Credit: DisneyOn Thursday, Disneyland Resort made an exciting announcement: the return of Disneyland After Dark, with five new and returning after-hours events taking over Disneyland Park on select nights from January to June 2026. But the bad news for Disney Parks fans came from what Disney didn’t say. With the official line-up of late-night events now available, Disney has officially confirmed that once again, the Disneyland After Dark: Princess Nite will not return to the original Southern California Disney park.
Disneyland After Dark: Princess Nite
In 2022, Disneyland Resort announced that the Disneyland After Dark events would finally return in 2023, after a hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The line-up included the returning Disneyland After Dark: Sweethearts’ Nite and two all-new events: Pride Nite, the first-ever Disneyland Resort-sponsored celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community, and Princess Nite.
Disneyland After Dark: Princess Nite took over Disneyland Park from 9:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. on March 7 and 9, 2023. Like other after-hours events, it featured complimentary Disney PhotoPass downloads, early theme park entry at 6:00 p.m. (without a reservation), specialty menu items, and several rare character encounters.
Exclusive entertainment at Disneyland After Dark: Princess Nite included a Royal Welcome at the Disneyland Train Station featuring Princess Minnie Mouse, Princess Daisy Duck, and fanfare trumpeters; a Disney Princess concert featuring live vocalists singing tunes from Moana (2016), Brave (2012), and more; and several dance parties inspired by Wreck-It Ralph (2012) and The Princess and the Frog (2009).
Despite a positive reception from Disney Park guests, Disneyland After Dark: Princess Nite did not return in 2024 and 2025. Sadly, it looks like that trend will continue in 2026.
I was looking forward to the Disney Princess Nite next year! 😭 @Disneyland bring back princess nite!
I was looking forward to the Disney Princess Nite next year! 😭 @Disneyland bring back princess nite!
— Vichuda (@_vichudaaa) December 8, 2023
Disney Reveals a Royal Absence
On Thursday, November 20, Disneyland Resort announced that in 2026, five after-hours events would return (or debut) at Disneyland Park: Sweethearts’ Nite, Star Wars Nite, Disney Channel Nite, Pride Nite, and the all-new 70 Years of Favorites Nite, a celebration of Disneyland Resort’s 70th anniversary. Unfortunately, Disneyland After Dark: Princess Nite was not included on the list.
Of course, this doesn’t mean Disneyland After Dark: Princess Nite will never return. When Disneyland Resort announced the first-ever Pride Nite in 2023, the news came long after Disney had announced Princess Nite and Sweethearts’ Nite. However, the Southern California Disney park hasn’t confirmed plans to bring back the royal after-hours event.
Tickets for Disneyland After Dark: Sweethearts’ Nite and Disneyland After Dark: 70 Years of Favorites go on sale for Inspire Key holders on December 9, all other Magic Key Pass holders on December 10, and the general public on December 11. Disneyland Resort has promised to share more information on tickets for Pride Nite, Disney Channel Nite, and Star Wars Nite in early 2026.
Have you ever attended a Disneyland After Dark event? Share your favorite memories with Inside the Magic in the comments!