Disney/ABC Announce Dates for 2026 Disney Parks Holiday Specials

Disney and ABC have unwrapped the air dates for the holiday park specials, bringing a heavy dose of festive cheer and musical magic straight to television screens.

The seasonal lineup kicks off with “The Wonderful World of Disney: Holiday Spectacular” on Monday, Nov. 30 (8:00–10:00 p.m. EST/PST), featuring brand-new musical performances broadcast directly from the Disney World Resort and the Disneyland Resort.

The holiday programming will culminate on Christmas morning with the traditional fan-favorite, the “Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade,” airing Friday, Dec. 25, at 10 a.m. EST / 9:00 a.m. CST. Floods of golden sunshine, dazzling marching bands, beloved Disney characters, and star-studded celebrity performances will wrap up the year.

Park-goers won’t have to wait until late November to catch a glimpse of the holiday spirit. Production for the specials is slated to get underway early next month, with camera crews moving into the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World on Nov. 10 and 11.

Adding credence to the filming schedule, Disney’s park calendar shows daytime performances of “Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade” scheduled for 2: p.m. on both Tuesday, Nov. 10, and Wednesday, Nov. 11. Normally reserved for nighttime holiday parties, the rare daytime run gives regular park guests with standard admission a front-row seat to the television taping as holiday cheer takes over Main Street, U.S.A., ahead of the winter broadcast season.

In addition to the performances, Disney usually starts to tout what is expected to be open in 2027 and some behind-the-scenes views of work that is taking place.