About Magic Fest
What is it?
Magic Fest is a brand new national musical theatre competition to be held annually at Walt Disney World® Resort in Orlando, FL. Magic Fest invites performance groups, grades K-12th, to bring their young performers to the most magical stage in the USA.
Blending theme park magic with the thrill of live performances, this event is where creativity meets collaboration among tomorrow’s storytellers.
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This festival showcases young actors on stage in a magical environment of friendly competition and providing them with feedback and skill building from industry professionals that they can use to take their craft to the next level. Every group that participates in the festival will be recognized at our Awards Ceremony inside the Walt Disney World® Resort Theme Parks.
This magical weekend includes a stay at a Disney Resort hotel, workshops for students, performance feedback, a unique awards ceremony experience, and theme park tickets!
Event Overview:
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3 Day Event (Friday-Sunday). June 5-7, 2026.
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Quick Glance:
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Friday - Check In to Your Disney Resort hotel, Festival Check In for Directors, Optional Group Rehearsals, Theme Park free time.
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Saturday - Showcase performances, Theme Park free time.
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Sunday - Group Workshops, Theme Park free time, and Awards Ceremony!
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Optional workshops through Disney Imagination Campus are also available as an add-on!
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Open to youth performing arts groups, grade level K-12th. Community theatres, private schools, charter programs, dance studios, and K-12 public schools.
Core Objectives:
M - Motivate: Empower youth to discover and pursue their passion for music, dance and theatre.
A - Aspire: Encourage ambitious thinking, creative risk-taking, on and off stage.
G - Grow: Build performance skills, confidence, and collaboration through hands-on learning.
I - Imagine: Inspire new possibilities, empowering students to dream big and tell meaningful stories through performing.
C - Connect: Bring together young artists with peers, mentors, and industry professionals, build lasting friendships and creative networks.
© Disney
Meet the Founder
Santana Marie
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Hi! I'm Santana Marie and I'm the Founder of Magic Fest!
I am so excited to start this new journey with you and I hope you are too! We're going to have a blast at my favorite place on Earth!
I have been in the theatre industry for almost 20 years! I've attended multiple youth theatre festivals over the past 15 years. My theatre troupes have brought home numerous awards and recognitions, all while making lifelong connections and memories.
I wanted to create this family friendly festival for directors, students, and families that are looking for a safe and fun environment to celebrate the skills and talents of young performers. What better place to host it than the family theme park capital of the world!​
Aside from creating and managing Magic Fest, I am also the Artistic Director of Alabama Repertory Theatre and a Travel Agent with Wondermakers Travel! My biggest and most important role is being mommy to Jack Elias. We both have a personal goal to visit every them park in America before he graduates high school!