Disney's Fall 2026 Is Going to Be EPIC: Everything Announced for Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party & Food and Wine Festival
Y'all, Disney just made my whole week. In the span of a couple of days, we got TWO major fall event announcements — and as someone who genuinely plans her life around Disney's fall season, I am so here for it. We have official dates and sneak peeks for Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 2026 AND the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival 2026. Whether you're a Halloween-night person, a foodie who circles the globe through World Showcase, or (the smartest move) both — this post has everything you need.
Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 2026
If you've never been to Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, I need you to put it at the top of your Disney bucket list right now. And if you have been — you already know why this announcement has me doing a happy dance.
MNSSHP is a separately ticketed evening event held at Magic Kingdom on select nights each fall. The park transforms after dark, crowds thin out, and pure Halloween magic takes over. The Headless Horseman riding down Main Street at dusk is one of those Disney moments that stops you in your tracks every single time. There is truly nothing else like it.
The Official 2026 Dates
This year's parties start on August 7th — the earliest kickoff in the event's entire history, over a week earlier than last year. There are 38 total party nights running all the way through Halloween itself.
August: 7, 11, 14, 18, 21, 23, 25, 28, 30
September: 1, 4, 8, 11, 13, 15, 18, 20, 22, 24, 25, 27, 29
October: 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 13, 15, 16, 18, 22, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31 🎃
Planning tip: August parties fall on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. September is the same, plus Thursday September 24. In October, parties run most Thursdays, Fridays, Sundays, and Tuesdays — plus Halloween night on Saturday October 31.
Ticket Info
Ticket prices (ages 10+): $119–$229 + tax, varies by date
Ages 3–9: $10 off the date's adult price
Annual Passholder / DVC discount: $10 off select dates
Early sale for Disney Resort hotel guests: May 5, 2026
General public sale opens: May 12, 2026
Park entry with your ticket: 4:00 PM (party runs 7 PM–midnight)
No park reservation required — your party ticket is your admission
My biggest tip: staying at a Disney Resort hotel gets you first access to tickets on May 5 — a full week before the general public. These dates sell out every single year, and October nights go especially fast. Now is the time to start planning. As your Disney travel agent, I handle all of this the moment the booking window opens — it's honestly one of my favorite parts of the job.
What's New & Returning for 2026
🌺 NEW — Stitch Dance Party with Lilo & Angel Brand new for 2026! Stitch, Lilo, and Angel are hosting a Masquerade dance party at Rockettower Plaza Stage in Tomorrowland. Stitch gets into a costume trunk and the theme keeps shifting throughout the night — sounds perfectly chaotic and so fun.
🕯️ RETURNING — Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular The crown jewel of MNSSHP. The Sanderson Sisters host an epic stage show at Cinderella Castle, enlisting Disney villains with wild projections and special effects. If you do one thing at the party, it's this show. Non-negotiable.
🐴 RETURNING — The Headless Horseman Arguably the most cinematic moment Disney puts on all year. He rides live through the park at the start of each evening and the crowd reaction is electric every single time. You cannot experience this anywhere else, any other time.
👫 RETURNING — Mickey & Minnie Meet Together For the second year, Mickey and Minnie meet together in their Halloween costumes at Town Square Theater. They typically meet separately, so this is still a special one — don't skip the photo op.
🍭 ALWAYS — Unlimited Trick-or-Treating Treat stations are set up all around Magic Kingdom and Disney is genuinely generous — think full-size candy bars and big handfuls at every stop. Included with your party ticket. Kids (and honestly adults) go home with bags stuffed to the brim.
👗 ALWAYS — Adult Costumes Allowed One of the only Disney events where adult guests can wear full costumes in the park. The creativity and energy you see on party nights is absolutely electric — it's one of my favorite things about MNSSHP.
EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival 2026
Okay, full transparency: this is my absolute favorite Disney event of the entire year. I would choose Food & Wine over almost anything else in the Disney calendar. There is nothing quite like wandering around World Showcase with a little plate of something incredible from a country you've never visited, live music floating through the air, and the whole park feeling festive and alive. It is my happy place.
The Dates
The 2026 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival runs from August 27 through November 21, 2026 — nearly three full months of foodie bliss. This is Disney's longest seasonal festival, and it runs during regular park hours. No separate ticket required — it's included with regular EPCOT park admission.
That said, you will want to budget for food purchases at the Global Marketplace booths. Items range roughly from $4–$16 each and the "one of everything" strategy is very, very real.
Festival Quick Facts
Dates: August 27 – November 21, 2026
Admission: Included with regular EPCOT park ticket
Food booth items: Purchased separately, priced per item
Eat to the Beat concerts: Free with park admission, first-come first-served seating
Dining packages for guaranteed concert seating: Details coming closer to the festival
Number of Global Marketplace booths: 32–36 expected (some with phased openings)
What's Confirmed for 2026
🎵 Eat to the Beat Concert Series Live music returns to the America Gardens Theatre in the American Adventure Pavilion, with multiple shows daily — all free with your park admission. The full artist lineup hasn't dropped yet, but dining packages for guaranteed seating will be announced closer to opening day.
🧀 Emile's Fromage Montage — Officially Confirmed! The fan-favorite cheese food stroll is back! Grab your festival passport, sample five cheese-inspired dishes from select Global Marketplaces, collect your stamps, and turn in your completed passport for a special treat. It's such a fun way to eat your way through the park with a little mission attached.
🐭 Remy's Ratatouille Hide & Squeak The beloved scavenger hunt returns! Remy hides throughout World Showcase and guests of all ages follow along as he collects ingredients around the pavilions. Perfect for families and a great excuse to explore parts of EPCOT you might otherwise rush past.
🌍 Dozens of Global Marketplace Booths Expect 32–36 booths throughout EPCOT celebrating flavors from around the world — with more details and the full Foodie Guide dropping closer to August.
First Look: Confirmed Returning Menu Items
Disney hasn't released the full menu yet, but they've already given us three dishes to get excited about:
From Gyozas of the Galaxy: Street Corn-Style Dumplings — chicken dumplings with tomatillo salsa verde, street corn salad, cotija, lime crema, and cilantro. A total fan favorite and one of the most creative dishes at the festival.
From the Australia Booth: Grilled Bushberry-Spiced Shrimp Skewer with sweet-and-sour vegetables and coconut-chili sauce. The Australia booth consistently delivers and this dish is always a crowd pleaser.
From The Alps Booth: Kirschwasser Torte with cherry-brandy buttercream, fondant, sugared almonds, and cherry compote. If you have any love for dessert (and I do), this one is on the must-try list.
My Food & Wine strategy tip: Don't try to do everything in one day. The festival runs nearly three months, so build in at least one dedicated EPCOT day and go slow. Start at one end of World Showcase, work your way around, split dishes so you can try more, and absolutely do the Fromage Montage. Going with a foodie mindset instead of a theme park mindset changes everything.
Here's My Hot Take: Do Both.
The beautiful thing about fall 2026 at Disney World is that you absolutely can experience both of these events on the same trip. From August 27 through October 31, MNSSHP and Food & Wine are running simultaneously. A 5–7 day trip during that window can include a party night at Magic Kingdom and multiple EPCOT days for the festival. This is the fall Disney trip, and I'd love to help you put it together.
Ready to make it happen? My planning services are completely free to you as your Disney travel agent with Travelmation. I handle everything — resort, dates, party tickets, dining reservations, all of it. Reach out and let's start building your perfect fall trip!
Let's Plan Your Fall Disney Trip
xoxo,
Katie