2023 Epcot Festival of the Arts Guide: Dates, Menu, Merchandise

The Epcot International Festival of the Arts is a collaboration with Disney Theatrical Productions with this year’s festival running from January 13th – Feb. 20th 2023.

The Epcot Arts Festival is a showcase of music and art taking place in Epcot will favorite offerings being the Disney on Broadway Concert Series, art galleries including the popular Chalk Art exhibit, festival food booths, performance art and guest workshops. The Festival of the Arts started at Epcot in 2017 and is both the newest and least popular Epcot festival.

While the festival isn’t the most popular festival, it may be our favorite. The personal experiences you get with the artists that are omnipresent throughout Epcot during the five weeks of the festival make this one of the best seasonal events at Epcot.

In 2023, the festival is adding in even more imagination as fan-favorite character Figment will play an even bigger role with a reverential space featuring food, merchandise, and original props from the 1980s Epcot attraction. For anyone new to Walt Disney World, you can translate that into there was once a very popular attraction that Disney has now changed that still spurred a love for the pink/purple dragon you can see all over Epcot. More details below.

Epcot Festival of the Arts Within the Epcot Festivals Calendar

The Epcot Festival of the Arts is just one of the festivals that takes place at Epcot throughout the year. It is almost always festival season at Epcot with gaps ranging between ten weeks to just over two weeks between festivals throughout the year.

You can read more info on the Epcot festivals throughout the year in our calendar of Epcot Festivals guide.

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2023 International Festival of the Arts at Epcot Highlights

  • Indulge in over 15 Food Studios serving culinary art all around World Showcase
  • Explore and purchase the brilliant and diverse work of Disney and other invited artists on display in marketplaces encircling World Showcase Lagoon
  • Step into the scene at special photo locations scattered around the park
  • Participate in a paint-by-number mural that serves as a collaborative art project for all
  • Watch as visiting artists create magic right before your eyes – there are 115 artists represented and 105 signings will be conducted during the 2023 festival
  • Catch performances by favorite EPCOT musical artists Mariachi Cobre and the JAMMitors.
  • Join an artful scavenger hunt as you search for Figment around World Showcase
  • Shop for festival-exclusive merchandise

This year’s EPCOT’s International Festival of the Arts takes place January 13th – Feb. 20th 2023.

Art in Performance at Epcot International Festival of the Arts

Art in Performance allows guests to see Disney artists as they create masterpieces around the International Festival of the Arts. You can find art on sidewalks, common spaces, and in surprise corners of Epcot.

The performances are largely put on by outside talent that Disney brings in for the festival which causes the entertainment to happen on a more scheduled basis than other regular Disney entertainment. It is more important than usual for you to pick out which shows throughout the day you are most interested in and add those plans to your schedule.

Here are some of the art performances you will be able to find in Epcot for this year’s festival.

Visual Art in Performance

Watch these talented artists paint a Disney character in mere minutes.

Featured artists this year include:

Trevor Carlton

  • January 14 to January 17
  • February 3 to February 6
  • February 10 to February 13
  • February 17 to February 21

Stephen Fishwick

  • January 27 to January 30

Trevor Carlton & Stephen Fishwick in a Dueling Artist Format

  • January 20 to January 23

This experience takes place in World Showcase Plaza, Thursday through Sunday and on select Mondays during the Festival.

Art Defying Gravity

Witness displays of strength, grace, acrobatics, and agility.

  • Days: Sunday through Saturday
  • Location: World Showplace

Music

Hear harmonious musical performances daily in World Showcase Plaza.

Featured musicians include:

  • Nicholas Marks, playing guitar Thursday through Saturday
  • Victor Espinola, playing harp Monday through Friday

Check the My Disney Experience app for daily showtimes.

Interactive Experiences

Art Exhibits from Disney Artists

festival of art artists display disney artwork

Disney on Broadway Concert Series

Guests can enjoy Broadway-inspired performances of popular Disney classics seven days a week at the America Gardens Theatre and around other stages across Epcot. Every two weeks a new pair of Disney on Broadway stars will perform beloved songs.

The stars perform a medley of favorites from Disney on Broadway shows. Many of the actors performing are active members of productions for Disney on Broadway and get to take the time off from their shows to come down to Orlando to perform. Knowing some of the backstory makes the performance even more fun to watch.

This was a similar situation to when we saw Disney on Broadway stars perform on the Disney Vacation Club Member Cruise.

