In 2026, Cinderella Castle will be repainted to a new color palette. We now have details on when it will start, and everything else you need to know.

We had quite a few exciting announcements at Destination D23 this summer. Among them was the news that Cinderella Castle would be getting repainted, with an updated color palette. The current castle is still rocking its 50th anniversary appearance, and the updated paint will feature grays, creams, blues, and gold accents, enhancing the castle’s architecture.

When Will the Cinderella Castle Repaint Happen?

Disney has shared that Cinderella Castle will begin its repainting project in January 2026, with the project wrapping up later in 2026.

Photo Courtesy of Disney

The first visible part of the transformation will be the draining of the moat surrounding Cinderella Castle. This will let crews have easier access to the lower sections of the structure to prepare it for painting. Cranes will also be used to reach higher sections of the castle, but Disney has shared that it plans to lower and remove the cranes from view by noon each day so it won’t impact guest photos throughout the entire day.

As far as castle entertainment, Disney confirmed that Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire and Happily Ever After will both continue to be offered, with only minor adjustments potentially needed while work is in progress. However, beginning January 28, the Let the Magic Begin welcome show will be run in a modified format during the project’s timeline.