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The EPCOT Candlelight Processional runs three times a night, at 4:45, 6:30 and 8:00 p.m., from November 27 to December 30, 2026, at the America Gardens Theatre. A celebrity narrator reads the Christmas story while a massed choir, an orchestra, herald trumpets and the Voices of Liberty perform. Disney has announced the narrator for every night of the 2026 run.
There is no separate show ticket beyond EPCOT admission, but seats are limited. You can join the free standby line, or book a Candlelight Processional Dining Package, which pairs an EPCOT meal with a guaranteed seat. This guide also covers the easiest ways back to your hotel.
Every event date, time and price here comes from Disney’s own pages, checked on October 26, 2026. Disney says appearances can change without notice.
Quick answer: The Candlelight Processional plays nightly at 4:45, 6:30 and 8:00 p.m. from November 27 to December 30, 2026. Jordan Fisher narrates on the first two nights and Eva Longoria on the last three. Standby seating is free but first come, first served. A dining package costs $43 to $109 per adult before tax and tip, plus your EPCOT ticket. For the easiest night, stay at the Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin or Swan Reserve and walk back from International Gateway after the show.
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On this page
EPCOT Candlelight Processional 2026 at a glance
- Dates: nightly from November 27 to December 30, 2026, during the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays.
- Show times: 4:45 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
- Location: America Gardens Theatre, on World Showcase Lagoon in front of The American Adventure pavilion.
- Cost: no separate show ticket, but you need valid EPCOT admission. A dining package adds a meal and a guaranteed seat.
- EPCOT hours: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day from November 27 to December 29 on Disney’s calendar at the time of writing. Hours for December 30 were not posted yet.
Disney’s blog says the show started at Disneyland in 1958 and came to Walt Disney World in 1971. Disney calls 2026 its 55th year at Walt Disney World and its 32nd year at EPCOT.
Candlelight Processional narrators for 2026
Disney’s festival entertainment page and its October 6, 2026 blog post list the same narrator schedule. Disney marks five narrators as new this year.
| Dates | Narrator | Nights |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 27–28 | Jordan Fisher | 2 |
| Nov 29 – Dec 1 | Gary Sinise | 3 |
| Dec 2–3 | Benjamin Bratt (new) | 2 |
| Dec 4–5 | Whoopi Goldberg | 2 |
| Dec 6–7 | Robin Roberts (new) | 2 |
| Dec 8–9 | Jason Kelce (new) | 2 |
| Dec 10–12 | Neil Patrick Harris | 3 |
| Dec 13–14 | Josh Groban (new) | 2 |
| Dec 15–16 | Lauren Daigle | 2 |
| Dec 17–19 | Ralph Macchio | 3 |
| Dec 20–21 | Henry Winkler | 2 |
| Dec 22–23 | Lacey Chabert (new) | 2 |
| Dec 24–25 | Jodi Benson | 2 |
| Dec 26–27 | Simu Liu | 2 |
| Dec 28–30 | Eva Longoria | 3 |
Disney’s two pages differ slightly on the orchestra: the event page mentions 50 pieces, and the blog post says 51. The blog post also mentions a choir of more than 150 Disney cast members and community singers. Disney last updated that post on October 23, 2026, so if one narrator matters to you, check the entertainment page again before you go.
Show times and standby seating
Guests without a dining package are seated first come, first served, and Disney says seating depends on availability because capacity is limited. Disney’s blog adds that this seating “often fills up fast.” Disney does not publish a recommended time to join the standby line, and its pages do not list a running time for the show.
- 4:45 p.m.: leaves your evening free for dinner or Luminous The Symphony of Us, scheduled at 9:15 p.m. on every date Disney had posted through December 29.
- 6:30 p.m.: a middle option if you want dinner after the show.
- 8:00 p.m.: the last show. EPCOT is scheduled to close at 9 p.m. on every date posted through December 29, so plan your ride back first.
- Monday nights: Disney’s calendar lists Extended Evening Hours at EPCOT from 9 to 11 p.m. on November 30 and December 7, 14, 21 and 28. They are for guests of Disney Deluxe and Deluxe Villa resorts and a few other hotels, including the Swan, Dolphin and Swan Reserve.
