The stage is set! The EPCOT International Festival of the Arts is returning this year even bigger and better than ever! Running from January 14 through February 21, 2022, now is the time to start planning! Get ready to immerse yourself in the visual, culinary and performing arts at Walt Disney World!
The Epcot International Festival of the Arts instantly became a hit its inaugural year in 2016. Each year since the festival continues to grow in popularity and Disney continues to broaden our mind and our palette with amazing new and returning experiences. The festival highlights art in all different forms – ink and paint, photography, culinary, and so much more!
Think of this festival as a scaled down version of the International Flower & Garden Festival (which is a scaled down version of the International Food & Wine Festival). It’s small enough to enjoy every bit of it, but it packs a mighty punch. Tour the World Showcase promenade visiting with local artists, while sampling some of the globes finest culinary cuisine. Test your artist skills by joining one of the many workshops & seminars held throughout the duration of the festival.
The DISNEY ON BROADWAY Concert Series RETURNS this year after being on hiatus last year!!! This is beloved by fans and it’s so exciting to see it come back.
If you would like premier seats to the concert (and avoid the long wait), you can always reserve a special dining package. Reserve lunch or dinner at select restaurants and enjoy priority seating. Click here for details and to make reservations.
Here is this year’s concert schedule:
Arielle Jacobs (Aladdin) and Adam Jacobs (Aladdin)
- January 14
- January 16 through 17
- January 20 through 21
Kerry Butler (Beauty and the Beast) and Telly Leung (Aladdin)
- January 15
- January 18 through 19
- January 22 through 23
Heidi Blickenstaff (Freaky Friday, The Little Mermaid) and Robert Creighton (Frozen)
- January 24
- January 26 through 27
- January 30 through 31
- February 3 through 4
Kara Lindsay (Newsies) and Dan DeLuca (Newsies)
- January 25
- January 28 through 29
- February 1 through 2
- February 5 through 6
Ashley Brown (Mary Poppins) and Josh Strickland (Tarzan)
- February 7
- February 9 through 10
- February 13 through 14
- February 17 through 18
Kissy Simmons (The Lion King) and Michael James Scott (Aladdin)
- February 8
- February 11 through 12
- February 15 through 16
- February 19 through 20
Special Performance – February 21, 2022
On February 21, give a standing ovation for an extended finale featuring Ashley Brown, Josh Strickland, Kissy Simmons and Michael James Scott!
Food Items:
- Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese
- Tomato Soup with Bacon, Apple, and Brie Grilled Cheese (New)
- Almond Frangipane Cake layered with raspberry jam and Belgian chocolate
- Pop’t Art: Modern-designed sugar cookie with chocolate-hazelnut filling
- Figment Premium Popcorn Bucket with Rainbow Popcorn (Limit 2 per guest) (New)
Beverages:
- Hazy IPA
- Tomato Soup Can Bloody Mary
Food Items:
- Deconstructed BLT: Crispy pork belly, soft-poached egg, brioche, watercress espuma, and tomato jam
- Deconstructed French Onion Soup: Beef broth ravioli, Gruyère espuma, onion bread pudding, and onion textures (New)
- Deconstructed Key Lime Pie: Flexible Key lime curd, “Key lime” mousse, graham cracker cake, and meringues (Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine – Green) (New)
Beverages:
- Deconstructed Apple Pie à la Mode: Apple-cinnamon gelato, cinnamon apple cider, apple pie filling, and streusel (non-alcoholic) (New)
- Brown Ale
Food Items:
- Dulce Chocolate Mousse with chocolate crémeux and dark chocolate truffle (New)
- Decadent Valrhona Chocolate with dark chocolate mousse, chocolate brownie, and cassis mousse (New)
- Orange Mousse with lemon cake and raspberry meringues (New)
Beverages:
- Strawberry Blonde Nitro
- Vanilla Porter
- Milk Stout
- Neapolitan Beer Flight
Food Items:
- Cast Iron-roasted P.E.I. Mussels with Sautéed Tomatoes, Garlic, and Fresh Herbs (New)
- Cast Iron-seared Steelhead Trout with parsley salad, grape tomatoes, Kalamata olives, capers, and lemon aïoli (New)
Beverages:
- Wheat Beer
- Chardonnay
- Rosé
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Wine Flight
Food Items:
- Plant-based Bratwurst with spicy turmeric aïoli, coffee barbecue jackfruit, and slaw (Plant-based)
- Artist Palette Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookie
Beverages:
- Blue Raspberry Blonde Ale
- Nairobi Coffee Dark Beer
- Brown Ale
Food Items:
- Red Wine-braised Beef Short Rib with parsnip purée, broccolini, baby tomatoes, and aged balsamic
- Wild Boar Cassoulet with duck confit, ham hock, and wild boar sausage (New)
- Opera Cake: Almond joconde, coffee buttercream, and chocolate ganache
Beverages:
- Rosé Hard Cider
- Rosé Blonde Ale
- Frozen Rosé
- A Play on Rosé Flight
- Old Vine Rosé
Food Items:
