The EPCOT International Festival of the Arts is the youngest of EPCOT’s four signature festivals, but it has quickly become one of the most creative and fan-favorite events on the calendar.
Here’s how it started, how it’s evolved, and why it now feels like a must-do winter tradition.
How Festival of the Arts Began
EPCOT launched the International Festival of the Arts in 2017 as a response to two things guests already loved:
- The strong culinary identity built by EPCOT’s Food and Wine Festival
- The park’s long history of celebrating visual art, music, and performance
Unlike Food and Wine or Flower and Garden, Festival of the Arts was designed to blend three creative disciplines into one experience:
- Visual arts
- Culinary arts
- Performing arts
From the start, the festival positioned itself as more interactive and intimate. It ran during EPCOT’s slower winter season, usually January through February, giving guests something new to experience between the holidays and spring break.
Early Festival Highlights
The original version of Festival of the Arts was smaller than today, but several elements immediately stood out:
- Disney artist booths featuring paintings, sculptures, and limited-edition prints
- Chalk art installations that transformed World Showcase walkways into temporary galleries
- Food Studios that treated dishes like edible works of art
- Workshops and demos where guests could watch artists at work
One of the biggest early hits was the introduction of paint-by-number murals, where guests collectively filled in sections of massive Disney-themed artwork throughout the day.
Expansion and Growth Over the Years
Between 2018 and 2020, the festival expanded significantly:
- More Food Studios were added across World Showcase
- Menus became more adventurous and visually playful
- Artist booths increased in both number and variety
- Merchandise leaned into bold colors and festival-exclusive designs
In 2020, the festival introduced the Disney on Broadway Concert Series, bringing Broadway performers from Disney stage productions to the America Gardens Theatre. This addition gave the festival a true nighttime anchor and helped it compete with EPCOT’s other seasonal events.
Adjustments During the Pandemic Era
Like all Disney festivals, Festival of the Arts changed during 2021 and 2022:
- Demonstrations and workshops were scaled back or paused
- Character appearances shifted to distanced formats
- Some interactive elements were temporarily removed
Even with those changes, the festival remained popular. Its smaller crowds and shorter run made it feel manageable and relaxed compared to Food and Wine, which often spans months.
Festival of the Arts Today
In its current form, Festival of the Arts feels fully realized.
Modern festival staples include:
- Rotating Food Studios with art-inspired menus
- Broadway concerts scheduled multiple nights per week
- Chalk art that changes daily
- Scavenger hunts themed to Disney artists and characters
- Pop-up performances throughout World Showcase
The festival now balances creativity with comfort. It is less overwhelming than Food and Wine, more adult-friendly than Flower and Garden, and deeply rooted in EPCOT’s original mission of culture and creativity.
Why It Matters to EPCOT’s Identity
Festival of the Arts fits EPCOT in a way that feels intentional. EPCOT has always been about innovation, culture, and storytelling, and this festival celebrates those ideas through art rather than attractions.
It also fills an important gap in the calendar. January and February used to be a quieter time at Walt Disney World. Festival of the Arts gives guests a reason to visit when crowds are lower and temperatures are mild.
For Disney fans who love slower mornings, creative inspiration, and thoughtful food, this festival often becomes a favorite.
Looking Ahead
While EPCOT continues to evolve with new neighborhoods and attractions, Festival of the Arts has proven it is here to stay. Each year brings new menus, new artists, and new ways to interact with Disney creativity.
If you are the kind of Disney fan who loves details, design, and a little less chaos, Festival of the Arts feels like EPCOT speaking directly to you.
And if visiting EPCOT during festival season is part of your long-term Disney plans, many guests choose to make those trips easier by financing their Disney Vacation Club membership through Vacation Club Loans, helping turn annual festival traditions into a reality instead of a maybe someday.