Disneyland Resort has revised its plans for the 2026 holiday season.
The annual celebration brings Christmas entertainment, seasonal attraction overlays, limited-time food, merchandise, and decorations to Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure Park, Downtown Disney, and the resort hotels.
Disneyland typically begins its holiday programming during the second half of November, shortly after its Halloween season concludes. The resort had previously announced a November 18 start date for 2026.
Disney has now moved the opening date forward by five days. The holidays will begin across Disneyland Resort on November 13 and continue through January 6, 2027.
The change gives guests five additional days to experience the resort’s holiday offerings. It also leaves fewer than two weeks between the end of Disneyland’s Halloween season and the start of its Christmas celebrations.
Disneyland Confirms Earlier Holiday Start
Disneyland Park will bring back several of its regular seasonal entertainment offerings.
A Christmas Fantasy Parade will return to Main Street, U.S.A., featuring Santa Claus, Disney characters, toy soldiers, and dancing reindeer.
Believe…In Holiday Magic fireworks will also return with festive music and simulated snowfall. Sleeping Beauty Castle will receive its nightly Wintertime Enchantment lighting presentation.
“it’s a small world” Holiday will once again add thousands of lights to the attraction’s exterior.
Inside, scenes will celebrate traditions from Europe, Asia, Mexico, and the South Pacific. The attraction’s soundtrack will incorporate “Jingle Bells” and “Deck the Halls,” alongside seasonal costumes, props, and effects.
Haunted Mansion Holiday will continue its annual Nightmare Before Christmas overlay, which also runs over the Halloween season.
The attraction will feature Jack Skellington, Sally, Oogie Boogie, and a new gingerbread house in the ballroom. Haunted Mansion is scheduled to close temporarily in August while Disney prepares the seasonal version.
Cars Land at Disney California Adventure will also receive its regular holiday changes.
Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree will become Mater’s Jingle Jamboree, while Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters will operate as Luigi’s Joy to the Whirl.
Disney Festival of Holidays will return to Disney California Adventure with food marketplaces, entertainment, and merchandise.
The event will include traditions connected to Christmas, Navidad, Hanukkah, Diwali, Kwanzaa, and Three Kings Day.
Disney ¡Viva Navidad! will also return with musicians, dancers, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and the Three Caballeros.
Holiday Offerings Extend Beyond the Parks
Mickey, Minnie, and other Disney characters will appear in seasonal outfits during the celebration. Santa Claus will also meet guests at locations around the resort.
Holiday decorations will extend across both theme parks, Downtown Disney, and Disneyland Resort’s three hotels.
Downtown Disney will host Chip and Dale’s Ornament Trail, along with seasonal dining and entertainment.
The revised Disneyland date matches the planned start of Walt Disney World’s broader holiday celebrations, which are also scheduled to begin on November 13.
Some Walt Disney World events will begin earlier. Disney Jollywood Nights starts at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on November 7, while Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party begins at Magic Kingdom on November 8.
Disney Enchanted Christmas will begin at Disneyland Paris on November 7.
Tokyo Disney Resort will follow with Disney Christmas on November 11, two days before the Disneyland and Walt Disney World seasons begin.
Hong Kong Disneyland and Shanghai Disney Resort have not yet announced their late-2026 holiday dates.
In 2025, Shanghai Disney Resort began its holiday season on November 7. Hong Kong Disneyland followed on November 14.
Are you visiting any Disney parks this festive season?
