The 2026 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival is back, and this year, four never-before-seen gardens are stealing the spotlight.
Running from March 4 through June 1, 2026, EPCOT’s beloved springtime celebration has transformed the park into a living canvas of color, creativity, and conservation. Alongside the 60-plus character topiaries, live Garden Rocks concerts, and seasonal Outdoor Kitchens, Disney’s horticulture team has planted four fresh garden experiences that are giving longtime festivalgoers brand-new reasons to visit.
Whether you’re a Walt Disney World local or planning a spring vacation from out of state, here’s your complete guide to the new gardens: what they are, where to find them, and why they’re worth a stop on your festival day.
1. Pluto’s Pet-Friendly Garden
Location: Near The Seas with Nemo & Friends
Dog parents, plant lovers, and Pluto fans, this one was made for you. Pluto’s Pet-Friendly Garden is an adorable, educational space that teaches guests how to create a garden that’s safe for their four-legged family members. A charming Pluto topiary greets visitors on a grassy path that leads to a miniature doghouse and dog bowl, setting a playful scene straight out of Mickey’s backyard.
The garden itself showcases a variety of non-toxic, pet-safe plants and colorful flowers, demonstrating that a beautiful yard doesn’t have to come at the expense of your pet’s health. Informational signage explains how Mickey keeps Pluto safe by choosing gentle plants, providing shade and fresh water, and skipping harsh lawn chemicals. It’s a surprisingly practical exhibit, the kind of garden that might inspire you to rethink your own landscaping when you get home.
Tip: This garden sits in one of the quieter corners of World Nature, making it a great stop if you need a breather between rides at The Seas or The Land.
2. Wildlife Crossing Garden
Location: In between CommuniCore Hall and The Land Pavilion
One of the most timely new gardens this year draws its inspiration from Disney and Pixar’s upcoming animated film Hoppers, which follows an animal lover who uses cutting-edge technology to communicate directly with wildlife. The Wildlife Crossing Garden highlights a real-world conservation concept: the man-made wildlife corridors and crossings that help animals safely navigate roads and urban development.
The garden’s plants are arranged to represent a safe crossing area, illustrating how thoughtful landscaping and infrastructure can reduce disruption to animal habitats and help species find food, water, and shelter. A commemorative stake in the garden also celebrates the 40th anniversary of Pixar, adding a fun layer of movie history to the experience.
It’s an educational stop that ties entertainment to environmental awareness, exactly the kind of storytelling EPCOT does best. If you’ve got kids who are excited about Hoppers (set to release later this year), this garden is a must.
Tip: The Wildlife Crossing Garden is located within the Connections Café area, so you can combine a visit with a coffee or lunch stop.
3. Trendy Tropicals Garden
Location: Between the Morocco and France
Tucked into one of the most scenic stretches of World Showcase, the Trendy Tropicals Garden invites guests to discover tropical plants that, as Disney puts it, “never go out of style.” This garden highlights lush, eye-catching tropical varieties that have surged in popularity among home gardeners and interior designers in recent years.
Positioned near the La Isla Fresca food booth, the garden features vibrant foliage that pops against the backdrop of the Morocco and France pavilions. It’s a quick but visually rewarding stop, and a reminder that tropical plants aren’t just for greenhouses and botanical gardens. Many of the varieties on display can thrive in home environments with the right care.
Tip: Visit in the late afternoon when the warm light along World Showcase Lagoon makes these tropical plants look their most photogenic. Pair it with a snack from La Isla Fresca for a perfect festival moment.
4. Rain or Shine Fruit Stand Garden
Location: Between CommuniCore Plaza and Playalong Bay Playground Presented by: Outshine
The Rain or Shine Fruit Stand is a garden experience that celebrates the water cycle and its essential role in growing the crops that end up on our tables. The exhibit walks guests through how water nurtures plants in all its forms (liquid, vapor, and ice), turning a fundamental science concept into something tangible and family-friendly.
Presented by Outshine, the frozen fruit bar brand, this garden has a cheerful, approachable vibe that feels right at home during EPCOT’s spring festival. It’s the kind of exhibit that younger kids will absorb without even realizing they’re learning, and it adds a nice educational layer alongside the more visually driven gardens elsewhere in the park.
Tip: CommuniCore Plaza is a central hub at this year’s festival, so the Rain or Shine Fruit Stand is easy to fold into your route no matter which direction you’re headed.
Making the Most of Your 2026 Flower & Garden Festival Visit
The four new gardens are spread across different areas of the park, which means you’ll naturally encounter them as you explore. To see them all, plan a loop that takes you from World Celebration and CommuniCore Plaza through World Nature and then around World Showcase. Grab a festival passport when you enter the park. It includes a map of all the topiaries and garden destinations, along with QR codes for easy navigation.
A few more things worth knowing as you plan your visit:
The festival runs daily from March 4 to June 1, 2026, and is included with standard EPCOT admission. No separate ticket is required. Outdoor Kitchen food booths open at 11 AM daily, and the Garden Rocks Concert Series takes place on weekends at the America Gardens Theatre. Don’t miss CommuniCore Hall, where Spike the Bee’s larger-than-life garden transitions from a daytime display into a glowing nighttime experience after sunset. It’s one of the best new additions to the festival this year.
Spring at EPCOT has always been a favorite season for Disney fans, and the 2026 Flower & Garden Festival raises the bar once again. These four new gardens bring fresh themes, real-world inspiration, and a little Disney magic to a festival that’s already one of the most beautiful events at Walt Disney World.
The 2026 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival runs March 4 through June 1, 2026. For more information, visit Walt Disney World’s official site.