It’s still Halloween! Halloween Horror Nights may still be underway, but Universal Studios Hollywood is already getting ready to trade its monsters for Christmas trees. Universal Studios Hollywood is getting ready for Christmas, with the return of Grinchmas, holiday festivities throughout The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Super Nintendo World, and an all-new celebration featuring Illumination’s Minions.
The theme park’s annual holiday celebration begins Saturday, November 21, 2026, and continues daily through Sunday, January 3, 2027. All of the seasonal experiences are included with regular theme park admission, giving visitors more than six weeks to enjoy the festivities.
Grinchmas returns to Universal Plaza, where the area will once again transform into Who-ville for the holidays. The centerpiece is a 65-foot Christmas tree decorated with hundreds of colorful ornaments and thousands of LED lights. Multiple times each evening, the tree will light up during a special ceremony accompanied by a snowfall effect, bringing a little winter weather to Southern California.
The Grinch himself will be on hand to meet visitors, joined by his faithful dog Max and several residents of Who-ville. Cindy-Lou Who will return to read How the Grinch Stole Christmas, while the Fah-Who 4 A’s perform holiday music throughout the day. Guests can also stop by the Who-ville post office to send the Grinch postcards listing three good deeds they’ve performed or decorate their own Grinchmas paper ornaments. Seasonal sweets and exclusive merchandise will be available throughout the celebration.
One of the biggest additions for 2026 is Illumination’s Merry Minions, which brings Christmas festivities to Minion Land for the first time. The area will be decorated with holiday lights and seasonal displays, while the Minions themselves will appear in festive outfits for special character meet-and-greets. Minion Cafe will also introduce holiday-themed food, accompanied by a new collection of Merry Minions merchandise.
Over in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Hogsmeade Village will once again be decorated for Christmas, with garlands, wreaths and holiday lights covering the snow-capped rooftops and storefronts. The Frog Choir will perform seasonal music throughout the day, and visitors can warm up with hot Butterbeer, which returns for the holidays alongside the regular cold and frozen varieties.
The biggest Christmas attraction in Hogsmeade comes after dark with the return of The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle. The nighttime projection show transforms the exterior of Hogwarts Castle with animated holiday imagery, colorful lighting effects and music from the Harry Potter films. The show has become a seasonal favorite at Universal Studios Hollywood, giving visitors another reason to stick around after sunset.
Christmas is also returning to the Mushroom Kingdom at Super Nintendo World. Mario and Luigi snowmen will greet visitors near the entrance, standing beside a holiday tree topped with a glowing Super Star. Additional decorations will appear throughout the land, while the 1-UP Factory and other shops around the park will carry seasonal Nintendo merchandise.
The celebration extends beyond the theme park into Universal CityWalk Hollywood, where a 40-foot Christmas tree illuminated by more than 200,000 LED lights will serve as the centerpiece of the holiday decorations. The Universal Studios Store will introduce a new selection of holiday apparel, accessories, collectibles, ornaments and home decorations inspired by popular Universal franchises.
CityWalk’s 5 Towers stage will also host live music, DJ performances and street entertainers on select evenings, adding another holiday destination for visitors who want to enjoy the festivities without spending the entire day inside the theme park.
With Grinchmas returning, Hogwarts Castle lighting up for Christmas and the Minions joining the festivities for the first time, Universal Studios Hollywood will have holiday celebrations spread throughout the park this year.
Holidays at Universal Studios Hollywood run daily from November 21, 2026, through January 3, 2027, with all seasonal experiences included in regular theme park admission. Check Universal Studios Hollywood Holiday event calendar for tickets.
