10 Disneyland Holiday Traditions Returning in 2026

Holiday traditions make this time of year memorable and special. They bring people together, give us something to look forward to, and provide a sense of comfort.

And let’s face it- in a day and age that seems bombarded with negativity, bad news, and “unprecedented times,” those traditions mean even more to us.

At Disney parks worldwide, the holiday season promises beautiful decor, festive entertainment, scrumptious food, and nostalgic holiday cheer. At Disneyland specifically, the 2026 holiday offerings will bring back beloved favorites, some longstanding and others fairly new.

For guests visiting the Disneyland Resort in the upcoming months, we’ve got a trusty guide to every holiday staple returning in 2026. From entertainment to attraction overlays, Christmas at Disneyland will be brimming with holiday magic, cheer, and wonder that Disney does best.

Disney parades have always been considered the pinnacle in theme park entertainment. Besides the Tournament of Roses and Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, no others have the same reputation and beloved status. While Disney often creates new parades, others have stood the test of time.

One such parade is Disneyland’s A Christmas Fantasy Parade, returning this season. Debuting in 1995 (replacing the Very Merry Christmas Parade), A Christmas Fantasy Parade has delighted multiple generations of parkgoers with its colorful characters like snow-people, toy soldiers, roller-skating snowflakes, and classic Disney characters. The iconic song evokes warmth, magic, and nostalgia that the Christmas season embodies. Likewise, the beautiful floats and festive costumes cannot help but induce smiles.

The parade has evolved over the years with additions like the Toy Story float in 2008 and the Frozen float in 2014. The characters have also changed, most notably Santa’s reindeer. But all in all, A Christmas Fantasy Parade has retained its fun and charm. Guests can once again enjoy Disney’s longest parade (between 20 and 40 minutes) every day this holiday season at 3:15 and 5:30 pm. I recommend finding a viewing spot at least one hour prior to start time. Dining packages from Plaza Inn are also available.

It’s A Small World has been a beloved staple since it first opened in 1966. Though some make fun of the attraction, including its repetitive song, there’s no denying that it remains popular amongst all ages. However, even fans can admit that during the holidays, It’s A Small World has even more beauty and wonder. And it’s been dazzling park-goers since 1997.

Its facade is covered in thousands of colored lights that create a festive visual feast. Inside, the ride incorporates the holiday carols “Jingle Bells” and “Deck the Halls,” creating a festive and fun atmosphere.

In 2026, guests will enjoy the It’s a Small World Holiday they know and love, complete with holiday lighting every night. Disney also promises a new projection show at 6, 7, 8, 10, and 10:45 pm.

Disney entertainment is widely considered the cream of the crop. While everyone has their favorites, their holiday shows have a serene quality unlike any other.

Technically, Disneyland has two Holiday shows. Wintertime Enchantment lights up Sleeping Beauty Castle with thousands of white icicle lights, making the already beautiful edifice even more magical. As the ethereal music plays, snow (technically bits of soap suds) falls through the air, creating a lovely, peaceful experience. It truly brings out the kid in all of us. This show runs nightly at 7:30 and 8:30 pm.

The “Believe…in Holiday Magic” fireworks show also has that magical and peaceful quality, combining spectacular pyrotechnics, colorful projections, the theme song “Can You Remember,” and traditional holiday songs like “Carol of the Bells,” “I Have a Little Dreidel,” “March of the Wooden Soldiers,” and “The Christmas Song.” Guests can view the fireworks show in a few areas in Disneyland, including in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle (the best spot), along Main Street, near It’s A Small World, and along the Rivers of America.

The show is approximately 15 minutes and plays nightly at 9:30 pm. Like the parade, guests should stake out a spot to view the fireworks one hour to 45 minutes beforehand.

Character dining during the year always delights patrons, particularly families with small children. Of course, there’s no age limit for enjoying a good meal and interacting with our favorite Disney Characters. During the holiday season, character dining can be even more fun, and definitely offers more unique experiences and photo opportunities because each one features different themes and costumes.

Storyteller’s Cafe at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa offers two character dining options. Mickey’s Christmas Carol Feast is a holiday dinner with all the traditional trimmings you’d expect, such as roasted turkey, prime rib, mashed potatoes, bread pudding, and more. Themed after the beloved short Mickey’s Christmas Carol (1983), the characters dress as their characters, including Mickey as Bob Cratchit, Scrooge McDuck as Ebenezer Scrooge, and Goofy as Jacob Marley, making it both fun and unique.

Also at Storyteller’s Cafe, Daisy’s Pajama Party is a breakfast/brunch with a cozy atmosphere. Daisy, Donald, Chip, Dale, and Pluto dress in holiday pajamas, and guests are encouraged to wear their own festive PJs or comfy clothes. Compared to the Christmas Carol Feast, which feels fancier, the Pajama Party has a more casual and relaxed vibe.

Lastly, the Disneyland Hotel has Goofy’s Kitchen Celebrates the Holidays. This dining experience features Goofy, Minnie, Chip, Dale, and Pluto dressed in festive wares. Unlike the others, Goofy’s Kitchen offers this experience for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with special brunch and dinner options on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Reservations are highly recommended for Character Dining and open on November 12.

