World of Color Happiness!” and “Tapestry of Happiness,” which have continued throughout the holiday season, guests can enjoy the return of “The Celebrate Happy Cavalcade,” “Wondrous Journeys” and the “Paint the Night” parade in early 2026. The Disneyland Resort 70th Celebration will reach its conclusion on August 9, 2026.
Head over to our Disneyland’s 70th Anniversary Review: Better Than Walt Disney World’s 50th for a rundown of the highlights of the big celebration…from the new World of Color: Happiness to returning fan-favorite fireworks and night parades, sleeper hits for hardcore Disney fans, and more!
Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure (January 23 to February 22, 2026): To ring in the Year of the Horse, Horace Horsecollar will make appearances during this joyous festival that honors Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean traditions.
Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse return to greet guests in their Korean-inspired outfits, and new this year, several Disney characters will debut all-new outfits with representations of Vietnamese and Chinese attire. Guests may also meet a character from Pixar Animation Studios film “Turning Red.”
We likewise expect to see a return of “Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession,” as well as the “Hurry Home – A Lunar New Year Celebration” water short, daily live musical performances, and Asian-inspired menu items across six Lunar New Year marketplaces and select dining locations.
Anaheim Ducks Days at Disney California Adventure (February 22, 2026): At Disney California Adventure, fans will be able to enjoy a cavalcade, appearances by select Anaheim Ducks players, themed games and more. Anaheim Ducks Day Overtime at the Downtown Disney District will be an exciting fan zone with entertainment, fun activities and photo opportunities.
Celebrate Gospel at Disneyland (February 20-21 and February 27-28, 2026): New for 2026, this uplifting annual concert will move to Downtown Disney District for two weekends full of performances by community choirs in Southern California and featuring headlining talent gospel artists Hezekiah Walker (Feb. 21) and Yolanda Adams (Feb. 28).
Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival (March 6 to April 27, 2026): The Golden State’s gastronomic extravaganza serves up creative foods and beverages, cooking demonstrations and more inspired by the diverse cultures and cuisines of California.
The 2026 DCA Food & Wine Festival will feature marketplaces, live entertainment and the return of fan-favorites such as Chef Goofy, and bookable culinary experiences.
It has not yet been confirmed whether the popular attraction, Soarin’ Over California, will return for a limited time during the DCA Food & Wine Festival in 2026. It might not given the upcoming arrival of Soarin’ Across America, but we suspect it will.
Disney On the Yard – Yardfest: Powered by Celebrate Soulfully (June 19, 2026): This community event returns to Downtown Disney District for its second year. During the day, guests can join a celebration of the spirit and traditions of historically Black colleges and universities, along with drum majors and Drum Major Mickey Mouse accompanied by a drumline.
D23 Day at Disneyland Resort (August 13, 2026) and Disney Jr. Let’s Play! Party (August 13-16, 2026): The countdown to the 2026 D23 Expo begins at D23 Day at Disneyland Resort, a one-day event where all guests visiting Disneyland Resort can discover magical surprises, themed moments, and fan-favorite experiences that celebrate the worlds of Disney.
Plus, Disney Jr. Let’s Play! Party returns for a one-day special event tailored to families with young children at Disney California Adventure Park featuring live entertainment, Disney Jr. characters and activities and fun photo opportunities, before extending the festivities into a three-day event at Downtown Disney District.
Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort (August 21 to October 31, 2026): Wicked fun for all ages, this spellbinding season transforms the resort with autumn décor, characters dressed in hauntingly haute Halloween outfits and uniquely themed attractions.
Plaza de la Familia at Disney California Adventure (August 21 to November 2, 2026): The everlasting bonds of family and Mexican traditions of Día de los Muertos are honored through a cultural experience featuring storytelling and music from Pixar’s “Coco.”
Holidays at the Disneyland Resort (Starting on November 18, 2026): Family and friends can celebrate the season with the lively Disney Festival of Holidays at Disney California Adventure, plus seasonal overlays on beloved attractions, cherished holiday spectaculars and dazzling wintry décor throughout the resort.
