Disneyland Christmas 2026: What's New, Dates and Tips

Quick answer: Holidays at the Disneyland Resort started November 13, 2026, and run through January 6, 2027. Both parks are decorated, and "A Christmas Fantasy Parade," the "Believe…In Holiday Magic" fireworks, Haunted Mansion Holiday, "it's a small world" Holiday and "World of Color – Season of Light" are all back. New this year: Santa has moved to a new spot in Mickey's Toontown, Mickey and friends have new holiday outfits, and Avengers Campus has a holiday dance-off.

Here's what changed for 2026 and how I'd plan a Christmas trip to Disneyland.

Disneyland Christmas 2026 dates

• Holidays at the Disneyland Resort: November 13, 2026, to January 6, 2027
• Disney Festival of Holidays at California Adventure: November 13, 2026, to January 6, 2027
• Santa Claus in the parks: November 13 to December 24
• Santa at the three Disneyland Resort hotels: November 26 to December 24
• Holiday character meals at the hotels: November 16, 2026, to January 3, 2027

What's new for Christmas 2026

Santa has a new home. Santa now visits at Mickey's Toontown Trolley Barn, near Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin. Over at California Adventure he's also at Redwood Creek Challenge Trail. After Christmas, Santa Goofy takes over both spots into early January.

New holiday outfits. Mickey, Minnie and friends in Town Square are wearing new outfits with a holiday travel and alpine theme. For the first time, characters in Mickey's Toontown also dress up for the season.

A holiday Guardians dance-off. Avengers Campus has a new holiday version of "Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Dance Off!" with Star-Lord and Deadpool near the Mission: BREAKOUT! entrance. My kids love Avengers Campus, and here's a quick look at Disneyland's Avengers Campus on the Fun Park Go YouTube channel.

A 25th birthday for the gingerbread house. Haunted Mansion Holiday's ballroom gingerbread house turns 25 this year.

The holiday favorites that are back

• "A Christmas Fantasy Parade" with toy soldiers, reindeer, dancing gingerbread cookies and Santa at the end. Rain wiped out the very first parade on November 13, and a smaller "Mickey's Holiday Cavalcade" ran instead.
• "Believe…In Holiday Magic" fireworks, with "snowfall" on Main Street, U.S.A., near "it's a small world" Holiday and along the Rivers of America.
• "it's a small world" Holiday, with its nightly lighting and projection show.
• "World of Color – Season of Light" at California Adventure. The reserved viewing areas need a free virtual queue spot or a dining package voucher.
• Disney Festival of Holidays with six food marketplaces and Disney ¡Viva Navidad!. The Sip and Savor Pass is $52 for six food or non-alcoholic drink items ($49 for Magic Key holders).

Do you need a special ticket for Disneyland Christmas?

No. Disneyland doesn't have a separate Christmas party like Disney World's Very Merry party. The parade, fireworks, decorations and ride overlays all come with regular park admission. You still need a park reservation for each day. Extras cost more: the Holiday Time guided tour is $120 per person, and the A Christmas Fantasy Parade dining package at Plaza Inn is $61 for adults and $34 for kids ages 3 to 9 (lunch, with reserved viewing of the day's second parade). Reservations for both are open now.

My tips for a Disneyland Christmas trip

1. Go early in the season or the first two weeks of December. Thanksgiving week and the days after December 20 are the busiest of the year.
2. Book holiday character meals soon. Reservations are already open for Goofy's Kitchen and the Storytellers Cafe holiday meals, and they fill up fast.
3. Plan a Lightning Lane strategy. Haunted Mansion Holiday and "it's a small world" Holiday get long lines, so plan your Lightning Lane times around them.
4. Check hotel deals. Disneyland Resort hotels have up to 20% off stays of 3 nights or more through December 18 (book by December 15), and there's a winter 2027 Disneyland hotel deal for January and February. If you're choosing a hotel, my Disneyland Hotel review and Grand Californian secrets can help.
5. Pack layers. December nights in Anaheim get chilly.

Visiting over Thanksgiving? See my Disneyland Thanksgiving guide.

Save on Disneyland tickets

Get Away Today's Early Black Friday deals end November 17. Traveling in early 2027 instead? Read about the new Disneyland 2027 ticket special and these ways to get discount Disneyland tickets.

Prefer to book yourself? Grab Disneyland Discount Tickets at Get Away Today. Use promo code FunParkGo for $10 off a package.

Let me help plan your Disneyland Christmas

I've been a Disney travel agent since 2010 and I'm a College of Disney Knowledge graduate. My planning is free. I can line up your hotel, tickets and park reservations, and watch for holiday dining openings.

Request your free Disneyland quote

Disneyland Christmas 2026 FAQ

When does Disneyland decorate for Christmas 2026?

Holidays at the Disneyland Resort started November 13, 2026. "it's a small world" Holiday opened a day early on November 12.

Where is Santa at Disneyland in 2026?

Santa is at Mickey's Toontown Trolley Barn in Disneyland and Redwood Creek Challenge Trail in California Adventure through December 24.

Disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links, including Get Away Today. If you book through them, Fun Park Go may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.