Some Christmas traditions remain humble, and yet that’s why we love them. That steadfast nature and simplicity make park-goers adore them. Evoking that small-town holiday feel, Disneyland and Disney California Adventure have tree lightings every night.

Each tree lighting has its own vibe. At Disneyland, the Main Street lighting feels more grand due to its massive size. Taking place on Main Street, the 60 ft tree complements the old-fashioned turn-of-the-century aesthetics and music. Over at Disney California Adventure, the tree lighting has its own kind of vintage feel, this one reflecting the 1930s and 40s vibes of Buena Vista Street. Reflecting that time, the tree is smaller at 50 ft. Still, the lighting feels no less magical.

This comforting tradition takes place around sunset every night.

One of Disneyland’s most enduring holiday traditions, the Candlelight Processional was first held all the way back in 1958, when the park was just four years old. The processional features local choirs, handbell ringers, and trumpet fanfare. The ceremony begins with the performers marching down Main Street and assembling at the train station. A celebrity guest narrator reads the “Nativity Story,” and the choir sings traditional carols and hymns such as “Silent Night,” “O Holy Night,” and “The Hallelujah Chorus.”

The first narrator was actor Dennis Morgan, and over the years the impressive roster has included Cary Grant, James Stewart, James Earl Jones, John Stamos, Chris Hemsworth, Viola Davis, and Brie Larson. Compared to the Candlelight Processional at Walt Disney World, Disneyland’s does not announce the narrator ahead of time, adding a fun surprise element. Likewise, the ceremony is held only one weekend during the season (typically the first weekend in December). This scarcity makes it special but also creates huge crowds.

While only special VIPs can sit in the designated seating, all guests can watch. Fair warning: anyone serious about watching the event will likely have to find a spot multiple hours ahead of time. I attended the processional in 2012 and watched along the front entrance to the Disney Showcase store. Though it can be difficult, this beautiful ceremony is well worth the wait.

Indulging in tasty treats will always be a given during the holiday season, so it’s only natural that Disneyland offers some delicious offerings. The two most steadfast traditions are the Mickey gingerbread cookies and the freshly made candy canes. Both can be difficult to acquire, so let me offer a few tips.

Guests can purchase the Mickey gingerbread cookies in both parks as well as the Disneyland Hotel and Grand Californian Hotel. Specifically, this includes the Jolly Holiday Bakery, Market House, and Red Rose Tavern in Disneyland; Fiddler, Fifer, and Practical Cafe in DCA; the Coffee House at the Disneyland Hotel; and the lobby of the Grand Californian.

I recommend mobile ordering from Jolly Holiday or Red Rose Tavern as soon as the park opens. Non-park guests should arrive at the Grand Californian early if they like to purchase, where they can also enjoy the elaborate gingerbread house displays and large Christmas tree in the middle of the lobby.

The candy canes are no doubt even more popular or, at the very least, more difficult to come by because they only offer them on select dates at two places: Candy Palace in Disneyland and Trolley Treats in DCA. The 2026 release dates are as follows: at Disneyland, November 27 and 30, and December 2, 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23, and 25; at DCA, November 28-29, December 1, 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, 22, and 24. Check out justoffharbor on Instagram about why these candy canes remains such a special Disney tradition.

These beautifully crafted candy canes are made fresh, and even if you don’t purchase one, it’s fun to watch these culinary artisans at work.

Christmas has been a part of the Disneyland Resort from the very beginning, including Jolly Old Saint Nicholas himself, Santa Claus. From decor to parade appearances, there’s never been a time when Santa was not a part of the holiday festivities.

Indeed, he’s been meeting the young and young at heart for decades. His appearance has been steadfast, but meeting places have shifted throughout the years. As a child, I remember meeting Santa in the now extinct Big Thunder Ranch area, where Galaxy’s Edge now resides.

In 2026, Santa’s meet-and-greet places will be a mix of old and new. The new will be in Disneyland, at the Trolley Barn in Mickey’s Toontown. The remaining meet-and-greets will be in familiar places. The best remains Redwood Creek Challenge Trail in DCA. With the woodsy atmosphere and decor, this area feels like stepping into Santa’s backyard.

Non-park guests are also able to meet Santa, continuing a lovely tradition of offering festive activities that are free of charge. Santa will greet guests in the lobbies of the Grand Californian, Disneyland, and Pixar Place Hotels.

Debuting in 2016, DCA’s Festival of the Holidays is a multicultural celebration with food and live entertainment. Offering something completely different than Disneyland’s holiday offerings, the Festival of the Holidays includes numerous winter traditions such as Hanukkah, Diwali, Navidad, Kwanza, and Three Kings Day.

The festival includes numerous food booths as well as live musicians and singers, each representing various cultures. Guests can pick and choose a few options, or purchase the Sip and Savor pass, which gives you the most bang for your buck.

Both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure will again offer holiday-themed live entertainment in 2026, each with a different vibe. The Dapper Dans don red and green striped attire and change their repertoire of songs to holiday tunes with a traditional a cappella four-part harmony. Likewise, the Dickens Yuletide Band play carols and hymns with a vintage brassy sound.

Over at DCA, ¡Viva Navidad! returns with a vibrant, upbeat celebration of Latin American music and dancing. Lastly, my personal favorite, the Holiday Toy Drummers put on an impressive show with classic holiday favorites, festive energy, and humor.