I am heading back to EPCOT’s International Flower and Garden Festival this spring, and I am SO EXCITED for what’s on tap for this event in 2026! From the bright, vibrant colors to the delicate floral aromas, EPCOT shines throughout this festival. With dozens of Outdoor Kitchens to sample from and a Garden Rocks Concert Series line up to make you feel extra nostalgic, there is so much to do, see, and eat at this festival.
This year, the festival runs from March 4 through June 1, 2026, but there are already topiaries popping up around the park as of mid-February – guests heading to EPCOT between this time and February 23 can catch a rare festival overlap as the International Festival of the Arts wraps up its last week. After a long, cold winter across the US, this floral celebration can’t come soon enough! With discounts galore (including the month of May!), and FREE dining plans for kids all year, now is the perfect time to visit Walt Disney World. Read on to discover the many ways to spring into the new season at EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival.
Festival Gardens
What would this even be without the gorgeously themed gardens throughout the park? With gardens unique to each country represented in the World Showcase pavilions, as well as fun and creative gardens spread around World Discovery, World Celebration, and World Nature, there are flowers everywhere at this festival. There are several NEW gardens this year, including a Pet-Friendly Garden, Wildlife Crossing Garden – inspired by Hoppers, and a Trendy Tropicals Garden between the Morocco and France Pavilions. I am also intrigued by the new Rain or Shine Fruit Stand (presented by Outshine), which will celebrate the water cycle and how water nurtures crops – located in Communicore Plaza, I am guessing this will by near Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana.
A few of my long-time returning favorite gardens are:
- Shishi Odoshi Garden in the Japan Pavillion: Made of bamboo, these features of many Japanese gardens create a relaxing sound when they tap together as water flows through them. However, they have a practical gardening purpose – shishi odoshi translates to “deer scaring,” and these beautiful fountains are actually used to scare away pest animals from the garden. I just love having a little Zen moment watching the peaceful kinetic energy of the shishi odoshi, and afterwards taking a stroll through the Bonsai Collection Garden.
- The Floating Gardens: These are, without a doubt, my favorite gardens at this festival year after year. Drifting on the waterways along the bridge to the World Showcase, more than 170 mini gardens create a beautiful floating rainbow of flowers. The view of the Imagination Pavilion with the gardens in the foreground creates a feeling of whimsy and inspiration that encompasses what that pavilion is all about, and I wish these gardens could be a permanent fixture.
- English Tea Garden (presenting by Twinings): Meander through the UK pavilion gardens and learn about the history of tea along the way. In years past there has been a garden tour available a few times per day. This short walking tour is free and does require advance in-person sign up – check at the UK pavilion gift shop early in the day to see if this is being offered again in 2026.
Scatted throughout the gardens you’ll find facts about the plants featured, and why they’re located where they are. You’ll also get a chance to learn about the pollinators that are vital to healthy plant life, and our food system.
Edutainment & Play
Butterfly Landing (presented by AdventHealth) is personal favorite year after year, and a fun activity for everyone in your group. Take a few minutes to visit the Butterfly Landing tent, and learn about several species of butterfly – including malachite and the recognizable monarch. Crucial for pollination and evidence of a biodiverse ecosystem, we should take every opportunity we have to protect and promote a healthy butterfly population and I love that Disney hosts this experience every year.
If you’re ready for a snack, you can head over to The Honey Bee-stro (Hosted by National Honey Board) and learn about helpful bee pollinators while you nosh on a bite from the Outdoor Kitchen next door. The food and drink items on this menu feature (you guessed it) honey! And it’s fun to read a couple factoids while you enjoy some Chicken & Waffles with spicy honey drizzle or a Honey Lager. If you have a kiddo or kid-at-heart with you, you can purchase the festival’s scavenger hunt game, Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration ($11.99 +tax), and search for Spike around the World Showcase, adding a sticker to each location on the map. Once complete, return to one of the participating merchandise locations to claim your prize.
This year, kids can run off some extra energy at Playalong Bay (presented by Smuckers). Inspired by Disney’s Yacht Club and Beach Club Resorts, this nautically themed, interactive play area is located near the Imagination Pavilion and available for kids ages 2-12. With some seating, standing tables, and a bit of shade available, this is a great place for parents to stop and recharge while little ones play free for a bit.
