Credit: Jeremy Thompson, FlickrDisney has finally pulled back the curtain on a major part of EPCOT’s 2026 plans—and yes, it marks another big step in the park’s ongoing transformation. After years of construction walls, phased updates, and new experiences rolling out piece by piece, guests now have a clearer idea of when the next wave of change will hit.
While Disney hasn’t shared every detail yet, the newly released 2026 events calendar reveals the exact window when one of EPCOT’s most beloved seasonal overlays will return. And for longtime fans, these festival dates line up with what many expect to be the next visible shift in the park’s evolution.
A Key Festival Window Signals EPCOT’s Next Chapter
Disney confirmed that the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival will run from March 4, 2026, through June 1, 2026. The festival will be the same length as the 2025 event and will begin just over a week after the Festival of the Arts wraps.
The festival timeline matters—because it gives fans a look at the construction-free window EPCOT will rely on to continue rolling out cosmetic and structural changes. With the park transforming into a more defined, story-driven layout, festivals have often served as mile markers for when upgrades quietly shift behind the scenes.
This 2026 window may follow that same pattern.
Why the Timing Matters for EPCOT’s Transformation
Disney’s updated event calendar suggests that several ongoing projects will move into new phases once the festival wraps in early June. Historically, EPCOT uses its summer season to pivot into prep work for fall offerings, refurbishments, and the next cycle of enhancements.
And the fact that Flower & Garden lands in the exact same timeframe as last year signals that Disney is keeping its transformation pacing steady. Even though the company hasn’t announced specific construction plans tied to the 2026 festival season, the rhythm is consistent with how EPCOT has approached each step of its multi-year overhaul.
What Disney Has Confirmed So Far
While Disney stayed light on new details for the 2026 festival itself, they did offer a familiar tease of what’s returning:
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Stunning topiaries and detailed garden displays
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Outdoor Kitchens with fresh seasonal dishes
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The Garden Rocks Concert Series featuring nightly performances
The announcement also arrived alongside Disney’s wider 2026 lineup of events, openings, and seasonal celebrations—meaning EPCOT is very much part of a coordinated year of rollouts set across the entire resort.
One of the returning offerings highlighted in the same release is Cool Kids’ Summer, which will once again bring playful activities and refreshed entertainment across Walt Disney World. EPCOT’s festival landscape often connects with these seasonal offerings, signaling that the park’s fuller 2026 experience is already being mapped out.
What to Expect as More Details Drop
Based on previous years, Disney will follow up this announcement with:
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A full list of 2026 topiaries
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New and returning Outdoor Kitchen menus
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The Garden Rocks concert schedule
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Any debuting experiences tied into EPCOT’s broader transformation
Flower & Garden remains one of EPCOT’s longest and most influential festivals, often serving as the backdrop for new reveals, additions, and updates.
With the festival’s dates now locked in, fans can expect the next wave of EPCOT transformation news to surface around late spring or early summer.