Candlelight Processional Dining Packages
A Candlelight Processional Dining Package is the only way to guarantee a seat. Disney’s package page says it includes one guaranteed seat per person for a show on the same day as your meal. At most restaurants you also get an entrée and dessert, or a full buffet, plus one drink (alcoholic only for guests 21 and older). At Spice Road Table you get two small plates, a shared tagine, a shared dessert platter and a drink.
After your meal, the restaurant gives you a seating badge with your date and show time. Package guests use a separate queue. Their seating is guaranteed, but seats are still filled first come, first served, so Disney’s blog suggests arriving early for the best view within the reserved section.
Disney’s package page lists these prices per person, before tax and gratuity, at the time of writing:
| Restaurant | Pavilion | Adult (10+) | Child (3–9) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akershus Royal Banquet Hall (lunch or dinner only) | Norway | $87 | $59 |
| Biergarten Restaurant | Germany | $75 | $40 |
| Chefs de France | France | $89 | $37 |
| Coral Reef Restaurant | The Seas | $82 | $34 |
| Garden Grill Restaurant (breakfast) | The Land | $73 | $46 |
| Garden Grill Restaurant (lunch or dinner) | The Land | $86 | $55 |
| La Crêperie de Paris | France | $59 | $31 |
| La Hacienda de San Angel | Mexico | $86 | $37 |
| Le Cellier Steakhouse | Canada | $109 | $44 |
| Nine Dragons Restaurant | China | $70 | $30 |
| Regal Eagle Smokehouse (same-day only) | The American Adventure | $43 | $26 |
| Rose & Crown Dining Room | United Kingdom | $68 | $31 |
| Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya | Japan | $85 | $40 |
| Spice Road Table | Morocco | $63 | $26 |
| Teppan Edo | Japan | $89 | $40 |
| Tutto Italia Ristorante | Italy | $85 | $36 |
| Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria | Italy | $71 | $33 |
The price does not include your EPCOT ticket, and Disney says a theme park reservation may also be required. Reservations need a credit card guarantee, and packages may not be offered on peak dates. Disney also lists Dining Plan credits for most packages. However, Disney sells the Dining Plan only with select Walt Disney Travel Company packages that include a Disney Resort hotel stay, so it does not apply to the non-Disney hotels below.
When to book
Disney opened package bookings on October 14, 2026, and calls advance reservations highly recommended. Disney’s resort benefits page says dining reservations open 60 days ahead. Guests with a Disney Resort hotel reservation can book their whole stay, up to 10 nights, starting 60 days before arrival. The Swan and Dolphin’s own benefits page does not list this longer window.
If you decide on the day, Disney says you may be able to buy a same-day package at Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue. You eat there without a reservation and get a guaranteed seat at a show later that day. Check availability at the restaurant.
More to see at the Festival of the Holidays
Disney’s festival pages list more to see on the same night:
- Holiday Storytellers: holiday traditions around World Showcase, from Las Posadas with Mariachi Cobre in Mexico to Father Christmas in the United Kingdom, plus a Hanukkah storyteller between Morocco and France.
- JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season: gospel, R&B and holiday songs for Christmas and Kwanzaa, daily on the CommuniCore Plaza Stage.
- Holiday Kitchens and the Holiday Cookie Stroll: seasonal food booths, paid separately. Disney had not posted the 2026 menus when we checked.
Times are in the My Disney Experience app. For the full festival calendar, read our EPCOT festivals guide. For other holiday events, see Christmas in Orlando and our guide to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom.
How to get to the America Gardens Theatre
EPCOT has two entrances, and the theater is closer to the back one. By our walking-route check, the theater is about 0.35 mile, or 8 minutes, from International Gateway, the entrance between the France and United Kingdom pavilions. From Spaceship Earth, near the main entrance, it is about 0.75 mile, or 16 minutes.
| How you arrive | Entrance | Return after the last show |
|---|---|---|
| Walkway or FriendShip boat (Swan, Dolphin, Swan Reserve, BoardWalk, Beach Club, Yacht Club) | International Gateway | Walkway, or boat (hours vary with weather) |
| Disney Skyliner (Riviera, Caribbean Beach, Pop Century, Art of Animation) | International Gateway | Until 90 minutes after EPCOT closes |
| Disney resort bus | Main entrance | Until one hour after closing |
| EPCOT Monorail from the Transportation and Ticket Center | Main entrance | Until 2 hours after EPCOT closes |
| Car | Main entrance lot | Standard parking $35 a day |
| Hotel shuttle | Main entrance bus area | Depends on the hotel |
On Extended Evening Hours nights, Disney says the Skyliner closes one hour after the park closes, and during that time only the Riviera route runs from International Gateway. Disney’s parking fee includes tax and covers all four parks for the day.
