Disney is making a decisive move with EPCOT’s culinary identity in 2026. The EPCOT International Festival of the Arts is debuting 59 new food items, a scale of change that signals far more than a routine festival refresh. Instead, Disney appears to be repositioning the festival as a centerpiece of EPCOT’s dining strategy, with new dishes spread across nearly every area of the park.
Rather than focusing changes in one or two locations, Disney has introduced new menu items throughout World Celebration, World Discovery, World Nature, and the World Showcase. The result is a festival experience that feels intentionally redesigned, encouraging guests to explore beyond familiar booths.
New Offerings Anchor World Celebration
In World Celebration, Opening Bites sets the tone with elevated options like the Soft Shell Crab Slider served with green papaya slaw and mango ketchup. On the sweeter side, the Enchanted Rose, a dark chocolate mousse dessert, reflects the festival’s artistic focus.
Nearby, The Deconstructed Dish continues its concept-driven approach with updated plates such as the Deconstructed BLT, featuring pork belly, a soft-poached egg, onion bread pudding, and tomato jam. A new Deconstructed Key Lime Pie, combining key lime curd, toasted meringue, and waffle cone elements, expands the booth’s dessert offerings.
Figment’s Inspiration Station Adds Visual Flair
Figment’s Inspiration Station at The Odyssey remains one of the festival’s most visually expressive locations. New menu additions include Popcorn, Popcorn Chicken and Waffles, blending rainbow popcorn, popcorn chicken, mini mozzarella, and maple syrup into a single dish.
Desserts continue to dominate the menu here, with the debut of the Figment Fantasy Cake, a sponge cake filled with strawberry whipped cream and topped with white chocolate details, alongside the Color Scheme Cake, a rainbow-colored dessert finished with freeze-dried candy.
World Showcase Sees the Largest Expansion
World Showcase accounts for a significant portion of the 59 new food items. Mexico introduces the Chile Relleno Taco, filled with seared beef tenderloin and poblano pepper, and the Tostada de Cangrejo, topped with guacamole, lump crab, mango, and crispy onions. A Passion Fruit Paleta filled with sweetened condensed milk and finished with chili-lime seasoning adds a dessert option.
China debuts multiple new dishes, including General Tso’s Chicken Shumai, a Char Siu Pork Bun, and a classic Egg Tart. Germany offers hearty additions such as Red Wine-braised Beef Short Rib, while Italy adds Polenta Pasticciata layered with bolognese and cheeses, along with a new dessert, Raspberry Spuma.
Larger Plates at The American Adventure
At The American Adventure, Disney introduces some of the festival’s most substantial offerings. New items include the Steakhouse Lobster Caesar Salad, the Peppercorn-crusted Striploin served with potatoes au gratin and asparagus, and a Dark Chocolate Torte topped with whipped cream and raspberries.
These dishes reinforce EPCOT’s growing reputation as the park where festival food can rival table-service dining.
A Strategic Shift for EPCOT
Introducing 59 new food items in one festival represents a clear strategic choice. EPCOT continues to lean into its role as Disney World’s food-forward park, and this festival overhaul reinforces that direction.
For guests, the 2026 Festival of the Arts will feel notably different. Familiar booths now feature largely new menus, creating an experience built around discovery rather than repetition. It is a shift that may set new expectations for EPCOT’s future festivals.
