Los Angeles has many ways of doing Christmas, but none of them involve a green grump stealing your stockings — and that’s exactly the point. Universal Studios Hollywood has laid out its holiday plans for 2026, and the park is going bigger than ever: from Saturday, November 21, 2026 through Sunday, January 3, 2027, every corner of the place gets the holiday treatment, and it’s all folded into regular park admission.
Who-ville Returns, Minions Make Their Debut
The heart of the season is Grinchmas at Universal Plaza, where the whole square is dressed up as Who-ville straight out of Dr. Seuss’s imagination. The centerpiece is hard to miss: a 65-foot Christmas tree strung with hundreds of ornaments and thousands of LED lights. Every night the tree gets its own lighting ceremony, and yes — real snow falls while it happens.
Visitors can meet the Grinch himself, pose with Max the dog, and swap stories with Who-ville residents. Kids get their own traditions here: Cindy-Lou Who sits down to read “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” aloud, the Fah-Who 4 A’s sing their harmonies around the plaza, and the Who-ville post office hands out postcards that come with a small assignment — writing down three good deeds. Holiday treats and exclusive Grinchmas merchandise round out the visit.
But the real news this year is brand new: for the first time ever, Illumination’s Merry Minions take over Minion Land for the holidays. The land gets a full festive makeover, the Minions turn up in holiday outfits for meet-and-greets, Minion Cafe serves up seasonal bites, and a fresh merchandise collection arrives with the season.
Hogsmeade in the Snow
Over at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, the season leans into pure atmosphere. Hogsmeade gets its snow-capped rooftops, the streets glow with dazzling lights, and magical garlands and seasonal wreaths hang across the storefronts. The Frog Choir performs its seasonal melodies several times a day, and nothing beats a hot Butterbeer in the crisp evening air — though cold and frozen versions are on the menu too. Seasonal merchandise and keepsakes fill the shops for anyone hunting for gifts.
SUPER NINTENDO WORLD Joins In
The park’s newest land doesn’t sit the season out, either. SUPER NINTENDO WORLD gets colorful holiday décor and character moments of its own, so there’s something festive waiting even after you’ve toured Hogsmeade and Who-ville.
CityWalk Lights Up Too
The holiday run doesn’t stop at the park gates. Universal CityWalk becomes a winter wonderland for the same dates — November 21 through January 3 — with its own spectacular Christmas tree, live entertainment on select days, and plenty of seasonal food and merchandise to browse.
For travelers making a trip of it, vacation packages from Universal Parks & Resort Vacations bundle hotel stays with park tickets, making the whole visit easy to plan in one place.
With Grinchmas bringing the nostalgia, the Merry Minions bringing something brand new, and Hogsmeade’s snow doing what it does best, this year’s lineup gives families plenty of reasons to clear a day — or two — on the calendar.
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