HUGE Changes Are Coming to EPCOT Tomorrow

It’s no secret that 2026 is the year of change in Disney World, including new lands, new rides, updated hotel lobbies, and more. However, one big seasonal change is happening in EPCOT tomorrow.

If you visit EPCOT tomorrow, you’ll be greeted with the first day of the EPCOT Festival of the ARTS, which will transform EPCOT into an artsy space that celebrates the arts.

The EPCOT Festival of the Arts runs from tomorrow, January 16th through February 23rd. The festival showcases the arts, including the performing arts, painting, drawing, chalk art, culinary arts, and more. So here’s what you can expect if you visit EPCOT tomorrow.

Food and Drinks

One of the biggest draws of EPCOT festivals is the food booths, and the EPCOT Festival of the Arts food booths don’t disappoint. You’ll be able to eat some artistic dishes across the park at food booths set up just for the festival, while some of EPCOT’s other restaurants will have festival-themed dishes.

You’ll also be able to participate in the Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine, which tasks you with purchasing five of eight menu items. Every time you purchase an item on the list found in your festival passport, you’ll get a stamp in that passport. When you have all five stamps, you can collect a prize.

Entertainment

EPCOT is going to be looking VERY different thanks to the EPCOT Festival of the Arts, especially when it comes to entertainment. You’ll find art marketplaces with loads of Disney-themed art all over the park, so you can bring some of that amazing art home with you. You’ll also be able to meet many of the artists in person.

You’ll also get to see what Disney calls “Visual Art in Performance,” which brings artists to a stage to create art right there in front of your very eyes. Then there are the Chalk Galleries. You’ll see EPCOT’s walkways covered in fun chalk art that changes throughout the festival. You might even get a chance to see a chalk artist working on a piece.

There’s also a spot for kids to draw their own chalk art.

Finally, you can enjoy the Disney On Broadway concert series, which brings some of Broadway’s biggest stars to EPCOT to perform songs from Disney Broadway musicals.

Photo Ops

You’ll also want to keep an eye out for artsy photo ops. You can pose inside your favorite works of art for fun photos.

You’ll find these photos ops spread throughout World Showcase.

Expression Section

You will also find a wall in EPCOT dedicated to a paint-by-numbers piece of art that YOU can help paint.

At the end of your painting experience, you’ll even get a card showing what the full mural will look like.

Animation Academy

Want to learn how to draw with the best? Animation Academy will help you hone your drawing skills with Disney animators several times a day.

Communicore Hall

Communicore Hall will also transform into a festival space that will feature a Once Upon A Stage: The Magic of Disney on Broadway display.

You’ll get to see authentic Broadway props and costumes and learn more about Disney’s Broadway productions.

Spaceship Earth

Spaceship Earth will also look a lot different at night. The nighttime lighting show on the big sphere will become themed to the festival.

You’ll want to make sure you make time to see this special lighting show because it only happens during the festival.

Souvenirs

EPCOT’s shops, especially Creations Shop, will showcase a variety of festival-themed merchandise, so be sure to pick up a souvenir before you leave. One souvenir you’ll want to be sure to get your hands on is the Figment Popcorn Bucket.

You’ll be able to grab the popcorn bucket via Mobile Order by searching for “EPCOT Souvenir Release.” Then show up and use Mobile Order as you would for food to pick it up!

Our Best Tips

If you’re attending the festival tomorrow, you’ll want to pack your patience. The first day of festivals can be very busy, so you’ll want to get there early and be ready to go when the festival starts.

If you plan on eating your way around the festival, you might also want to bring a small food tray and reusable utensils. This will make navigating all the food booths (and eating) a lot easier.

Be sure to pick up a festival passport (they’re available throughout EPCOT) so you don’t miss out on anything. The passport will be your guide to all things EPCOT Festival of the Arts.

The most important thing, though, is to have fun. This could be one of our favorite EPCOT festivals of the year, and there’s so much to see, do, and eat, so enjoy!

We’ll be at the festival tomorrow, too, covering EVERYTHING, so check back with AllEars for all the big festival news, reviews, and details.