I’m always on the lookout for something NEW as these festivals and I am really excited about the Festival Exhibit at CommuniCore Hall this year. It looks like something unique is emerging here, with an indoor garden highlighting nighttime transitions of flowers and insects. After the sun goes down, discover evening enchantment as fireflies and nocturnal blooms show off their glow. I can’t wait!
Fun Foods with a Floral Flair
A stroll around the World Showcase to take in the fragrant blooms and vivid colors is always a little better with a snack or beverage in hand. The Outdoor Kitchens at this festival offer small-to-mid-sized shareable plates of themed bites, and I have spent many a dinner hour hopping from kitchen to kitchen, sampling different bites and sips from around the world. When details are released, the full menus will be found here: EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival – Foodie Guide! A couple of my favorites that I hope will make a return this year are the Avocado Toast with Cherry Tomatoes and Edible Flowers, and the Chicken and Waffles with Hot Honey from Honey Bee-stro!
Time to Jam!
Each EPCOT festival has a lively concert series to go along with it, and some major blasts from the past have graced the America Pavilions Stage – including the likes of Yellowcard and the Beach Boys (whose line to get in seemed to stretch all the way to Orlando International Airport at the Food and Wine Festival last fall). This year, the Garden Rocks Series has a couple of bands that are sure to draw a crowd, with Simple Plan, Rick Springfield, A Flock of Seagulls, and 98 Degrees all set to perform. Check out the full lineup below:
Avid fans can purchase a Garden Rocks Series Dining Package to guarantee seating for a show. This can be worthwhile for popular acts because some guests do wait in line for hours to see performers like Boyz II Men. Here’s how it works:
- Purchase a Garden Rocks Dining Package from one of the participating restaurants up to 60 days in advance of your trip through the MyDisneyExperience App. Prices vary for each location, and Dining Plan Credits can be used – more info can be found here: Garden Rocks Concert Series Dining Packages | Walt Disney World Resort
- On the day of your dining package, enjoy a buffet seating or an appetizer, entrée, dessert, and beverage at your selected restaurant (alcoholic beverages included for guests 21+).
- You will receive a voucher for reserved seating towards the front of the theater for a specific show time.
- Bring your voucher to the theater queue for Dining Package Guests (there will be signage) and enjoy the show!
- These seats are still first come, first serve for those with Dining Packages, so for popular acts, you’ll still want to arrive a little early!
A full list of participating restaurants:
Topiaries
See some of your favorite characters come alive in a whole new way in these living topiaries spread around the park. Each year we get to enjoy some returning favorites, and also welcome new characters to the event. A few of my personal favorites are Lumiere & Cogsworth, Goofy Blowing Dandelions, Buzz Lightyear near Mission Space, Isabella from Encanto, and Captain Hook vs. Peter Pan.
I am looking forward to seeing Lightning McQueen and Mater from Cars return this year for the first time in a quite a while, along with Mike and Sully from Monsters Inc. No doubt these friends are making a comeback to hype up the new lands and attractions coming to Piston Peak in Frontierland at the Magic Kingdom, and Monstropolis in Hollywood Studios. (Personally, I am quite excited for these changes, though I do hope MuppetVision 3D is re-homed near Rock’n’Roller Coaster when it’s all said and done.)
Regardless of which characters top your list, the sheer size and detail of these topiaries is breathtaking, and it’s often hard to believe they are made of living flowers and succulents.
Springtime Overlay on Living with the Land
One of my must-do rides each time I visit Walt Disney World is Living with the Land, and it gets one of its many beautiful overlays and theming during the International Flower and Garden Festival. Take a luxurious boat ride through various ecosystems, culminating in everyone’s favorite greenhouse tour. The sets throughout the greenhouses are updated each season, and I’m looking forward to what the team has come up with this year. I’d even be happy with a repeat of last year’s sets inspired by Moana, Tangled, and Princess and the Frog.
“A flower blossoms for its own joy.” – Oscar Wilde
Nothing beats a springtime trip to Walt Disney World after a long, cold winter, and EPCOT’s International Flower and Garden Festival is a highlight of these visits. While there’s so much to do, see, and eat at this event, it really is the flowers themselves that bring the festival to life for me. There is plenty of time to plan a trip to this year’s EPCOT’s International Flower and Garden Festival. With discounts galore (including the month of May!), and FREE dining for kids all year, now is the perfect time to visit Walt Disney World. Let’s map out your next Magical Quest today!
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