By Neerja Patel
Lake Buena Vista, FL: The fourth annual celebration brought Indian dance, music and culture to EPCOT, Magic Kingdom Park and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (October 26th 2026) – More than 500 dancers from around the world came together at Walt Disney World Resort for the fourth annual Diwali Dance Fest, a three-day celebration of South Asian culture, music and dance produced by Jashn Productions and founder Jeanie Beri.
Held October 22–25, the festival brought Diwali celebrations across Walt Disney World Resort, including a Diwali Mela at EPCOT, a grand parade through Magic Kingdom Park and an International Dance Showcase at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park featuring 25 international dance studios, a special performance by global recording artist Tesher and hosted by CBS News correspondent Shanelle Kaul.
Created to give the next generation of South Asian dancers the opportunity to celebrate their culture on a mainstream stage, Diwali Dance Fest has grown into a global gathering for performers and their families, bringing together traditional and contemporary dance, music, fashion and community.
The celebration began with the Jashn-E-Magic Diwali Mela at EPCOT, where dancers and their families gathered to kick off the weekend and celebrate Diwali together and culminated with guests watching the nighttime spectacular, Luminous The Symphony of Us.
The following day, more than 500 performers took over Main Street, U.S.A. at Magic Kingdom Park for the Grand Diwali Parade. Dressed in vibrant Indian attire, dancers filled one of Walt Disney World Resort’s most iconic settings with festive music, traditional rhythms, color and movement, with Cinderella Castle as their backdrop.
The festival continued at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park with the International Dance Showcase, featuring 25 dance studios and a wide range of South Asian dance styles. CBS News correspondent Shanelle Kaul hosted the showcase, which culminated in a special live performance by Tesher.
The Canadian-Indian singer, songwriter and producer, best known for his global hit “Jalebi Baby,” joined the celebration for a performance that brought his signature blend of South Asian and Western musical influences to the Diwali Dance Fest stage.
For Jashn Productions founder Jeanie Beri, the continued growth of Diwali Dance Fest reflects a larger mission to create spaces where young South Asian performers can see their culture celebrated on some of the world’s most recognizable stages.
“Bringing Diwali to Walt Disney World Resort with dancers from all over the world has truly become so much more meaningful than we ever imagined. The sheer joy that the dancers had as they paraded down Main Street USA along with their families & friends cheering for them really feels like our South Asian community is finally seen and celebrated!” said Beri.
Since its launch, Diwali Dance Fest has focused on creating mainstream opportunities for South Asian performing artists while giving young dancers a meaningful way to celebrate their heritage, connect with their community and share their culture with broader audiences.
Jashn Productions also announced Diwali Dance Fest: The 5th Anniversary will be held on October 21–24, 2027 hosted again at Walt Disney World® Resort.
For more information, visit www.jashnproductions.com.
