Walt Disney World has announced the 2026 EPCOT Candlelight Processional narrators, with Robin Roberts, Jason Kelce and Lacey Chabert joining the lineup for the first time.
The Candlelight Processional will take place nightly from November 27 through December 30 at America Gardens Theatre during the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays. Performances are scheduled for 4:45 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. each evening.
Disney announced the 2026 narrator schedule on September 8. The lineup includes returning narrators and three newcomers. Four dates remain without an announced narrator.
2026 Candlelight Processional Narrator Schedule
The announced schedule is:
- November 27–28: Auli‘i Cravalho
- November 29–December 1: Gary Sinise
- December 2–3: To be announced
- December 4–5: Whoopi Goldberg
- December 6–7: Robin Roberts
- December 8–9: Jason Kelce
- December 10–12: Neil Patrick Harris
- December 13–14: To be announced
- December 15–16: Lauren Daigle
- December 17–19: Ralph Macchio
- December 20–21: Henry Winkler
- December 22–23: Lacey Chabert
- December 24–25: Jodi Benson
- December 26–27: Simu Liu
- December 28–30: Eva Longoria
Spaceship Earth and the Christmas tree at EPCOT – Disney Parks Blog
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Disney identifies Roberts, Kelce and Chabert as new narrators for the 2026 presentation. The company also says the 2026 season marks the Candlelight Processional’s 55th year at Walt Disney World and 32nd year at EPCOT.
Three New Narrators
Robin Roberts, Jason Kelce and Lacey Chabert will each participate in the Candlelight Processional for the first time this year.
Robin Roberts may be the most recognizable new face with more than 30 years on ABC’s Good Morning America. ESPN analyst and former NFL player Jason Kelce also joins the line-up this year. The final new face is Hallmark actress Lacey Chabert, who stars in the upcoming Hallmark Christmas movie Holiday Ever After: A Disney World Wish Come True, set to premiere November 28, 2026.
Several Familiar Narrators Return
While the 2026 lineup includes three new narrators, several well-known names are returning to the Candlelight Processional. Among them are Neil Patrick Harris and Whoopi Goldberg, both of whom have appeared as narrators multiple times in recent years.
Auli‘i Cravalho, the voice of Moana in Disney’s 2016 animated film Moana and its 2024 sequel, returns as the opening narrator on November 27 and 28.
A holiday tradition🕯️✨ #DisneyHolidays pic.twitter.com/Ip9dorHG4A
— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) September 8, 2026
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Lauren Daigle is another returning narrator. The Grammy-winning Christian singer is scheduled for December 15 and 16.
The rest of the line-up include several actors, including Jodi Benson of The Little Mermaid, Ralph Macchio of Cobra Kai, Simu Lai of Shang-Chi, and several more.
What Is the EPCOT Candlelight Processional?
The Candlelight Processional presents the story of Christmas through a celebrity narrator, massed choir and 51-piece orchestra. The choir features the Voices of Liberty and community singers.
The Candlelight Processional takes place at America Gardens Theatre, located in EPCOT’s American Adventure pavilion. Disney lists three performances each night at 4:45 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Disney notes that entertainment and artist appearances can change or be canceled without notice. The published narrator schedule therefore remains subject to change.
Candlelight Processional Dining Packages
Disney will also offer Candlelight Processional Dining Packages during the 2026 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays.
The packages combine a meal at a participating EPCOT restaurant with guaranteed seating at one of that day’s Candlelight Processional performances. Disney’s dining information confirms that the packages will be available during the November 27 through December 30 festival period.
Disney’s September 8 announcement says reservations for the 2026 dining packages will open October 14. Meal options can include breakfast, lunch or dinner, depending on the restaurant. Disney also says the package may include an entrée and dessert or a buffet, plus a beverage.
The EPCOT Christmas Tree in Walt Disney World – Photo Credit: Follow The Bradleys’ Fun
Guests who purchase a package receive a reserved seating badge for their selected performance. General seating does not include that guarantee and is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Disney’s dining information currently advises guests to check back for additional details about the 2026 packages.
Four Dates To Be Announced
The 2026 Candlelight Processional schedule is not completely filled. Disney currently lists December 2 and 3, as well as December 13 and 14, as “To Be Announced.”
Those four dates are the only gaps in the published schedule. Disney has not stated when it will announce the remaining narrators.
For the other dates, the current schedule runs from Cravalho’s opening appearances on November 27 and 28 through Longoria’s performances on December 28, 29 and 30.
The EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays will run throughout the same period, from November 27 through December 30, 2026.
Which narrator are you hoping to catch this Christmas season? Sound off and let us know your thoughts!
