Universal Studios Hollywood’s holiday season runs Nov. 21 to Jan. 3 with Grinchmas, Christmas at Hogwarts and a new Illumination’s Merry Minions celebration, all included with park admission.
Universal Studios Hollywood is bringing the Grinch back for the holidays. This year, the Minions are crashing the party.
The park’s holiday season runs daily from Saturday, Nov. 21, through Sunday, Jan. 3, and it’s included with regular admission, Universal announced Oct. 8.
The new addition is Illumination’s Merry Minions in Minion Land. It joins returning favorites Grinchmas and Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
What’s new for the holidays at Universal Studios Hollywood?
Merry Minions is the headline addition this year.
Minion Land gets holiday decorations, and the Minions will be out for meet-and-greets in holiday outfits. Minion Cafe adds holiday food and drinks, and there’s a new Merry Minions merchandise line to go with it.
Is Grinchmas back at Universal Studios Hollywood?
Yes. Grinchmas takes over Universal Plaza again, built around a 65-foot Christmas tree covered in hundreds of ornaments and thousands of LED lights.
The Grinch, his dog Max and Who-ville residents will be out to meet guests. Cindy-Lou Who reads How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and a group called The Fah-Who 4 A’s handles the music.
Every evening there’s a tree-lighting ceremony, with a burst of fake snowfall to finish it.
Grinchmas goes back a long way here. Universal Studios Hollywood threw its first one in 2000, to promote Universal’s live-action How the Grinch Stole Christmas with Jim Carrey, according to Attractions Magazine.
There’s also a Who-ville post office, where you can mail the Grinch a postcard listing three good deeds you’ve done. Guests can decorate a Grinchmas paper ornament too.
What does Christmas look like at Hogwarts and Super Nintendo World?
Hogsmeade gets garlands, wreaths and twinkle lights, and the Frog Choir sings holiday songs during the day. Hot Butterbeer is back on the menu.
After dark, The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle returns. It’s the projection show that wraps the castle in holiday scenes, set to music from the Harry Potter films.
Over in Super Nintendo World, Mario and Luigi show up as snowmen at the entrance, next to a Christmas tree topped with a Super Star. Holiday merchandise is sold around the park, including at the 1-UP Factory inside the land.
What’s happening at Universal CityWalk Hollywood for the holidays?
Universal CityWalk Hollywood puts up its own 40-foot tree with more than 200,000 LED lights. On select evenings, the 5 Towers stage has live music, DJs and street entertainment.
The Universal Studios Store is getting a new holiday collection as well: apparel, accessories, ornaments and home decor tied to Universal’s movies.
How does it compare with Universal Orlando’s holidays?
Hollywood starts a week later. Universal Orlando‘s holiday season kicks off Saturday, Nov. 14, and both coasts wrap up the same day, Jan. 3.
That gives Hollywood 44 days of holidays to Orlando’s 51. Orlando also has the extra park: Epic Universe’s Super Nintendo World and Isle of Berk are getting holiday decorations for the first time this year, on top of Grinchmas and Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s.
Do you need a separate ticket for Universal Studios Hollywood’s holidays?
No. Grinchmas, Merry Minions, the Hogwarts castle show and the Super Nintendo World decorations are all part of regular theme park admission, Universal says.
Annual and seasonal passholders get in too, but blockout dates apply, so check your pass before you plan a trip around the tree lighting.
The CityWalk tree and the 5 Towers shows sit outside the park gates, so you can see those without a park ticket.
As for the Who-ville post office, nobody’s said whether the Grinch writes back.
Article compiled with the help of the Pirates & Princesses newsroom.
Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Hat Tips:
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Inside Universal (Oct. 8, 2026), Universal Studios Hollywood’s 2026 holiday lineup, dates and details
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Universal Studios Hollywood, the Grinchmas event page, admission and passholder blockout note
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Attractions Magazine, Grinchmas history and the first Grinchmas in 2000
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Universal Orlando (Aug. 6, 2026), Orlando’s Nov. 14 to Jan. 3 holiday season and Epic Universe’s first holiday decor
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