What to Expect at the 2026 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival

Toy Story has moved to the entrance this year!

The Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival runs this year from March 4 through June 1. That’s almost three months of flowers, food, and fun! June will be here before you know it, so you’d better start making plans now to get the most out of it. This is one festival that you don’t want to miss. Here are a few of the highlights.

Garden Rocks

The Garden Rocks Concert Series is one of my favorite parts of the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. Internationally known artists are featured most Fridays through Mondays, and local artists rock the America Gardens Theatre the rest of the week. There are three shows each evening, weather permitting. Acts this year include Josiah Queen, 98 Degrees, Simple Plan, and Rick Springfield. Garden Rocks concerts are included with your Epcot admission. To guarantee your seat, book a Garden Rocks Dining Package.

Brunchcot is back!

You won’t leave the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival hungry! There are over two dozen Outdoor Kitchens this year. On their menus you’ll find savory items, sweet items, and some that are a little bit of both. There are also plenty of extra beverages for sale, with or without alcohol. Pick up a Festival Passport when you enter Epcot so that you won’t have to keep pulling out your phone when you want to see what is sold and where.

Don’t forget your passport!

Speaking of your Festival Passport, you’ll need one to participate in Garden Graze. Purchase five Garden Graze items, have your Passport stamped, and then you’ll receive a special treat for free! Garden Graze items are plant-based, making it easy for those with allergies and dietary restrictions to take part.

Lightning McQueen and Mater

There is more to the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival than food and music. One of the best parts is looking for the topiaries. There are over two dozen living works of art, many from your favorite Disney movies. Have your camera ready, the details are amazing.

Sweet!

There are also extra gardens that you’ll want to explore. These range from Prehistoric Plants to The Honey Bee-stro Garden Hosted by the National Honey Board. The gardens are all unique and interesting, and you just might learn something.

Spike is back!

Kids from 1 to 100 or more love Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration. Purchase a map, and then look for Spike the Bee around World Showcase. When you’ve found them all, turn your map in for a prize! One thing that’s nice about Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration is that Spike is easy to find. Some of the other scavenger hunts are a bit more difficult. You can look for Spike without buying a map, but then you won’t receive a reward.

Butterfly, don’t flutter by…

Butterfly Landing Presented by AdventHealth is must-do during the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. You’ll see several species of butterflies inside the butterfly house. If you can, visit often. It’s fun to see the number of butterflies grow throughout the festival.

One of the playgrounds

Need a place for the kids to burn off some extra energy? There are two themed areas this year. Playalong Bay Presented by Smuckers is near the entrance to World Showcase. Camp Get Out ‘N’ Play is found in World Discovery. These play areas are themed to fit in with the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, they aren’t new structures.

Lotso looks so innocent! He’s ready for a picture…

As with any trip to Walt Disney World, photos will help enhance your memories…and give you bragging rights on social media. At the 2026 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival there are special PhotoPass locations throughout the park. MagicShots include Orange Bird, the Thumper Topiary, and Isabella. Ask any PhotoPass photographer for more details.

How cute are these ears?

Of course there is plenty of special merchandise for the 2026 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. This year’s collections are Orange Bird, Vintage Orange Bird, Spike the Bee, and Alice in Wonderland. There is also exclusive merchandise for Annual Passholders.

Celebrating 40 year of Pixar

These are just a few of the highlights of the 2026 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. I look forward to sharing information on Disney Over 50, as well as pictures and videos on both Facebook and Instagram all festival long!