- Beef Wellington: Mushroom duxelle, prosciutto, and puff pastry with red wine demi-glace and baby vegetables
- Pan-seared Scallops with vanilla-butternut squash purée, brown butter cauliflower purée, and lime foam (Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine – Orange)
- Pistachio Cake with cherry mousse and morello cherries
Beverages:
- Sipping Chocolate Flight: White, milk, and dark chocolate (non-alcoholic)
- White Ale
- Amber Ale
- Brown Ale
- Pinot Noir
- Symphony in Chocolate Flight: Cream liqueurs paired with Sipping Chocolates
- Beer Flight
Food Items:
- Carrots Three Ways: Berbere-spiced grilled carrots, pickled carrots, and carrot ginger purée (Plant-based) (New)
- House-made Crispy Almond Phyllo Pockets with white chocolate pomegranate and milk chocolate orange (New)
Beverages:
- Chai Tea Mint Mimosa: Twinings of London Chai Tea with Key lime sparkling wine and mint
- Sangria Hard Cider
- Chai Hard Cider
- Berry Hard Cider
- Cider Flight
Food Items:
- House-made Chorizo and Potato Empanada with turmeric aïoli and annatto aïoli (Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine – Yellow) (New)
- Spicy Ajiaco Soup with guajillo and árbol chili-spiced chicken, potato, avocado, corn, and crème fraîche (Gluten/Wheat Friendly) (New)
- Passion Fruit Mousse with Dragon Fruit Jam (Gluten/Wheat Friendly)
Beverages:
- Coconut and Passion Fruit Smoothie (non-alcoholic)
- Frozen Piña Colada
- Passion Fruit Daiquiri
Food Items:
- Gnocchi Poutine with red wine-braised beef, cheese curds, basil, and burrata (New)
- Artist Palette Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookie
Beverages:
- Blood Orange Cosmo: Vodka with blood orange, cranberry, and lime (New)
- Hard Cider
Food Items:
- Blood Orange-braised Beet Carpaccio with mustard vinaigrette, pickled clamshell mushrooms, golden beets, and crostini (Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine – Red) (Planted-based) (New)
- Roasted Bone Marrow with onion marmalade, pickled mushrooms, mache lettuce, and bone marrow snow (New)
- Wild Mushroom Risotto, Aged Parmesan, Truffle Shavings, and Zinfandel Reduction
Beverages:
- German Lager
- Cuvée Sparkling Wine
- Merlot
- Frozen Rusty Nail Cocktail
Food Items:
- Vanilla Donut with strawberry sugar, strawberry ice cream, fresh strawberries, and strawberry gele (Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine – Pink) (New)
- Inside Out Donut: Vanilla donut with Bavarian cream (New)
- Chocolate-dipped Donut with black and gold sugar sprinkles and chocolate buttercream ((New)
Beverages:
- Rosé
- Cold Fashion Coffee Cocktail
Food Items:
- Crème de Brie en Petit Pain: Warm creamy brie in a house-made bread bowl
- Croissant à la Truffe Noire d’Hiver: Black winter truffle croissant served warm
- Mousseline de Bisque de Homard Froide, Brioche Feuilletée à l’Aneth: Chilled lobster bisque mousse served with dill brioche (New)
- Moelleux aux Noisettes et Chocolats Valrhona: Molten chocolate and hazelnut cake with pure origin Valrhona chocolates
Beverages:
- Frozen French Martini: Vodka, black raspberry liqueur, pineapple, orange, and grape juice with lemon-lime foam
- French Rosé Sparkling Wine
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Sparkling Chardonnay
Food Items:
- Huarache Verde: Cilantro huarache with cochinita pibil, fresh pineapple, and pickled onion (New)
- Carne Asada: Seared beef tenderloin, grilled queso fresco, refried beans, scallion, and ranchera salsa (New)
- Taco de Chocolate: Chocolate candy shell filled with Mexican chocolate mousse with a touch of chile topped with seasonal fruit (Gluten/Wheat Friendly)
Beverages:
- Mexican Craft Beer: Crafted with citrus notes and made with Mexican Caribbean seawater
- The Lily: Blanco tequila, violet essence Infusion, rose petal liqueur, cranberry, and lime juice
- Smoky Raspberry: Blanco tequila, rosemary-infused mezcal, ginger cordial, lime juice, and rosemary aroma
Food Items:
- Chicken Kushiage: Breaded and fried chicken with yum yum sauce and vegetables (New)
- Sushi Donut: Donut-shaped sushi featuring salmon, tuna, shrimp, cucumber, and sesame seed over a decorated plate of wasabi aïoli, sriracha, and eel sauce
Beverages:
- Winter Ale
- Sake in a traditional personalized wooden cup
- Niseko Flurry: Sake, rum, white cranberry juice, blue curaçao, and lime juice (New)
Food Items:
- General Tso’s Chicken Shumai
- Char Siu Pork Bun
Beverages:
- “Panda” Bubble Tea: Classic milk tea with black and white boba (non-alcoholic)
- Jasmine Draft Beer
- Eastern Dynasty: Vodka, light rum, strawberry syrup, piña colada mix, soda water, and magic boba pearls
- Kung Fu Punch: Vodka, triple sec, mango syrup, orange juice, and soda water
- Sea Butterfly: Butterfly pea flower-infused cocktail with vodka, light rum, lychee syrup, magic boba pearls
Food Items:
- Arancini: Fried risotto balls stuffed with braised-beef and served with pomodoro sauce (New)
- Ravioli alla Boscaiola: Sweet sausage ravioli, mushrooms, caramelized onions, and creamy Parmesan sauce (New)
