The EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays is returning in 2025, and with it comes one of Walt Disney World’s most cherished traditions—the Candlelight Processional. Guests can once again experience the moving retelling of the Christmas story with a full orchestra, mass choir, and an impressive lineup of celebrity narrators on stage at America Gardens Theatre.
This year, the list of narrators brings together both familiar faces and exciting newcomers. Ashley Eckstein, Jordan Fisher, Ralph Macchio, Gary Sinise, Luis Fonsi, and Marlee Matlin will return to continue their tradition with the show. Meanwhile, audiences can also look forward to first-time appearances from Constance Wu, Jennifer Garner, Leslie Uggams, Henry Winkler, Lauren Daigle, Joel David Smallbone, Brie Larson, and Sheryl Lee Ralph. Brendan Fraser is also joining the celebration, and his name is expected to draw special attention.
Performances are scheduled nightly at 5:00 p.m., 6:45 p.m., and 8:15 p.m. EST, offering multiple opportunities to enjoy the Candlelight Processional throughout the holiday season. For those wishing to secure a seat, Disney has confirmed the return of the popular Candlelight Processional Dining Packages. Guests can pair a meal at select EPCOT restaurants with reserved seating for a performance, with reservations opening October 14.
Although the lineup features many exciting stars, one long-standing favorite will not be present in 2025. Neil Patrick Harris, a narrator for the event on 15 occasions—including 2006-2008, 2011-2019, and 2022-2024—will not be returning this year. The actor, known for How I Met Your Mother, will instead be performing on Broadway in ART by Yasmina Reza, directed by Scott Ellis and translated by Christopher Hampton. The production, co-starring Bobby Cannavale and James Corden, runs at the Music Box Theatre through December 21, 2025.
Harris has long been a popular narrator, even making headlines in 2022 when he joked that “EPCOT — an acronym. And I’m pretty sure the C doesn’t stand for ‘Chapek,’” referencing then-CEO Bob Chapek. That same visit, he and his husband David Burtka, along with their children, enjoyed time in the parks with Mariska Hargitay and her family. Harris later shared his gratitude for Disney’s role in creating lasting holiday memories.
During that trip, Disney honored Harris with a recognition at EPCOT. At the time, leadership at The Walt Disney Company was also shifting, as Bob Chapek had recently stepped down and Bob Iger had returned as CEO.
As the Candlelight Processional returns this holiday season, guests will once again be part of a tradition that remains a cornerstone of EPCOT’s winter festivities.
