Disney Lorcana Adds Extra Magic to EPCOT’s Festival of the Arts

Cards, Art, and a Bit of Magic: EPCOT’s International Festival of the Arts is known for celebrating creative expression – from visual arts to culinary arts and performance. This year, a new kind of art has joined the party: the art of the Disney Lorcana trading card game. If you’re a fan of Lorcana (the hit Disney-themed card game that debuted in 2023), or even if you’ve never heard of it, you’ll want to check out the Lorcana presence at Festival of the Arts 2026. It comes in the form of larger-than-life trading card displays that double as photo ops, plus an interactive scavenger hunt that lets you collect (and even win) some exclusive cards. Here’s how Disney is bringing card game flair into the park – and inviting all of us to play along.

Larger-Than-Life Card Photo Ops: Scattered throughout EPCOT, guests can now find giant Disney Lorcana cards displayed in various pavilions and areas. We’re talking about 8-foot-tall recreations of actual cards from the game, featuring gorgeous Disney character artwork. These make for awesome surprise encounters as you walk around – and they’re absolutely meant for you to stop and snap a photo. In total, there are at least eight known card displays (and perhaps a few more hidden ones), each themed to a different Disney character in Lorcana’s unique art style. For example, in World Celebration, you’ll find a giant Mickey Mouse card near the new CommuniCore Hall gardens. In World Discovery, there’s a Wreck-It Ralph card by the Test Track walkway and a mischevious Stitch card closer to Mission: SPACE. Wander into World Nature and you might spot Gramma Tala from Moana along the path to The Seas, and an Ariel card by The Seas pavilion entrance.

World Showcase has its share of cards too – and these might be the most fun, since they pair characters with thematic locations. In the UK pavilion, a delicate Tinker Bell card appears among the cottage gardens. In France, you’ll see Belle as an enchanted sorceress, her card art set against the Parisian backdrop. Over in Japan (near the border of the American Adventure), a big Baymax card stands ready to fist-bump (we assume). Germany’s got a whimsical Rapunzel card by the waterfront, and the China pavilion hosts an epic Mulan card depicting her in warrior mode. It’s like a treasure hunt of art – each card is beautifully rendered, and seeing them blown up to billboard size is a treat for Disney art fans. They make fantastic photo backdrops; you can pose next to your favorite character’s card as if you’ve stepped into the game.

The “Ink & Find” Scavenger Hunt: Those card displays aren’t just for pictures – they’re part of a new Festival game. Disney has introduced the Disney Lorcana “Ink & Find” Scavenger Hunt for the Festival of the Arts. Here’s how it works: Guests can pick up a Festival Questbook (basically a scavenger hunt map) for free on the bridge between EPCOT’s World Celebration and World Showcase. This booklet lists clues and spaces corresponding to the various giant card locations. As you explore and find each Lorcana card around the park, you match it in your questbook and mark it with special ink-themed stickers. It’s kind of like a game of Pokémon Go meets classic EPCOT scavenger hunts, but with physical cards in the environment.

Complete the hunt (find all the cards and fill in your map), and there’s a nifty prize: you can head to either the Illumineer’s Lounge in the Morocco pavilion or Figment’s Inspiration Station at the Odyssey to collect a limited-edition Lorcana promo card. Yes, actual cards! Disney created exclusive “Magical Places” cards as prizes – these are likely beautifully illustrated cards showcasing an in-game location, available only to those who do the festival activities. If you’re a Lorcana collector, that’s a huge incentive – these promo cards will be rare keepsakes. And even if you’re not, it’s a fun (and free) souvenir with original art to remember your day.

As you hunt, you’ll probably stumble on most of the card displays organically (some are pretty hard to miss), but a couple are tucked in clever spots. The questbook provides hints, so don’t worry about needing deep Lorcana knowledge; it’s accessible to everyone. In fact, this scavenger hunt is a great family activity. Kids might love searching for the big colorful cards, and parents can enjoy the stroll through EPCOT’s scenic spots. Plus, it subtly introduces new folks to what Lorcana is all about – the fusion of Disney characters and imaginative artwork.

The Illumineer’s Lounge – Lorcana Headquarters: The Morocco pavilion in World Showcase houses a hidden gem during the festival: the Illumineer’s Lounge. Disney repurposed the former Restaurant Marrakesh space as a Lorcana-themed lounge. Inside, you can take a load off, purchase Lorcana booster packs, and even do a bit of trading or gameplay with fellow fans. One of the festival activities, the Lorcana Collection Quest, takes place here. In that activity, guests open packs and try to collect a specific set of cards – once you gather the needed 4 cards (trading with others is encouraged), you also earn a special promo card reward. It’s a clever way to get park guests interacting and sharing in the fun. Don’t worry if you’ve never played Lorcana; cast members are on hand to guide newbies, and the atmosphere is casual. Think of it as part trading post, part demo center, part chill-out zone. With comfy seating and perhaps some cool artwork on display, the Illumineer’s Lounge is worth a visit – even if just to escape the crowds and absorb some air conditioning while admiring card art.

Mickey & Minnie Join the Fun: One particular photo op deserves a shout-out: on the main bridge from World Celebration to World Showcase (where you pick up the map), there’s a giant Lorcana card featuring Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse in special festival-themed roles. Mickey is depicted as the “Brave Little Prince” and Minnie as the “Sweetheart Princess,” riding a carousel together – imagery from Lorcana’s recent “Fabled” card set. This display is an Artful Photo Op where PhotoPass photographers often station themselves to snap your picture in front of the scene. It perfectly marries the idea of festival art and Disney whimsy. Don’t miss grabbing a photo here, especially if you’re a couple – Mickey and Minnie on a carousel make a romantic backdrop!

Fun for Gamers and Non-Gamers Alike: If you’re already a Lorcana player, this festival integration is a dream come true. You can hunt for cards during the day and perhaps play a few rounds at night at your hotel. If you’ve never heard of Lorcana, you might find yourself intrigued by the beautiful cards you saw and the little “quests” you did – who knows, you might pick up a starter deck on your way out. By bringing Lorcana into EPCOT, Disney is essentially showcasing a new dimension of Disney art – the illustrations on these cards are truly stunning, created by talented artists to imagine Disney characters in fresh ways (like sorcerer Mickey, or warrior Elsa, etc.). It fits right in with the Festival of the Arts vibe, which is all about creativity and seeing beloved characters in artistic forms.

The EPCOT International Festival of the Arts runs from January 16 through February 23, 2026, so all these Lorcana goodies are limited-time. It’s yet another reason to love this often underrated festival. Between the chalk artists, food studios, Broadway concert series, and now a trading card adventure, Festival of the Arts offers a little something for every kind of Disney fan. So grab a paintbrush churro, let your artistic side (or inner card shark) play, and make some one-of-a-kind memories – or should we say one-of-a-kind trading cards?

Until next time, keep believing in magic. — Behind the Wish