- Bomboloni: Chocolate-hazelnut Italian doughnut with powdered sugar (New)
Beverages:
- Peroni Pilsner
- Pinot Grigio
- Chianti
- Prosecco
- Red Sparkling Wine
- Moscato
- Italian White Sangria with Prosecco
- Italian Red Sangria with Cabernet Sauvignon
- Italian Margarita with Tequila and Limoncello
- Amaretto Bellini: Amaretto, White Peach Purée, and Prosecco
- Bergamotto: Rosolio Liqueur, Prosecco, and Olive
- Cherry Blossom Funnel Cake: Chocolate chip funnel cake topped with cherry ice cream, rainbow whipped cream, chocolate chips, and a maraschino cherry (New)
- World Discovery (Near Mission: SPACE) – Mocha Masterpiece Cold Brew: A sweet creamy cold brew topped with whipped cream and chocolate puffs
- Canada – Colorful Canvas Cold Brew: A sweet creamy cold brew topped with whipped cream and fruity cereal
- World Showcase (Near Disney Traders) – Cinnamon Swirl Cold Brew: A sweet creamy cold brew topped with whipped cream and cinnamon squares
- The American Adventure – Rainbow Dreams Cold Brew: A sweet creamy cold crew topped with whipped cream and colorful marshmallow crunch
- The Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine – a fun food stroll featuring five delicious sweet and savory treats
- Chalk artists turning walkways into stunning landscapes and portraits
- Photo ops where you can step into famous artwork
- An homage to Frida Kahlo
- Mexico Pavilion
- Birth of Venus – Sandro Botticelli
- Italy Pavilion Courtyard
- Café Terrace at Night and Sunflowers – Vincent van Gogh
- Bridge to World Showcase
- Luncheon of the Boating Party – Pierre-Auguste Renoir
- International Gateway
- Mona Lisa – Leonardo da Vinci
- Between Italy Pavilion and Germany Pavilion
- Peter Pan Storybook
- Bridge to World Showcase
- The Scream – Edvard Munch
- Between Italy Pavilion and Germany Pavilion
- Washington Crossing the Delaware – Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze
- The American Adventure Pavilion
- An homage to Frida Kahlo
- A paint-by-number mural
- Figment’s Brush with the Masters scavenger hunt
- Performance and visual artists
- Special festival merchandise
These are essential to organizing your day. Know where you are going and use your Passport to check off where you’ve been and what you’ve tried. At the start of the day, highlight the offerings that are your “must do’s”, this way you can prioritize those and you don’t miss out!
Each year, Disney announces the food booths long before the festival starts. This provides the opportunity to get to know what is being offered, and what you might like to try. Similar to tip #1, make a list of must try items! Leave room for spontaneity and discovery, but having a list will allow you to not miss anything you want to try and stay on budget.
With all the food and drink offerings at the festival, setting a limit right from the beginning is the best way not to go overboard. My suggestion is to put a set amount of money on the mini special event wristband gift cards. This will help you stay on track, and they are great souvenirs too!
Scouting out a place to sit and enjoy your tasty treats may be difficult, especially on weekends. There are a lot of high top tables around the World Showcase, but there are also many nooks and crannies where you can grab a seat and enjoy your food and drink. My recommendation, scout out a table before you purchase treats. Have a friend hold the table while you get the food – another tip, ask to share a table! It’s a great way to meet new friends! I have met some of the most interesting people by doing this!
Don’t forget or underestimate the offerings in World Celebration, World Discovery and World Nature (formerly Future World)! Many think that the festival just takes place in the World Showcase, and in years past, that was the case. But over the last several years, booths have erected in World Celebration, World Discovery and World Nature too! Be sure to check them out!!
With more and more food and drink options available to us every year at the Art Festival, it’s easy to get over excited and dig right in. By the time you hit the halfway point, you’ve had enough! Prioritize what to eat and drink first and go slowly. There is plenty of time to try everything! Use your Festival Guide to help you navigate and plan.
Also, I highly recommend sharing with friends and family! This is a great way to maintain your appetite, save some money, and you get to try more things!
The Art Festival offers unique activities for the young and young at heart, all centered around the visual, culinary and performing arts. Take advantage of these. Some are free, some are of minimal cost. All well worth it!
None of any of this matters if you aren’t having fun. Let your hair down, try new things, make new friends and enjoy the atmosphere!!
This post will continue to be updated as Disney shares more details.
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