Disney recently announced updates regarding the 2026 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts, which will require some adjustments for guests who have attended in previous years. A key component of the festival experience will be relocated, and those familiar with changes at Disney know that this can lead to confusion as visitors navigate the new layout.
The Visual Art in Performance experience, where guests can watch talented artists create artwork in real time using various mediums and techniques, is moving from its longtime location at World Showcase Plaza to the CommuniCore Hall Plaza. For those who have planned their festival tours around finding this experience near the World Showcase entrance, this significant change means they will need to update their mental maps of the festival layout.
Location changes at EPCOT festivals often catch regular visitors off guard. Every spring during the International Flower & Garden Festival, Disney frequently relocates topiaries that have been in the same spots for years. Longtime guests expect to find their favorite displays in familiar locations but are surprised to discover that everything has been rearranged. This disruption can create momentary disorientation, as visitors must recalibrate their expectations to align with the new layout.
The upcoming Festival of the Arts will present a shift for regular visitors who are accustomed to finding Visual Art in Performance in familiar spots. This established knowledge of location will soon be outdated, as new pathways and touring patterns will center around CommuniCore Hall Plaza instead of the World Showcase Plaza.
The 2026 Festival of the Arts is scheduled to run from January 16 to February 23, providing Disney with several weeks to demonstrate how this relocation enhances the guest experience.
Why CommuniCore Hall Keeps Getting More Important
This relocation is another indication that CommuniCore Hall is becoming the main hub for festivals at EPCOT. Disney is intentionally positioning this space as the central location for seasonal celebrations, utilizing its versatility to meet the various needs of different festivals throughout the year, rather than assigning it a fixed purpose.
When CommuniCore Hall first opened to guests, the reception was, at best, lukewarm. The space felt generic and uninspired, lacking the distinctive theming and visual appeal that guests expect from Disney environments.
It resembled an event venue you might find at a convention center, with neutral tones and blank surfaces that could easily accommodate both corporate meetings and theme park experiences. People questioned why Disney had invested years in transforming EPCOT only to deliver what seemed like a glorified multipurpose room.
Disney’s CommuniCore Hall, initially viewed as bland, is a thoughtfully designed space that transforms dramatically for various festivals. Its adaptable nature allows it to match seasonal themes, showcasing different personalities based on how Disney outfits it for specific celebrations.
What Festival of the Arts Could Do With This Space
The Festival of the Arts offers a unique opportunity for CommuniCore Hall to demonstrate its value. This festival is EPCOT’s most visually oriented event, dedicated to celebrating artistic expression across various disciplines. If any festival has the potential to transform CommuniCore Hall Plaza into something truly spectacular, it’s this one, which is specifically designed to showcase creativity, color, and visual impact.
Disney has announced that the 2026 festival will showcase over 200 new pieces of artwork, including live art created in front of guests. This significant increase in content suggests that the festival is expanding rather than just maintaining its current scope.
By relocating Visual Art in Performance to CommuniCore Hall Plaza, there may be more space for artists to work, improved infrastructure to support their creative processes, and opportunities to create more immersive environments around the live art creation experience.
The key question is execution. Will Disney harness this relocation to enhance Visual Art in Performance beyond what was possible at World Showcase Plaza? CommuniCore Hall Plaza should be vibrant and energetic, reflecting the bold colors and creativity that the Festival of the Arts demands. This festival presents an ideal opportunity for Disney to showcase the potential of CommuniCore Hall when properly utilized, highlighting its visual impact and artistic expression.
The Broader Festival Experience
Visual Art in Performance is just one part of a larger festival that has gained a dedicated following since its debut. The Festival of the Arts stands out from EPCOT’s other seasonal celebrations by emphasizing a variety of artistic disciplines, rather than focusing on a single theme, such as food or flowers.
The culinary offerings at the Festival of the Arts’ outdoor kitchens treat food as art, creating dishes designed for both visual impact and taste. Chefs compose plates with attention to color, texture, and presentation, much like visual artists apply these elements to canvases. Guests often photograph their food extensively before eating it, which serves as free marketing when shared across social media.
The Disney on Broadway Concert Series features performers from real Disney theatrical productions, showcasing multiple shows daily at the America Gardens Theatre. These artists are of Broadway caliber, having performed in actual Broadway shows, delivering a level of quality that theater fans know and appreciate. For guests who cannot easily travel to New York or afford Broadway ticket prices, these concerts offer a chance to experience genuine Broadway talent in a theme park setting.
The festival showcases a variety of artwork, including painting, sculpture, photography, and mixed media, featuring everything from traditional Disney portraits to abstract themes. Figment serves as the unofficial mascot, appearing in merchandise and food, allowing fans to celebrate their favorite EPCOT character more than ever.
Adjusting to the New Normal
Guests planning to attend the 2026 Festival of the Arts should update their expectations and touring strategies to accommodate Visual Art in Performance’s new location. Don’t head to World Showcase Plaza assuming you’ll find it there. Build your festival day around visiting CommuniCore Hall Plaza to experience live art creation in its new home.
CommuniCore Hall is clearly becoming EPCOT’s festival center, whether guests are ready for that reality or not. How successfully Disney utilizes that space will define these seasonal celebrations moving forward, and Festival of the Arts represents a critical test of whether the venue can live up to its potential.
