Credit: Disney FanaticThe holiday season at Walt Disney World is getting closer, and Disney has another exciting announcement for guests planning to visit EPCOT later this year.
Every holiday season, thousands of visitors make their way to EPCOT to enjoy festive decorations, seasonal entertainment, and special experiences that only appear for a limited time.
One of the park’s most popular holiday traditions is returning in November, bringing an impressive collection of celebrities to the stage throughout the season.
However, this year’s entertainment schedule has already experienced a few unexpected changes, including the removal of a previously announced celebrity narrator.
For weeks, Disney fans have been waiting to find out who would take over the remaining dates.
Now, Disney has officially filled the final opening, and the newest addition has a special connection to one of Magic Kingdom’s most beloved nighttime experiences.
Disney World Announces Another Major Holiday Entertainment Update
Disney has confirmed that actor and singer Jordan Fisher will join the 2026 EPCOT Candlelight Processional as a celebrity narrator.
According to WDWMAGIC, Fisher will appear on November 27 and November 28, officially completing the event’s celebrity lineup for the upcoming holiday season.
His addition comes after Disney removed Auli’i Cravalho from the schedule earlier in October.
Cravalho, widely recognized for voicing Moana in Disney’s Moana (2016), had previously been announced as one of the celebrity narrators.
Following her removal, Disney temporarily listed the November 27 and 28 performances as dates awaiting an announcement.
That left guests planning to attend the opening weekend wondering who would eventually take the stage.
With Fisher now confirmed, Disney has filled every narrator position for the event, which runs from November 27 through December 30, 2026.
The announcement is particularly exciting for fans who recognize Fisher from his previous work with Disney.
Although he has appeared in several television productions and films, his connection to Walt Disney World makes him a fitting choice for the annual celebration.
A Familiar Disney Voice Is Returning in a Different Way
Jordan Fisher might not be the first celebrity guests associate with EPCOT, but millions of Walt Disney World visitors have already heard his voice during their vacations.
Fisher performs the song “Happily Ever After,” which accompanies Magic Kingdom’s popular nighttime fireworks spectacular.
The song has become closely associated with the park’s evening entertainment, giving Fisher a recognizable connection to Disney World.
For guests who have watched the fireworks above Cinderella Castle, his voice may already bring back memories of their favorite Disney vacations.
Now, instead of hearing him during a nighttime spectacular, visitors will have an opportunity to see him participate in one of EPCOT’s biggest holiday traditions.
Fisher has also built an impressive career outside Disney’s theme parks.
He won Season 25 of Dancing with the Stars and appeared in the television musical Grease: Live (2016).
Movie audiences may also recognize him from To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You (2020), where he played John Ambrose McClaren.
His experience as both a singer and performer makes him an interesting addition to an event that combines storytelling with live musical performances.
However, Fisher won’t be performing the same type of entertainment guests typically associate with his career.
Instead, he’ll serve as the narrator for a traditional Christmas presentation that has become an important part of EPCOT’s holiday celebration.
What Makes EPCOT’s Candlelight Processional So Popular?
For visitors unfamiliar with the event, the Candlelight Processional offers a different kind of entertainment from the attractions and nighttime spectaculars found throughout Walt Disney World.
The annual presentation tells the traditional Christmas story through narration, accompanied by a live orchestra and a large choir.
Each performance features a celebrity narrator who guides audiences through the story while musicians and singers provide the accompanying holiday music.
The event takes place at the America Gardens Theatre, located in the American Adventure pavilion at EPCOT’s World Showcase.
Unlike a typical theme park show, the Candlelight Processional focuses on music, storytelling, and the atmosphere of the Christmas season.
The combination has made it a popular tradition for families who return to Walt Disney World during the holidays.
Some visitors plan their trips around specific celebrity appearances, while others simply enjoy attending the presentation as part of their holiday vacation.
Disney changes the narrator lineup each year, giving returning guests an opportunity to experience the event with different performers.
That also means certain dates can become especially popular depending on which celebrity is scheduled to appear.
With Fisher now taking over the opening two nights, guests visiting EPCOT during Thanksgiving weekend have another reason to consider attending.
Disney Confirms Its Complete 2026 Celebrity Schedule
Fisher’s addition completes a lineup featuring actors, singers, television personalities, and other familiar entertainment figures.
Several celebrities are returning to the event, while others are making newly announced appearances.
