The holiday season at Walt Disney World is getting closer, and one of EPCOT’s most beloved Christmas traditions is preparing to return! Disney has revealed the 2026 celebrity narrator lineup for the Candlelight Processional, and this year’s schedule features plenty of familiar favorites along with several exciting newcomers.
The Candlelight Processional will once again be part of the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays presented by AdventHealth, bringing the Christmas story to life through an incredible combination of music, narration and hundreds of voices.
This year is particularly special, as the Candlelight Processional celebrates its 55th year at Walt Disney World Resort and its 32nd year at EPCOT.
What Is the EPCOT Candlelight Processional?
For those who have never experienced it, the Candlelight Processional is much more than your typical theme park holiday show.
Held outdoors at the America Gardens Theatre in the American Adventure pavilion, the performance features a celebrity narrator retelling the traditional Christmas story accompanied by a 51-piece orchestra, the Voices of Liberty and a choir featuring more than 150 Disney Cast Members and community singers.
It’s an incredibly moving experience and has become a must-do holiday tradition for many Walt Disney World guests.
And, of course, one of the biggest questions every year is: Who will be narrating during my trip?
Now we have our first look at the 2026 schedule!
2026 EPCOT Candlelight Processional Celebrity Narrator Schedule
Here is the lineup announced by Disney:
- November 27-28: Auli‘i Cravalho
- November 29-December 1: Gary Sinise
- December 2-3: To Be Announced
- December 4-5: Whoopi Goldberg
- December 6-7: Robin Roberts — NEW
- December 8-9: Jason Kelce — NEW
- December 10-12: Neil Patrick Harris
- December 13-14: To Be Announced
- December 15-16: Lauren Daigle
- December 17-19: Ralph Macchio
- December 20-21: Henry Winkler
- December 22-23: Lacey Chabert — NEW
- December 24-25: Jodi Benson
- December 26-27: Simu Liu
- December 28-30: Eva Longoria
There are still two openings on the schedule, December 2-3 and December 13-14, with Disney listing those narrators as “To Be Announced.”
Among this year’s newcomers are Robin Roberts, Jason Kelce and Lacey Chabert. They’ll join returning narrators including Gary Sinise, Whoopi Goldberg, Neil Patrick Harris, Jodi Benson and others.
Jason Kelce should certainly be an interesting addition to this year’s lineup. The former NFL star and current broadcaster will make his Candlelight Processional narrator debut December 8 and 9.
What Time Is the Candlelight Processional?
The Candlelight Processional is scheduled to be performed three times each night at the America Gardens Theatre:
4:45 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
That gives guests several opportunities to fit the performance into their day at EPCOT.
Keep in mind that the Candlelight Processional is extremely popular, particularly when fan-favorite narrators are appearing. Standby seating is first-come, first-served and can fill quickly.
Candlelight Processional Dining Packages Return
For guests who want to take some of the uncertainty out of getting a seat, Candlelight Processional Dining Packages will once again be available.
Packages combine a meal at a participating EPCOT restaurant with reserved seating for a designated Candlelight Processional performance.
Depending on the restaurant, packages can include breakfast, lunch or dinner. Disney says the packages include an entrée and dessert or a buffet, along with a beverage. Guests 21 and older may have an alcoholic beverage where offered.
After dining, guests receive a reserved seating badge for their scheduled performance.
Although the package guarantees access to the reserved seating section, Disney still recommends arriving early if you want the best choice of seats within that section.
Reservations for 2026 Candlelight Processional Dining Packages are scheduled to open October 14.
A Walt Disney World Holiday Tradition
There are a lot of things we look forward to when the holidays arrive at Walt Disney World, but the Candlelight Processional really is something special.
Hearing classic Christmas music performed by a full orchestra and massive choir while a celebrity narrator tells the Christmas story beneath the lights of EPCOT creates an atmosphere that’s difficult to duplicate anywhere else.
Whether you’ve made Candlelight Processional part of your family’s annual holiday tradition or you’re thinking about experiencing it for the first time, the 2026 narrator lineup gives us plenty to look forward to this year.
And we’re not done yet!
Disney still has those two narrator spots left to reveal, and we’ll be watching for those announcements.
Who are you most excited to see narrate the Candlelight Processional this year? Are you hoping for someone special to fill one of the remaining spots? Let us know!
As always, be sure to follow The Main Street Mouse for the latest Walt Disney World news, holiday updates and more!
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