Dollywood 2026: Festivals + New NightFlight Coaster

Dollywood just hit “start” on its 41st season, and yes—Dolly Parton herself showed up to make it official.

If your group chat loves theme parks, live shows, and snacks you 100% didn’t plan to eat (but will), Dollywood’s 2026 calendar is stacked.

Between a brand-new indoor roller coaster debuting later this spring, a first-ever Run Dollywood race weekend, and new after-hours events, this season is basically a choose-your-own-adventure… with more funnel cake.

Event Details

📍 Location: Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee (Smoky Mountains)

📅 Start Date: March 13, 2026

📅 End Date: December 31, 2026

🎟 Admission: Theme park admission varies; some experiences are separately ticketed. Festival tasting pass available (price listed below).

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Ideal For: Families, thrill-seekers, live entertainment lovers, foodies, and anyone who considers “vacation cardio” a valid life choice

What’s New

The headline news: Dollywood is opening a new immersive indoor roller coaster called NightFlight Expedition later this spring.

It’ll be the park’s 11th coaster, and it’s designed to feel like a Smoky Mountain night ride—think fireflies, moonlit vibes, and a storyline that leans into that “we’re about to discover something mysterious” energy.

NightFlight Expedition packs four experiences into one coaster. Guests will:

• Soar over the Smokies on a nighttime flight theme
• Rush through a whitewater rafting section with more than 500,000 gallons of surging water
• Climb up and over a mountain ridge
• Plunge into a “mysterious shimmering lake” finale

In other words, it’s not just “go fast, scream, repeat” (although that’s still on the menu). It’s more like a ride that wants you to feel like you’re inside an adventure movie—minus the part where someone inevitably drops the flashlight.

Also new for the season’s first festival are two fresh entertainment options:

• “Artrageous,” a fast-paced mashup of live music and live art created on stage in real time
• “Moto Motion: Freestyle Showdown,” a high-energy combo of extreme riders, breakdancers, and aerial daredevils

And if you’re the type who likes your vacations with a side of “I can’t believe we just did that,” 2026 brings brand-new after-hours events too—meaning select nights with shorter waits, special menus, and extra entertainment.

Highlights

Here’s what visitors can look forward to across the 2026 season, with the dates Dollywood shared:

I Will Always Love You Festival (now through April 12)

This one celebrates Dolly’s music and story, with returning guest favorites like “Sing-a-long with Dolly” and “From the Heart – The Life & Music of Dolly Parton.” Also, the food lineup understood the assignment. Expect festival-inspired treats like BBQ Chicken Melt, Picadilly Lemonade, Mini Rope Sausage & Potatoes, and a Strawberry Cheesecake Milkshake.

Tasting Pass option (during the festival): The I Will Always Love You Festival Tasting Pass includes multiple festival offerings for one price. The price listed is $42.99 plus tax (or $39.99 for gold and diamond season passholders).

Flower & Food Festival (April 18–June 7)

If you love spring trips, this is your moment. Dollywood says the park features larger-than-life flower sculptures and more than half-a-million blooms. Pair that with a seasonal menu designed around spring flavors, and suddenly you’re planning outfits around flower photos.

Run Dollywood Race Weekend (April 25–26)

Dollywood’s hosting its inaugural race weekend with multiple distances, including a half marathon on Sunday morning. Saturday features a 1-mile kids fun run (ages 4–12), plus a 5K and a 10K. It’s a fun excuse to see the park in a totally different way—plus, you can absolutely reward your effort with something sweet afterward. That’s just science.

Dollywood’s Splash Country Opens May 16

Dollywood’s water park begins its 26th season on May 16. New this year: Neon Nights on select Fridays and Saturdays. It’s a separately ticketed after-hours event with access to select attractions, shorter wait times, exclusive dining, and live entertainment.

Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration (June 15–August 2)

The Sweet Summer Nights drone and fireworks show returns, plus family favorites like “Gazillion Bubble Show: Aurora” and “Perondi’s Stunt Dog Experience.”

Harvest Festival (Sept. 14–Oct. 31)

Fall brings carved pumpkins, seasonal performances, and Great Pumpkin LumiNights. New for 2026: Harvey’s Boo Bash, a separately ticketed after-hours event with candy stations, select attractions, and exclusive food/merch offerings.

Smoky Mountain Christmas (Nov. 6–Jan. 3)

Dollywood’s holiday season wraps things up with 6 million lights and festive shows (and yes, the cozy vibes are the whole point).

Plan Your Trip with Tripster

Dollywood days are the kind of days where planning just a little pays off big. Start by picking your “must-do” anchor—coasters, shows, festival food, or the race weekend—then build your park days around it so you’re not zig-zagging across the Smokies like a confused GPS.

When you book with Tripster, you can keep the whole trip in one place: tickets, nearby attractions, and hotels in the Pigeon Forge area. Even better, bundling your plans makes it easier to line up your festival dates, after-hours add-ons, and any extra Smoky Mountain adventures without turning your vacation into a spreadsheet.

If you’re heading to Pigeon Forge for Dollywood’s 2026 season, Tripster helps you lock in the fun and the stay—so all you have left to do is argue about who gets the first ride photo.