Here is the updated 2026 EPCOT Candlelight Processional narrator schedule:
- November 27–28: Jordan Fisher
- November 29–December 1: Gary Sinise
- December 2–3: Benjamin Bratt
- December 4–5: Whoopi Goldberg
- December 6–7: Robin Roberts
- December 8–9: Jason Kelce
- December 10–12: Neil Patrick Harris
- December 13–14: Josh Groban
- December 15–16: Lauren Daigle
- December 17–19: Ralph Macchio
- December 20–21: Henry Winkler
- December 22–23: Lacey Chabert
- December 24–25: Jodi Benson
- December 26–27: Simu Liu
- December 28–30: Eva Longoria
The schedule includes several recognizable Disney connections.
Jodi Benson, who provided the voice of Ariel in The Little Mermaid (1989), will narrate performances on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Meanwhile, Simu Liu, known for his starring role in Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021), will appear immediately after Christmas.
Other notable names include Whoopi Goldberg, Neil Patrick Harris, Josh Groban, and Henry Winkler.
With so many celebrities participating, visitors have several opportunities to experience the holiday presentation throughout the season.
However, those hoping to see a particular narrator should pay close attention to the schedule when planning their EPCOT visit.
Guests Have Three Opportunities to Watch Each Night
The Candlelight Processional will offer three performances each evening throughout the 2026 holiday season.
Disney has scheduled presentations for 4:45 p.m., 6:30 p.m., and 8:00 p.m.
All three performances take place at the America Gardens Theatre.
That gives guests some flexibility when organizing their day, especially if they want to experience other EPCOT attractions or explore the park’s holiday offerings before attending.
However, visitors should remember that the Candlelight Processional is one of EPCOT’s most popular seasonal entertainment experiences.
Seating is limited, and guests without reservations for a dining package must use the standby line.
Standby seating operates on a first-come, first-served basis, meaning visitors aren’t guaranteed a seat simply because they arrive before the show begins.
Opening weekend could be particularly busy because the event begins during the Thanksgiving holiday period.
Guests hoping to see Fisher on November 27 or 28 should consider arriving early rather than waiting until shortly before showtime.
Those who prefer a more predictable experience have another option available.
Disney Offers a Way to Secure Seating Before Arriving
Walt Disney World is offering Candlelight Processional Dining Packages again in 2026.
These packages combine a meal at a participating EPCOT restaurant with guaranteed seating at a Candlelight Processional performance later that same day.
Reservations are already available for the upcoming holiday season.
For visitors who know they want to attend the presentation, a dining package can eliminate some of the uncertainty associated with waiting in the standby line.
Guests can enjoy a restaurant meal before heading to the theater for their scheduled performance.
However, a dining package isn’t required to watch the show.
Visitors who don’t purchase one can still attempt to secure a seat through the regular standby process.
The biggest difference is that dining package guests receive guaranteed seating, while standby visitors must rely on availability.
For families visiting during the busiest holiday dates, that distinction could make a difference in their plans.
EPCOT Prepares for Its 2026 Holiday Celebration
The Candlelight Processional is part of the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays, presented by AdventHealth.
This year’s festival runs from November 27 through December 30, bringing seasonal celebrations to EPCOT during the final weeks of 2026.
The festival gives guests an opportunity to enjoy the holiday atmosphere throughout World Showcase while also experiencing special entertainment.
For many Disney fans, the Candlelight Processional remains one of the biggest reasons to visit EPCOT during this time of year.
Its combination of celebrity narration, live music, and traditional storytelling offers something different from the resort’s usual entertainment.
And with the event returning during one of Walt Disney World’s busiest vacation periods, planning ahead will be important for visitors hoping to attend.
The addition of Jordan Fisher also gives the opening weekend a recognizable Disney connection, particularly for guests who enjoy Magic Kingdom’s Happily Ever After fireworks show.
Although Disney has already made changes to the original celebrity lineup, the updated schedule is now complete.
That means visitors can begin making more definite plans around their preferred narrator dates.
With performances beginning November 27, EPCOT is preparing to welcome another holiday season filled with music, celebrity appearances, and one of Walt Disney World’s most established Christmas traditions.
For guests who have never experienced the Candlelight Processional, 2026 could be the perfect opportunity to discover why so many Disney fans make it part of their annual holiday celebrations.
