Besides the obvious, delicious reasons to visit any EPCOT festival, there’s plenty to love about the youngest yet smallest one. Though it’s only a few weeks long, from January 16th through February 23rd, 2026, Festival of the Arts (also lovingly dubbed “FARTS”) is a vibrant event that transforms the park into a technicolor dream. While we anxiously await for this year’s festival foodie guide to drop, I’ve compiled some of my favorite reasons to make sure you plan to visit EPCOT’s International Festival of the Arts in early 2026.
Paint by Number Mural
One of the most popular offerings each year is Expression Section, an interactive paint-by-number mural depicting an EPCOT sightline. After coloring in a few squares of your assigned color, you’ll receive a souvenir bookmark of the mural image you helped create.
I love watching the white canvas gradually fill in the complete picture over the course of a few days. I only wonder where these massive canvases end up after the festival…
Pick Up Some Works of Art
It’s impossible to miss all of the art on display around the park. This is the perfect time to discover new artists, reconnect with longtime favorites, or bring home a piece you’ve had your eye on. Many artists debut festival-exclusive pieces, which makes browsing the booths even more exciting. With a wide range of styles, sizes, mediums, and subjects – from the parks, characters, or movies we love, and even some non-Disney features – there’s something for every taste and budget.
Animation Academy
While Animation Academy is still offered via Animal Kingdom‘s Rafiki’s Planet Watch, and returning soon to the newly-revamped Magic of Disney Animation at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, there’s another limited-time opportunity to sketch out a beloved Disney character alongside an animator. And it’s still FREE! Well, included in your park admission. This interactive experience is also available at EPCOT during Festival of the Arts, typically scheduled at 12:30pm and 1:30pm at the America Gardens Theater, before the Disney on Broadway Concert Series schedule begins. It’s a fun way to take home your own piece of art!
The Lovers, The Dreamers, & Me
Last but certainly not least, we have a treat for my fellow Muppet fans! As with any EPCOT festival, there’s an exclusive themed number or two added into the nightly rotation of Spaceship Earth’s light shows. For Festival of the Arts, there’s a segment dedicated to Figment, the mascot of this rainbow-filled fest; and most importantly, a beautiful dancing light performance of Rainbow Connection sung by Kermit and the Muppets. Don’t miss it!
Aside from all of the food and art, Festival of the Arts has another highlight worth planning around: The Disney on Broadway Concert Series returns each year with rotating performers from classic and modern Disney stage productions (check out the 2026 lineup HERE!).
I can’t wait to see all of the food menus and merch in store for this favorite little festival. If you weren’t already planning on visiting EPCOT’s Festival of the Arts, I hope I helped convince you!
