Credit: DisneyThe holiday season at EPCOT is starting to take shape, and one of Walt Disney World’s longest-running Christmas traditions now has a nearly complete lineup for 2026.
Disney has revealed the celebrity narrators scheduled to appear during this year’s Candlelight Processional, including several familiar returning names and three newcomers. Guests will hear from actors, musicians, television personalities, and even one of football’s most recognizable retired players.
But choosing a narrator may only be the first decision guests need to make.
Disney has also released details for the 2026 Candlelight Processional Dining Packages. More than a dozen EPCOT restaurants will participate, with prices ranging from $43 to more than $100 per adult. The packages combine a meal with guaranteed seating for one of the nightly performances, making them particularly appealing for guests visiting during popular narrator dates.
Here’s what guests should know before reservations open.
Candlelight Processional Returns to EPCOT for 2026
Candlelight Processional will return as part of the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays, running from November 27 through December 30, 2026.
The production tells the Christmas story with a celebrity narrator joined by a 51-piece orchestra, the Voices of Liberty, and a choir featuring more than 150 Disney Cast Members and community singers.
This will mark the tradition’s 55th year at Walt Disney World and its 32nd year at EPCOT.
Guests will have three opportunities to see the show each evening at America Gardens Theatre. Performances take place at 4:45 p.m., 6:30 p.m., and 8:00 p.m.
The format remains familiar, but the celebrity narrator changes throughout the season. That means guests can have a somewhat different experience depending on when they visit.
And 2026 brings a few notable first-timers into the mix.
Jason Kelce, Lacey Chabert, and Robin Roberts Join the Lineup
Disney has announced most of its 2026 narrator schedule, although a handful of dates remain unfilled.
Auli‘i Cravalho will start the season on November 27 and 28, followed by Gary Sinise from November 29 through December 1.
The December 2 and 3 narrator has not yet been announced.
Whoopi Goldberg then takes over on December 4 and 5 before one of this year’s newcomers arrives. Robin Roberts will narrate on December 6 and 7.
Jason Kelce makes his Candlelight Processional debut immediately afterward on December 8 and 9. The former professional football player and New Heights podcast co-host gives Disney a particularly interesting addition to this year’s lineup.
Neil Patrick Harris returns for December 10 through 12, while the narrators for December 13 and 14 remain to be announced.
Lauren Daigle follows on December 15 and 16, with Ralph Macchio appearing from December 17 through 19.
Henry Winkler will narrate on December 20 and 21.
Then comes another newcomer. Lacey Chabert will appear on December 22 and 23, putting her performances just before Christmas Eve. Jodi Benson takes over for December 24 and 25.
Simu Liu will appear December 26 and 27 before Eva Longoria closes out the announced schedule from December 28 through 30.
Disney specifically identifies Roberts, Kelce, and Chabert as new Candlelight Processional narrators for 2026.
With several dates still listed as “To Be Announced,” Disney isn’t quite finished revealing this year’s roster.
Why a Dining Package Can Make a Big Difference
Knowing which narrator you want to see is one thing. Getting a seat inside America Gardens Theatre is another.
Regular seating for Candlelight Processional operates on a first-come, first-served basis, and performances can fill quickly.
That is where the dining packages come into play.
Guests who purchase a Candlelight Processional Dining Package receive a meal at a participating EPCOT restaurant along with guaranteed seating for a performance that day.
It doesn’t mean guests can walk into the theater at the last second and necessarily get the best view. Disney still recommends arriving early because specific seats within the reserved section aren’t assigned.
However, guests receive a reserved seating badge after their meal, guaranteeing them a seat for their designated showtime.
For someone planning a trip around a particular celebrity narrator, that added certainty could be one of the biggest selling points.
What Comes With a Candlelight Processional Dining Package?
The package isn’t identical at every restaurant.
At most participating locations, guests receive an entrée and dessert or access to a full buffet where applicable. The package also includes a nonalcoholic beverage, although guests 21 and older can select an alcoholic beverage.
Spice Road Table works differently. Its package comes with two small plates, a shared tagine, a shared dessert platter, and a beverage.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner options are available depending on the restaurant, giving guests some flexibility when building their EPCOT day.
The bigger difference comes down to price.
Dining Packages Start at $43 Per Adult
There are options at several price points, beginning with Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue.
Its same-day dining package costs $43 for adults and $26 for children. However, this option isn’t eligible for the Disney Dining Plan, and only a limited number of same-day packages will be available.
La Crêperie de Paris is another lower-priced choice at $59 per adult and $31 per child.
Spice Road Table costs $63 for adults and $26 for children, while Rose & Crown Dining Room costs $68 and $31.
Nine Dragons Restaurant comes in at $70 per adult and $30 per child, while Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria costs $71 and $33.
Biergarten Restaurant is priced at $75 for adults and $40 for children.