Concert Details

  • Dates – January 13 through February 20, 2023
  • Times – Starting at 5:30 PM, 6:45 PM and 8:00 PM
  • Location – America Gardens Theatre at EPCOT

Kara Lindsay (Newsies) and Kevin Massey (Tarzan)

  • January 13
  • January 15 through 16
  • January 19 through 20

Siblings Arielle Jacobs and Adam Jacobs performing at the Epcot Festival of the Arts.

Arielle Jacobs (Aladdin) and Adam Jacobs (Aladdin)

  • January 14
  • January 17 through 18
  • January 21 through 22

Patti Murin (Frozen) and Robert Creighton (Frozen)

  • January 23
  • January 25 through 26
  • January 29 through 30
  • February 2 through 3

Mandy Gonzalez (Aida) and L. Steven Taylor (The Lion King)

  • January 24
  • January 27 through 28
  • January 31 through February 1
  • February 4 through 5

Ashley Brown (Mary Poppins) and Michael James Scott (Aladdin)

  • February 6
  • February 8 through 9
  • February 12 through 13
  • February 16 through 17

Kissy Simmons (The Lion King) and Josh Strickland (Tarzan)

  • February 7
  • February 10 through 11
  • February 14 through 15
  • February 18 through 19

Plus, on February 20, 2023, give a standing ovation for an extended finale featuring Ashley Brown, Josh Strickland, Kissy Simmons, and Michael James Scott! I wish I was here for this show. I have seen all four of these stars perform previously and know the caliber of talent that they have ready to perform.

Disney on Broadway Concert Series Dining Package

Disney World offers dining packages to select Epcot restaurants that guarantee seating at the Disney on Broadway Concert Series. Guests can enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner options before attending a showcase of Disney on Broadway songs later that evening. The dining package includes a 3-course meal experience that includes an appetizer, entrée, dessert and non-alcoholic beverage or one full buffet, where applicable as well as guaranteed seating.

Choose from 8 unique eateries at EPCOT offering DISNEY ON BROADWAY Concert Series Dining Packages at lunch and dinner. Each package includes:

  • An appetizer, entrée and dessert or one (1) full buffet (where applicable), along with a nonalcoholic beverage
  • One (1) guaranteed seat per person to a DISNEY ON BROADWAY concert held on the same day

Explore participating restaurants and dining package prices, which exclude tax and gratuity:

Adult
(ages 10 and up)
Child
(ages 3 to 9)
Akershus Royal Banquet
Norway Pavilion
$74.00 $48.00
Biergarten Restaurant
Germany Pavilion
$60.00 $34.00
Coral Reef Restaurant
The Living Seas
$69.00 $27.00
Garden Grill Restaurant
The Land Pavilion
$66.00 $43.00
Le Cellier Steakhouse
Canada Pavilion
$95.00 $36.00
Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue
American Adventure Pavilion
$35.00
Rose and Crown Dining Room
United Kingdom Pavilion
$59.00 $25.00
Spice Road Table
Morocco Pavilion
$47.00 $20.00

Guests can reserve their spot online here. They can also call (407) WDW-DINE or (407) 939-7463. Advanced reservations are highly recommended as this event fills up quickly.

Special Offerings for Walt Disney World Passholders

Walt Disney World Annual Passholders will receive special offerings during the festival. These are the fun extras passholders can find:

  • On the first visit you will receive a complimentary Passholder magnet. Just stop into Mouse Gear or Port of Entry and show your valid annual pass card and photo ID.
  • Passholders also receive a 20% Passholder discount on select festival merchandise.
  • There will also be Passholder-exclusive festival merchandise for annual passholders to purchase.
  • Passholders also receive a 10% discount for dining packages for the Disney on Broadway Concert Series and other special discounts on select dining options.

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Disclosure: We have used all the products recommended on Mickey Visit. We may receive compensation when you click on links to some products featured.

About Lindsay Brookshier

Lindsay is a college English instructor and has years of writing experience through various nonprofits, charities, newspapers, and online magazines. As the content director of Mickey Visit, she oversees article content and leads our fantastic team of writers to meet guest vacation needs. You can still find her writing weekly content to help make your Disney Parks trip fantastic here on Mickey Visit and Disney Dose- you can also view her recently featured posts on Disney Parks travel on Visit Anaheim, Nerd Wallet and SFGate. Lindsay comes from a dedicated Disney family and enjoys taking her son to the Disney parks as often as possible.

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