The biggest disappointment of this entire calendar, which otherwise looks pretty good, is that the Christmas season is once again getting shorter. It’s now decreased in duration by over 10 days in the last few years, with another 4 days lost in 2026. Christmas is our favorite time of year at Disneyland, and it’s disappointing that there’s less and less of it.
Guests can play the night away during fan-favorite after-hours events scheduled in 2026. These themed, separately ticketed events include pre-party park mix-in, shorter wait times for select attractions, unlimited select Disney PhotoPass digital photo downloads from the event, and more.
Disneyland After Dark (select nights from January through June): Disneyland will host four themed soirées packed with unique entertainment, rare character encounters and distinctive menus of sweet treats and savory snacks.
- Sweethearts’ Nite (Jan. 22, 25, 27; Feb. 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 17): Couples, friends and families alike can celebrate love with a cavalcade on Main Street, U.S.A., a Royal Ball, encounters with character couples and lively music. Tickets go on sale for Inspire Magic Key holders on Dec. 9, 2025, all Magic Key holders on Dec. 10, 2025 and to the general public on Dec. 11, 2025.
- NEW! 70 Years of Favorites (March 3 & 5, 2026) – This all-new celebration weaves together the best of Disneyland happenings, including nods to favorite musical moments, shows and characters. Remembrance of Disneyland moments past will be all around, as guests take a figurative walk down memory lane with offerings that pay tribute to the park’s history. Tickets go on sale for Inspire Magic Key holders on Dec. 9, 2025, all Magic Key holders on Dec. 10, 2025 and to the general public on Dec. 11, 2025.
Ticket sale details will be announced for the following at a later time:
- Disney Channel Nite (April 12, 14, 16) – This nostalgic celebration comes to life with themed offerings inspired by favorite Disney Channel shows across various eras of programming with energetic music, memorable characters and more. Ticket sale details will be announced at a later time.
- Star Wars Nite (April 28, 30; May 4, 6) – The Star Wars-themed celebration returns with galactic entertainment, out-of-this-world food and beverage, and unique photo ops for fans of both the Light and Dark side. Ticket sale details will be announced at a later time.
- Pride Nite (June 16, 18) – This joyous event celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community, bringing allies and community members together to enjoy colorful decor, specially themed offerings, and celebratory entertainment. Ticket sale details will be announced at a later time.
Oogie Boogie Bash – A Disney Halloween Party (Returning in 2026): Disney California Adventure will throw family-friendly Halloween parties including immersive treat trails, rare character sightings and unique entertainment. For this spirited occasion, guests are invited to dress up in their favorite Halloween costumes. See 2026 Dates for Oogie Boogie Bash Disney Halloween Party for more.
For everything else on the horizon, see What’s New & Next at Disneyland & California Adventure in 2026 & Beyond.
In terms of commentary, I don’t really have much to add that isn’t covered elsewhere. This is more or less the schedule we expected and hoped to see, with no major surprises.
Losing 4 days of the holiday season when Disney should be adding dates doesn’t count as a major surprise, even if it is a mild disappointment. Otherwise, the calendar looks pretty good.
Ultimately, we’re really looking forward to 2026 at Disneyland. We plan on spending a lot of time in the parks, attending every single one of the major celebrations multiple times.
Planning a Southern California vacation? For park admission deals, read Tips for Saving Money on Disneyland Tickets. Learn about on-site and off-site hotels in our Anaheim Hotel Reviews & Rankings. For where to eat, check out our Disneyland Restaurant Reviews. For unique ideas of things that’ll improve your trip, check out What to Pack for Disney. For comprehensive advice, consult our Disneyland Vacation Planning Guide. Finally, for guides beyond Disney, check out our Southern California Itineraries for day trips to Los Angeles, Laguna Beach, and many other SoCal cities!
Your Thoughts
What are you looking forward to at Disneyland or Disney California Adventure in 2026? Excited about the return of Disneyland 70th Anniversary Celebration and the rest of this slate of special events, or were you hoping for something more or different? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Any questions? Hearing your feedback—even when you disagree with us—is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!