From there, prices begin moving higher.
Several Packages Approach or Pass $90 Per Adult
Coral Reef Restaurant costs $82 for adults and $34 for children.
Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya and Tutto Italia Ristorante each cost $85 per adult. Child pricing comes to $40 at Shiki-Sai and $36 at Tutto Italia.
La Hacienda de San Angel costs $86 for adults and $37 for children.
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall comes in at $87 for adults and $59 for children, while Chefs de France and Teppan Edo each cost $89 per adult. Children’s packages cost $37 at Chefs de France and $40 at Teppan Edo.
At the top of the list sits Le Cellier Steakhouse.
The Canada Pavilion restaurant costs $109 per adult and $44 per child. It also requires two table-service meals for guests using the Disney Dining Plan.
Akershus similarly requires two table-service meals, while most of the other eligible participating restaurants require one.
Garden Grill Restaurant has separate pricing based on the meal.
Breakfast costs $73 for adults and $46 for children. Lunch and dinner rise to $86 for adults and $55 for children. The restaurant requires one table-service meal on the Disney Dining Plan.
That creates a pretty wide price range for guests who mainly want the reserved Candlelight Processional seating benefit.
Guests Don’t Have to Pick the Most Expensive Restaurant
One important thing to remember is that paying more for dinner doesn’t result in a better guaranteed seat at Candlelight Processional.
Guests are purchasing a dining experience and access to the reserved seating section rather than a particular theater seat.
That makes restaurant choice largely a matter of budget and preference.
Someone already planning an upscale EPCOT meal may see value in pairing Le Cellier or Chefs de France with the show. Families interested in Garden Grill or Akershus have those choices as well.
Guests mainly interested in securing a seat without spending as much have lower-priced alternatives such as Regal Eagle, La Crêperie de Paris, or Spice Road Table.
The narrator could also affect the decision.
If guests specifically want to see Jason Kelce, Neil Patrick Harris, Whoopi Goldberg, or another narrator, securing guaranteed seating could remove some uncertainty from the evening.
There Are 16 Participating Restaurants
Altogether, guests have a sizable selection of restaurants to consider for the 2026 dining packages.
Participating locations include Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, Biergarten Restaurant, Chefs de France, Coral Reef Restaurant, Garden Grill Restaurant, La Crêperie de Paris, La Hacienda de San Angel, Le Cellier Steakhouse, Nine Dragons Restaurant, Regal Eagle Smokehouse, Rose & Crown Dining Room, Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya, Spice Road Table, Teppan Edo, Tutto Italia Ristorante, and Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria.
The locations stretch across EPCOT, particularly throughout World Showcase.
That variety also means guests don’t necessarily have to build their entire day around one expensive meal. There are choices at several price levels, although even the more affordable packages represent an additional expense compared to simply waiting in the regular line for the show.
Regal Eagle stands apart because its packages are limited to same-day availability. Guests hoping to use that option won’t have the same advance-booking setup as the other participating restaurants.
The Narrator Could Be Just as Important as the Restaurant
For many guests, deciding whether to purchase a package may come down to who is narrating on the day of their visit.
Someone visiting November 27 will have Auli‘i Cravalho, while a guest arriving December 8 will see Jason Kelce. A Christmas Day visitor will hear Jodi Benson, and someone visiting near the end of the festival could see Eva Longoria.
That rotating lineup is a major part of what makes Candlelight Processional different from most recurring EPCOT entertainment.
Disney isn’t simply presenting the exact same performance with the exact same featured personality every night for more than a month.
Instead, narrators come and go throughout the season.
Returning guests can therefore choose dates based on the person they most want to hear. It also creates the possibility that certain dates could attract more interest than others.
With three performances each night, guests at least have multiple opportunities to catch the show.
Reservations Open October 14
Guests won’t be able to lock in their dining packages immediately.
Disney will begin accepting reservations for the 2026 Candlelight Processional Dining Packages on October 14.
That gives guests some time to compare restaurants, prices, and narrators before deciding which package works best for their trip.
There is also still more narrator news to come. Disney has yet to announce who will take the stage December 2-3 and December 13-14.
For everyone else, the calendar is already filling out.
From Jason Kelce, Robin Roberts, and Lacey Chabert making their first appearances to returning narrators such as Neil Patrick Harris, Whoopi Goldberg, Jodi Benson, and Gary Sinise, the 2026 Candlelight Processional will feature a rotating lineup throughout the holiday season.
And for guests who don’t want to spend part of their EPCOT evening wondering whether they’ll get into the show, the dining packages provide another option.
With 16 participating restaurants and adult prices ranging from $43 to $109, guests have plenty to consider before booking.
The biggest date to remember for now is October 14. That’s when dining package reservations open ahead of Candlelight Processional’s November 27 return to EPCOT.
