Universal Orlando Confirms Its 2026 Holiday Lineup, Including Epic Universe

What changed for the 2026 holiday season

Universal has now published its full Holidays at Universal Orlando event window and a dedicated first-year lineup for Universal Epic Universe. The celebration begins November 14, 2026, and runs through January 3, 2027, across the resort.

The core holiday festivities are included with valid admission rather than sold as a separate event ticket. Annual Passholders still need to check their pass calendar because Universal says blockout dates may apply.

Epic Universe gets four holiday celebrations

• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic: Wizarding Paris will be decorated for Christmas.
• SUPER NINTENDO WORLD: Universal promises colorful décor, character appearances and themed food. It has not published the menu or appearance schedule.
• How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk: the park will hold its inaugural Snoggletog with festive décor, seasonal food and drinks, and new merchandise.
• Celestial Park: the gardens will feature illuminated, tree-lined paths and a festive Cosmos Fountain Show.

Universal also says Epic Universe will hold a New Year's Eve celebration, but the official page currently tells guests to check back for details. It does not name hours, entertainment, capacity rules or any separate charge.

The established favorites return at the other parks

Universal's lineup also includes Grinchmas and the Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular at Islands of Adventure, Universal's Holiday Parade featuring Macy's at Universal Studios Florida, and Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter across three parks. At Hogsmeade, Universal specifically confirms the return of The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle.

October 28 update: Earl the Squirrel's new 30.4-foot balloon will join Universal's Holiday Parade featuring Macy's starting in early December, after its November 26 debut in New York. Universal has not named the balloon's first Orlando parade date, so November visitors should not assume it will appear. See Fruglar's Earl the Squirrel balloon guide for the new meet-and-greet, Tribute Store and food details.

Those offerings share the November 14-January 3 resort-wide window, but Universal has not yet published a complete day-by-day show calendar. Check the official app close to the visit rather than assuming every show runs at the same time every day.

What the separate Universal Holiday Tour includes

The Universal Holiday Tour runs on select dates from November 14, 2026, through January 2, 2027. Universal describes it as an approximately 2.5-hour daytime tour with meet-and-greets for the Grinch, Max and Santa, reserved seating for the Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular, and an optional reserved viewing area for the Holiday Parade.

This is a shared tour with multiple parties and no more than 12 guests per tour. Reservations are required, and theme park admission is not included in the tour price. Universal says pricing varies by date and availability; its public holiday page does not list one fixed price.

How to plan without overpaying

If the main goal is the included décor, shows and parade, start with the park ticket that fits the trip instead of assuming a holiday add-on is necessary. The paid tour is most useful when the reserved Grinchmas seating, character access and optional parade viewing justify the extra cost for the group.

Epic Universe's holiday offerings are inside Epic Universe, so a two-park ticket covering only Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure will not provide access. Use the free Universal Hackulator to compare a three-park ticket, Annual Pass and hotel strategy before booking around the holiday lineup.

For CityWalk dates that sit alongside the park celebration—including Green & Red Coconut Club, Earl the Squirrel and the announced New Year's Eve event—see Fruglar's separate 2026 CityWalk holiday calendar.