Universal Orlando Resort reveals dates for an Exciting Slate of Destination-Wide Events in 2026

Guests Can Click Here to Discover the “Events & Experiences Guide” for 2026 and Begin Planning the Ultimate Vacation to the Award-Winning Destination.

The excitement never stops at Universal Orlando Resort, where guests can enjoy unforgettable fun all year long with an incredible lineup of experiences and events for every season. With today’s launch of the Universal Orlando Events and Experiences Guide, guests can now start planning their 2026 vacations to enjoy special events and experiences that go beyond the award-winning thrills found across the theme parks – including fan-favourite seasonal events, hotel happenings, and exciting special activities and limited-time celebrations across Universal Orlando Resort.

Here’s a closer look at the unforgettable experiences that await throughout the year.

THEME PARK EXPERIENCES AND SEASONAL EVENTS
Guests can enjoy the following seasonal events and experiences across Universal Orlando Resort:

• Universal Mardi Gras: International Flavours of Carnavalreturns February 7- April 4 with a vibrant celebration featuring dazzling floats with tons of colourful beads, live performances on select nights from some of the biggest names in music, and a diverse array of international cuisine along with mouthwatering dishes inspired by New Orleans’ iconic flavors.
• Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights, the world’s premier Halloween event, returns for its 35th anniversary – unleashing an all-new slate of terror on select nights fromAugust 28 – November 1.  Guests will encounter terrifying haunted houses inspired by horror’s biggest names and haunting original stories, scare zones packed with relentless frights, outrageous entertainment, themed food and beverage, and more. Additional details will be shared in the months ahead.
• Holidays at Universal Orlando Resort will run from November 14 through January 3 and welcome the return of holiday traditions inspired by pop culture’s beloved stories and characters – including Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Grinchmas, and Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s – plus festive décor throughout the destination – including all 11 Universal Orlando hotels, themed food and beverage, exclusive merchandise, and more. Guests can also ring in the new year with live entertainment and festive celebrations at the theme parks and Universal CityWalk on December 31. More details to come.

Plus, special limited-time offerings will be available in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter throughout the year as the first Harry Potter film celebrates its 25th anniversary, including Butterbeer Season from March 1 through May 31 to “Butterbeer Season from March 1 – May 31”

—featuring limited-edition treats, new themed merchandise and more celebrating the beloved wizarding beverage; Back to Hogwarts from August 1 – September 1 —celebrating the timeframe students traditionally return to Hogwarts in the “Harry Potter” stories; and Dark Arts returns to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter this fall, with the breathtaking projection spectacle “Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle” in Hogsmeade, and roaming Death Eaters in the streets of Diagon Alley. More details will be shared at a later time.

Here’s a snapshot of the dates for the aforementioned 2026 theme park experiences and event dates:

Celebrations Continue at Universal CityWalk
Guests can extend their thrills outside the parks with themed events in Universal CityWalk throughout the year – including the Mardi Gras After Party and St. Patrick’s Day celebrations at Pat O’Brien’s in the spring, special viewings to watch NBC and Peacock’s Super Bowl (February 8) and the Kentucky Derby (May 2) at NBC Sports Grill & Brew, the wildly-popular annual transformations of the Red Coconut Club into the Cursed Coconut Club for Mardi Gras, the Dead Coconut Club for Halloween Horror Nights and the Green & Red Coconut Club for the Holidays – and more.

Plus, Universal CityWalk will host special activities and viewing parties for Milan Cortina Winter Olympics and Telemundo’s Spanish Language coverage of the FIFA World Cup, a CityWalk Summer Movie Series, a Summer Music Series, and so much more.

Happenings at Universal Orlando Hotels
Universal Orlando hotel guests can enjoy even more seasonal events and offerings at select hotels during their stay, including:

• An Acoustic Brunchevery Sunday at The Kitchen in the Hard Rock Hotel, where guests can savor a full brunch buffet and chef-inspired creations while enjoying live music.
• A Wantilan Luauat Loews Royal Pacific Resort, where guests can enjoy a festive, family-friendly luau and dinner show on Saturday evenings (subject to change).
• Harbor Nights at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, where guests can escape to the Mediterranean and enjoy unlimited gourmet food and wines from the hotel’s restaurants, live music and a traditional opera performance. Harbor Nights will take place on February 13, April 17, October 16 and November 27.
• S. Hunger Meal Packing in November, where guests can volunteer to help package 555,000 healthy meals for people in need across Central Florida.
• Velvet Sessions and Velvet Unplugged atHard Rock Hotel, showcasing live music from legendary artists throughout the year.

Special dining will also be available for guests on Easter, Mother’s Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve at participating hotels, including Universal Helios Grand Hotel, a Loews Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel, Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Loews Royal Pacific Resort and Loews Sapphire Falls Resort.

Additional details about Universal Orlando’s 2026 events and experiences will be released throughout the year. For more information and updates, visit www.UniversalPartnerCommunity.com. You can also follow the Universal Destinations and Experiences Travel Professionals Facebook Page to receive the latest news, updates and more. Follow us on our blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.