Quick answer: Holidays at Universal Orlando 2026 runs November 14, 2026 to January 3, 2027. It's included with a regular park ticket, and it covers all three theme parks: Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in every park, Grinchmas in Seuss Landing, Universal's Holiday Parade featuring Macy's every night at Universal Studios Florida, and the biggest holiday season yet at Epic Universe. Over at CityWalk, the Green & Red Coconut Club is back with a brand-new theme called Haus Noel.
I'm Alan Eskelsen, owner of Fun Park Go. We're a Universal U-Preferred agency and an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, so I hear "Should we do Universal or Disney for Christmas?" a lot. Universal shared the last details for this year's season on October 19, 2026. Here's what's confirmed, the show times announced so far, and how I'd plan a holiday trip for my kids.
These are the times Universal has announced so far. Times can change, so check the Universal Orlando app on the day you go.
Here's a planning tip. The parade and the 5:30 p.m. Grinchmas show happen at the same time in different parks, so pick one for that slot. With a park-to-park ticket, you can catch an afternoon Grinchmas show, ride the Hogwarts Express to Universal Studios Florida, and find a parade spot before 5:30.
Epic Universe opened in May 2025, so last year was its first holiday season, with décor in Celestial Park and the Ministry of Magic. For 2026, Universal is adding holiday décor to two more worlds for the first time.
If your kids love Mario or Toothless, this is the year to add an Epic day to your holiday trip. Epic Universe tickets are dated and priced by date, and the weeks around Christmas are some of the busiest of the year. Read Is Epic Universe Worth It? for our one-day plan. Want a preview first? Here's my short of Super Nintendo World (filmed outside the holiday season).
All three Wizarding World lands are decorated this year, so you can visit three in one trip:
The castle show is the one to plan around. Find a spot in Hogsmeade a little before dark, and stay for more than one loop if your kids want to. Here's my short of Hogwarts castle at Universal Orlando so you can picture it (not holiday footage). To ride the Hogwarts Express between Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley, you'll need a park-to-park ticket.
Grinchmas takes over Seuss Landing all season:
Going with little ones? A morning show is a good pick, so the 5:30 p.m. slot stays free for the parade.
Universal Studios Florida's nightly parade has giant balloons, floats with the Minions from Despicable Me and characters from Shrek and Madagascar, plus classic holiday floats. It ends with a Christmas tree lighting led by Santa. This year it's scheduled daily at 5:30 p.m.
Earl the Squirrel is also back at Universal Studios Florida in his holiday outfit. Here's more about him in our Earl the Squirrel post. Before you go, check our Universal Studios Orlando map guide to get your bearings in the park.
This is a guided daytime tour for families who want the big holiday moments without fighting for a spot. It lasts about two and a half hours and includes:
Need-to-know:
If you're booking tickets anyway, you can buy discounted Universal Orlando tickets from Undercover Tourist. Just make sure they're park-to-park for your tour day. More ways to save are in our guide to cheap Universal Studios Orlando tickets.
Every holiday season, the Red Coconut Club at CityWalk turns into the Green & Red Coconut Club. For 2026 it's Haus Noel, an alpine Christmas pub with a Christmas market and old-world holiday traditions. Universal says it celebrates holiday traditions "from the merry to the macabre."
Staying at a Universal hotel is the easiest way to do the holidays here. Each of the 11 hotels decorates in its own theme, and you'll find Christmas tree lightings, Hanukkah menorah lightings in some lobbies, carolers, and Thanksgiving and Christmas Day meals. Hotel guests also get Early Park Admission and free transportation to the parks.
Universal's current holiday offer:
Thinking about the Helios Grand inside Epic Universe? Watch my Helios Grand Hotel room tour on YouTube. You can compare every option in our Universal Orlando hotels guide, and learn how Universal Orlando Early Admission works. Want to price it yourself? You can look at Universal Orlando vacation packages from Get Away Today or book a theme park package online with Funjet.
As an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner and a Universal U-Preferred agency, we can put together your Universal hotel, tickets, Express Pass and Holiday Tour, check whether the 30%-off hotel deal works for your dates, and plan a Disney day too if you want both. Our help doesn't add to your cost. Learn more about planning Universal Orlando with a U-Preferred agent.
Get your free Universal holiday quote and tell us your dates, how many people are going and your kids' ages.
Holidays at Universal Orlando runs from November 14, 2026 to January 3, 2027. The Universal Holiday Tour runs on select dates through January 2, 2027.
Yes. The parade, Grinchmas, Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and the Epic Universe décor are all included with regular admission to that park. The Universal Holiday Tour costs extra.
Universal's Holiday Parade featuring Macy's is scheduled daily at 5:30 p.m. at Universal Studios Florida. Check the Universal Orlando app on the day of your visit, since times can change.
The Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular is scheduled at 10:15 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 1:15 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. in Seuss Landing at Islands of Adventure.
Yes. In 2026, Super Nintendo World and Isle of Berk get holiday décor for the first time. Isle of Berk is celebrating its first Snoggletog, Celestial Park becomes a winter wonderland, and wizarding Paris in the Ministry of Magic is decorated for Christmas.
Haus Noel is the 2026 theme of the Green & Red Coconut Club at Universal CityWalk. It's an alpine Christmas pub and Christmas market. Passholders get early access on November 20 from 3 to 5 p.m., and then it opens to all guests.
It starts at $69.99 per person plus tax, and prices change by date. You also need a same-day Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure park-to-park ticket, and reservations are required.
Some links in this post are affiliate links (Undercover Tourist, Get Away Today and Funjet). If you book through them, Fun Park Go may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