Where to stay for the Candlelight Processional
Many hotel shuttles make only a few EPCOT trips a day, which is a problem after the 8:00 p.m. show. We chose these five hotels for the trip home: three are within walking distance of International Gateway, and two run shuttles with EPCOT pickups after 9 p.m. All five are on Disney’s Early Theme Park Entry list. For more options, see our hotels near EPCOT with shuttle. Fees are plus tax unless stated otherwise. Rates vary by season, availability and how far ahead you book.
| Hotel | To the theater | Late ride back | Daily fee | Self-parking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walt Disney World Swan | Walk about 1.05 mi | Walk or boat | $50 package | $40 |
| Walt Disney World Dolphin | Walk about 1.05 mi | Walk or boat | $50 package | $40 |
| Walt Disney World Swan Reserve | Walk about 1.25 mi | Walk or boat | $50 package (confirm) | $40 |
| Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando | Free shuttle | 10:15 p.m. (sample week) | No resort fee | $28 or $25 + tax |
| Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek | Shuttle (in fee) | 10:05 p.m. (sample week) | $50 charge | $40 |
Shuttle times come from the October 26 to November 1, 2026 timetables. The hotels had not posted December schedules when we checked.
1. Walt Disney World Swan
The Marriott-run Swan at 1200 Epcot Resorts Boulevard is a walk from the show. By our route check, International Gateway is about 0.7 mile, or 15 minutes on foot, from the hotel’s lakeside. The theater is about 1.05 miles, or roughly 23 minutes. The resort says water taxis run about every 20 to 25 minutes, starting one hour before the parks open. Disney says boat hours vary with water and weather conditions.
Swan guests get Early Theme Park Entry, Extended Evening Hours and free standard parking at Disney’s theme parks. The mandatory resort service package costs $50 a day and self-parking $40 a day, both plus tax. The resort says Santa, Ms. Claus and Kandy Kane visit on several weekends in November and December. See our Walt Disney World Swan review.
2. Walt Disney World Dolphin
The Dolphin at 1500 Epcot Resorts Boulevard sits across the causeway from the Swan and shares its boat dock. By our route check, International Gateway is about 0.7 mile, or 15 minutes on foot, and the theater about 1.05 miles. You get the same Disney benefits, $50 package and $40 self-parking, plus tax. Per the resort’s FAQ, its buses to the other parks run until 45 minutes after closing. Our Walt Disney World Dolphin review covers the rooms and restaurants.
Check your dates for Walt Disney World Dolphin on Booking.com
3. Walt Disney World Swan Reserve
The Swan Reserve at 1255 Epcot Resorts Boulevard is the newest of the three, with 349 rooms and suites. It stands across the road from the Swan, so the walk is longer: about 0.9 mile to International Gateway and 1.25 miles to the theater by our route check. Guests use the same water taxi dock, and Disney lists the hotel for Early Theme Park Entry and Extended Evening Hours. Self-parking costs $40 a day plus tax. The resort’s FAQ lists the $50 package without naming the Swan Reserve separately, so confirm it on your booking. See our Walt Disney World Swan Reserve review.
4. Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando – Disney Springs Area
Drury Plaza at 2000 Hotel Plaza Boulevard charges no resort fee and runs free first-come, first-served shuttles to all four Disney parks. Its October 26 to November 1 timetable lists 16 departures to EPCOT, from 7:10 a.m. to 7:40 p.m., and 13 rides back from Lane 36, the last three at 9:15, 9:55 and 10:15 p.m. The hotel posts a new sheet each week and asks you to arrive about 10 minutes early.
