New and Returning Artists Coming to 2026 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts

Family observing artwork while an artist sketches at EPCOT Festival.

Published on Dec 10, 2025 by Will

The EPCOT International Festival of the Arts returns January 16 through February 23, 2026, at Walt Disney World Resort, celebrating culinary, visual, and performing arts, offering a magical blend of creativity and inspiration.

The festival features a talented lineup of both new and returning artists, presenting beautiful artwork filled with color and expression. These artists will showcase many amazing pieces throughout the event.

Young woman smiling by a fountain alongside whimsical Disney artwork.

Artist painting on canvas, focusing intently with a brush in hand.

Belle and the Beast embrace near a fountain, surrounded by enchanted characters.

Rosana Iarusso, new for 2026, grew up loving Disney and is currently a Senior Character Artist for Disney Consumer Products, known for her depictions of Disney Princesses and beloved characters like Tinker Bell and Minnie Mouse. She enjoys experimenting with new artistic mediums.

Darren Wilson, with 26 years at Disney, is a Senior Manager of Graphic Design who has contributed to Disney and Pixar films including Coco, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, and live-action movies like Pinocchio and Aladdin. He creates exclusive art through Disney galleries.

Smiling person with curly hair, colorful makeup, and an iridescent outfit.

A character holds a glowing key, surrounded by swirls and stars.

Man with glasses smiling next to an illustrated poster of The Haunted Mansion.

Yesenia Moises is an Afro-Latina author, illustrator, and toy designer known for her vibrant picture books and whimsical designs that create magic for young readers. Her distinct Afro Fantasy style has been featured by major publishers, toy companies, and TV studios.

Dave Perillo is an illustrator and designer from the Philadelphia suburbs. Starting with graphic design and medical illustrations, he moved into pop culture art inspired by mid-century modern aesthetics, working on projects influenced by Disney attractions.

Man smiling in front of colorful merchandise and cartoon character shelf display.

Man smiling beside an illustration of Belle reading a book.

Smiling artist sitting at a table with artwork, indoors with natural light.

A cozy Parisian scene with a view of the Eiffel Tower at night.

Jerrod Maruyama is a freelance illustrator known for cute character concepts. With a degree in Illustration, he began as an art director and transitioned to freelance work, bringing his unique style to popular characters and brands.

Dylan Bonner, returning for his sixth year at the Festival, is an illustrator from Michigan inspired by The Little Mermaid. Since 2017, Dylan has created art across Disney Princess comics, toys, Consumer Products, and Fine Art.

Josey Tsao is an LA-based illustrator whose work, inspired by real and imagined stories, has involved roles such as Concept Designer for theme parks and Background Painter in animation. She has collaborated with Walt Disney Imagineering and Disney Publishing Worldwide.

Some artists will also be signing their artwork during the festival. Attendees can check the Artist Portal for dates and times to meet them around the park.

Artist signing prints for two smiling attendees at EPCOT Festival of the Arts.

Artist painting a colorful Minnie Mouse on a canvas outdoors.

A woman and girl joyfully painting a colorful mural together.

Over 200 new pieces of artwork will be created live at the festival. Visitors can see onstage artists painting favorite Disney characters at CommuniCore Hall Plaza.

Other festival highlights include the Animation Academy at America Gardens Theatre, where a Disney animator guides guests in drawing beloved characters, and The Expression Section, an interactive paint-by-number mural that lets visitors contribute to a large community artwork.

EPCOT walkways are transformed into living canvases with Chalk Art Galleries, where artists bring characters and scenes to life right before guests' eyes.

The festival offers a range of art-related experiences throughout EPCOT. For full details on visual, culinary, and performing arts included with admission, guests can visit the official Disney Parks Blog and EPCOT Festival page.

To read more about this, visit the Official Disney Parks Blog post here.
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