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Pride Is Back: Disney Parks to Officially Celebrate LGBTQIA+ Community in 2026

For the fourth consecutive year, Disneyland Resort is bringing back its annual Disneyland After Dark: Pride Nite, a family-friendly celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community. The event, which made history in 2023 as Disneyland Resort’s first official LGBTQIA+ celebration, will return in 2026 alongside four other themed after-hours events that promise an exciting mix of character meet-and-greets, exclusive entertainment, and themed food and beverages.

2026 Disneyland After Dark Event Line-Up

A vibrant parade at night features people holding a "Disney Pride Nite" banner. Streamers fill the air, while colorful lights illuminate the surroundings. Spectators line the street, capturing the joyous and festive atmosphere.
Credit: Disney

On November 20, 2025, Disneyland Resort shared the official line-up of Disneyland After Dark events scheduled for 2026. These special, ticketed events will take place at Disneyland Park on select nights from January to June 2026. As part of the event series, guests can enjoy the original Southern California Disney park from 9:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m., with early access granted to ticketholders from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. This gives guests the opportunity to enjoy popular attractions and exclusive offerings before the event officially begins.

2026 @Disneyland After Dark Dates and Details Revealed! 🎉🌙 Disneyland After Dark is back, bringing the magic after sunset with five unforgettable themed events running select nights January through June 2026. http://di.sn/601679FRg

Both Sweethearts’ Nite and 70 Years of Favorites Inspire Key pre-sale tickets available Dec. 9, 2025; all Magic Key pre-sale tickets available Dec. 10, 2025; and general public tickets on sale starting Dec. 11, 2025. Stay tuned to the Disney Parks Blog for more details coming in 2026 🎟️

These after-hours events feature countless exclusive offerings, including character meet-and-greets, photo opportunities, themed entertainment, shorter attraction lines, exclusive food and beverages (available for purchase), complimentary digital photo downloads, and more. The 2026 Disneyland After Dark event series will include both returning favorites and one exciting new event.

Ticket Sales Dates

Three people enjoying Disneyland After Dark: Star Wars Nite.
Credit: Disney

Pre-sale tickets for two of the five events, Disneyland After Dark: Sweethearts’ Nite and 70 Years of Favorites, will go on sale for Inspire Key holders on December 9, 2025, and all other Magic Key Pass holders on December 10. General public sales start on December 11. Tickets for the other three events—Pride Nite, Disney Channel Nite, and Star Wars Nite—will go on sale early in 2026.

Disneyland After Dark: Sweethearts’ Nite

Disneyland After Dark: Sweethearts’ Nite returns on select nights in January and February 2026, bringing an unforgettable romantic atmosphere to Disneyland Park. The event will feature several new experiences, including the “Celebrate Love Cavalcade”, “Once Upon a Dream – A Musical Journey Through the Disney Songbook” show, and the Disney Duets festive karaoke experience.

cinderella and prince charming, disneyland sweethearts nite
Credit: Disney

Guests can also enjoy themed food and beverages, such as the Triple Berry Slushy with a Mickey-shaped glow cube at Galactic Grill, and popular returning menu items like the Surf ‘n’ Turf Loaded Fries at Red Rose Tavern and the Mickey-shaped Strawberry Cream Puff at Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante.

Ticket Sales Dates

  • Magic Key Holders: December 9–10, 2025

  • General Public: December 11, 2025

Important Note

Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty Castle dazzles at night during the sold-out Sweethearts Nite, bathed in pink and purple heart-shaped lights against a dark sky. The scene is festive, with a vibrant play of colors enhancing the iconic structure.
Credit: Disney

Tickets for Disneyland After Dark: Sweethearts’ Nite tend to sell out quickly, so guests interested in attending should act fast.

70 Years of Favorites

Disneyland After Dark: 70 Years of Favorites is an all-new after-hours event taking place on March 3 and 5, 2026. This event will celebrate Disneyland Resort’s 70-year-long history and legacy with nostalgic, decade-themed entertainment throughout the park. Guests can participate in interactive entertainment offerings, like line dancing at The Golden Horseshoe and the Videopolis Dance Party at Tomorrowland Terrace.

Logo for Disneyland After Dark: 70 Years of Favorites
Credit: Disney Parks Blog

Disneyland President Thomas Mazloum teased several character appearances for the event, including Mother and Father from The Carousel of Progress, the dancing monkeys from Fantasmic!, Flik and Atta from A Bug’s Life (1998), friends from “The Disney Afternoon,” and Merlin from The Sword in the Stone (1963).

Disneyland President Thomas Mazloum teases the characters coming to Disneyland After Dark: 70 Years of Favorites! 👀

• Merlin
• Fantasmic! monkeys
• Mother and father
• Disney Afternoon friends
• Flik

Exclusive food and beverages will be available at various locations, including the mushroom Philly sandwich (plant-based) and maple bacon cinnamon roll at Jolly Holiday Bakery Café, birria mac and cheese in a bread bowl at Refreshment Corner, and blackened New York steak and prawns at River Belle Terrace (reservations required).

Ticket Sales Dates

  • Magic Key Holders: December 9–10, 2025

  • General Public: December 11, 2025

Disney Channel Nite and Star Wars Nite

Sleeping Beauty Castle during Disneyland After Dark: Disney Channel Nite.
Credit: Disney Parks Blog

Disneyland After Dark: Disney Channel Nite returns on April 12, 14, and 16, 2026. The event will be a celebration of the iconic shows from the 1990s and 2000s, featuring character meet-and-greets, exclusive food and beverages, and themed entertainment.

Disneyland After Dark: Star Wars Nite will take place on April 28, 30, and May 4 and 6, 2026, offering a thrilling evening filled with Lucasfilm-themed photo opportunities, food and drinks, and character encounters from a Galaxy Far, Far Away.

Two people dressed as Star Wars characters, one as Darth Maul with a red double-bladed lightsaber, and the other as Ahsoka Tano with dual green lightsabers, pose in action stances at Star Wars Nite, with attendees visible in the background.
Credit: Disney

Ticket sales for Disney Channel Nite and Star Wars Nite will begin early in 2026, with more details to come.

Pride Nite Returns to Disneyland Resort

Disneyland After Dark: Pride Nite will return to Disneyland Resort on June 16 and 18, 2026. This family-friendly event celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community and its allies with a festive evening full of rainbow-themed food and beverages, exciting entertainment, and unforgettable experiences.

disneyland after dark pride nite mickey mouse minnie mouse goofy donald
Credit: Disney

More details on tickets, special merchandise collections, and event activities will be released in early 2026. Follow Disney Dining for updates on all of the Disneyland After Dark events coming next year!

What are your favorite Disneyland After Dark memories? Share them with Disney Dining in the comments!

Jess Colopy

Jess Colopy is a Disney College Program alum and kid-at-heart. When she’s not furiously typing in a coffee shop, you can find her on the hunt for the newest Stitch pin.

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