Free hot breakfast runs from 6 to 10 a.m. and the 5:30 Kickback from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Self-parking is $28 per night on the hotel-information page but $25 plus tax in the FAQ. EPCOT’s main parking lot is about 5.5 miles away on public roads. Read our Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando review.
Compare rates for Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando – Disney Springs Area
5. Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek
Signia’s motorcoach timetable is posted on the Bonnet Creek shuttle website the hotel links to. From October 26 to November 1, 2026, it listed eight EPCOT departures, at 9:30, 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. and 1:30, 3:30, 6:00, 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. The last three pickups at EPCOT space 25 were at 8:05, 9:05 and 10:05 p.m. The hotel says the shuttle runs during regularly scheduled park hours only.
The $50 daily resort charge, plus tax, covers the shuttle, Wi-Fi, the fitness center, lazy river tubes and dinner for kids 12 and under at La Luce or an assigned restaurant. Self-parking costs $40 and valet $60 a day, plus tax. EPCOT’s main lot is about 5 miles away on public roads. See our Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek review.
See prices and availability at Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek
Disney-owned resorts near EPCOT
Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, BoardWalk Villas, Beach Club Resort, Beach Club Villas and Yacht Club Resort are a short walk or boat ride from International Gateway, and the Riviera, Caribbean Beach, Pop Century and Art of Animation resorts connect to it by Disney Skyliner. You book them through Disney, not Booking.com. Our guide to hotels near EPCOT compares them with other options.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a separate ticket for the Candlelight Processional?
No. Disney sells no separate show ticket, but you need valid EPCOT admission, and a theme park reservation may be required for some tickets. Without a package, you join the standby line and are seated while space lasts. A dining package adds a meal and a guaranteed seat, but it does not include park admission.
What time is the Candlelight Processional at EPCOT?
Disney lists three shows every night from November 27 to December 30, 2026: 4:45 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. All three take place at the America Gardens Theatre in World Showcase. EPCOT is scheduled to close at 9 p.m. on every date posted through December 29, so plan your ride back before you choose the 8:00 p.m. show.
Who are the Candlelight Processional narrators in 2026?
Disney’s 2026 lineup starts with Jordan Fisher on November 27 and 28 and ends with Eva Longoria from December 28 to 30. In between are Gary Sinise, Benjamin Bratt, Whoopi Goldberg, Robin Roberts, Jason Kelce, Neil Patrick Harris, Josh Groban, Lauren Daigle, Ralph Macchio, Henry Winkler, Lacey Chabert, Jodi Benson and Simu Liu. Disney says appearances can change without notice.
How much is the Candlelight Processional dining package?
Disney’s package page lists adult prices from $43 at Regal Eagle Smokehouse (same-day only) to $109 at Le Cellier Steakhouse. Child prices for ages 3 to 9 range from $26 to $59. Prices are per person and exclude tax and gratuity. Most packages include an entrée and dessert or a buffet, one drink and one guaranteed seat for a show the same day.
Can you see the Candlelight Processional without a dining package?
Yes. Guests without a package are seated first come, first served, and Disney says capacity is limited. Its blog says this seating often fills up fast, but Disney gives no recommended arrival time. If you decide late, Disney says Regal Eagle Smokehouse may sell same-day packages with a guaranteed seat for a show later that day.
Which hotels can you walk from to the Candlelight Processional?
The Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin and Swan Reserve are the non-Disney hotels within walking distance of International Gateway. By our route check, the theater is about 1 to 1.25 miles from them. Disney’s BoardWalk, Beach Club and Yacht Club resorts are also close, but you book them through Disney. FriendShip boats also run to EPCOT from docks at the Swan and Dolphin, the Yacht and Beach Club, and the BoardWalk.
Bottom line
The 2026 Candlelight Processional runs nightly from November 27 to December 30, with three shows and a different narrator every two or three nights. Book a dining package if you need a guaranteed seat, or join the standby line early if you do not. The Swan, Dolphin and Swan Reserve make the 8:00 p.m. show easy, because you can walk back after the park closes. Check your dates for the Walt Disney World Swan on Booking.com.
Sources checked in October 2026: Disney: Festival of the Holidays entertainment, Disney: Candlelight Processional Dining Packages, Disney Parks Blog: 2026 Candlelight narrators, Disney: Skyliner, Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin: Transportation FAQ