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Dollywood 2026: I Will Always Love You Festival Guide
Dollywood is open for its 41st season, and I’m excited to share everything I’ve learned about the I Will Always Love You Festival — including tasting pass details, new additions around the park, ride updates, entertainment, transportation tips, and more.
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| courtesy of dollywood.com |
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Festival Overview
Dollywood opens with a special Passholder Day, which also includes guests staying at Dollywood’s resorts. This year, Dolly is expected to appear and parade through the park around 3 PM on Friday. The park opens to everyone on Saturday, March 13th.
The festival celebrates the legacy of Dolly’s iconic song “I Will Always Love You,” originally written as a farewell to Porter Wagoner as she stepped into her own spotlight. Expect art installations, culinary creations, and special entertainment throughout the park.
Tasting Pass & Festival Menu
The Dollywood app is your best friend during festival season. It shows where each specialty food item is located, and in some cases allows mobile ordering.
Tasting Pass Details:
- Includes 5 festival food items
- Shareable between guests
- Valid for the entire festival — no need to use all punches in one visit
- Gold & Diamond Passholders save $3
- Price: $39.99 for Passholders, $42.99 for everyone else
Menu items and locations are available on the Dollywood website and app.
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| Your view in the Dollywood App |
What’s New Around the Park (2026)
- Timber Canyon Restrooms: Renovated, enlarged and refreshed.
- Wilderness Pass Restaurant: New covered seating area. Menu includes rotisserie chicken, fish, collard greens, and more.
Ride Updates
- Daredevil Falls: New boats with updated colors.
- Mystery Mine: Behind‑the‑scenes upgrades including new control systems.
- Dollywood Express: Converted from coal to oil — safer, cleaner, and able to operate in more weather conditions.
Nightflight Expedition
The new hybrid coaster + river rapids attraction continues construction in Wildwood Grove. As of 3/11/2026, the park suggests a possible mid‑June opening. A soft‑opening is planned for select passholder tiers.
Stay tuned for updates — and check out my video for a closer look at the massive hangar and ride elements.
Shows & Entertainment
Many guest‑favorite shows return for the festival, along with exciting new additions.
Returning Favorites
- From The Heart: Dolly’s musical journey (DP Celebrity Theater)
- Heidi Parton’s Kin & Friends (Dreamsong Theater)
- Heartsong (Dreamsong Theater)
- Sing‑A‑Long With Dolly (Back Porch Theater)
- Smoky Mountain String Band (Valley Theater)
- Imagination Playhouse (Imagination Playhouse Theater)
- Wings of America Birds of Prey (Craftsman’s Valley Theater)
- The Dolly Parton Experience (multiple buildings)
New for 2026
- Moto Motion: Freestyle Showdown (Pines Theater)
- Artrageous (Showstreet Theater)
Operating Calendar
The park is open every day during the I Will Always Love You Festival, with varying hours:
- 10 AM – 7 PM
- 10 AM – 8 PM
- 9 AM – 11 PM (select days)
Trolley to Dollywood
Opening Day 2025 saw extremely heavy crowds due to Dolly’s appearance — parking lots even closed for a few hours. Spring Break season also brings high attendance.
Pro Tip: If Dolly is expected to be at the park, consider taking the Pigeon Forge Trolley instead of driving. It drops you off right at the front gate and can save a lot of stress.
Watch my video guide for everything you need to know about the trolley system.
Transportation Names Explained
- Parking Lot Tram: Runs between Dollywood/Splash Country parking lots and the front gate.
- Resort Trolleys: Shuttle guests between the resorts and both parks.
- Pigeon Forge & Gatlinburg Trolleys: Public transit systems serving major tourist areas.
Fun Facts & Quiz
Dollywood opened in 1986 — that was Season One. In 2026, the park is in its 41st season, and Dolly turns 80.
Quiz: In 2056… How old will Dolly be? What season will Dollywood be celebrating? What year of operation will it be?
Helpful Trip‑Planning Resources
Explore more guides, videos, and planning tools:
- Dollywood's 2026 Ride - Hidden Hollow Aviation - Updates, Photos, Videos of it Under Construction.
- Getting To Dollywood by Plane
- Hotels with High Ratings in Pigeon Forge. I have created a spreadsheet that incorporates ratings from different reliable sources and ranked hotels in the area. I've listed out columns for things like indoor pools, hot tubs and more on the spreadsheet. Very helpful if you, or someone in your group is looking for a specific amenity.
- Top Breakfast Restaurants in Pigeon Forge. I have created a list of the best Breakfast restaurants in Pigeon Forge using ratings from various reliable sources and ranked them in my blog post.
- 30 Great Places to Eat In Pigeon Forge that are open after 2pm! A list of highly rated establishments that are open past 2pm.
- Guide To Mountain Coasters - A look at all the types of mountain coasters in Sevier County.
- Dollywood's 2025 Operating Calendar +MORE - speculation, guesses on future projects, etc.
- Dollywood's 2026 Operating Calendar +MORE - Calendar + Much More!
- Exclusive Ride Time, Golden Hours, Golden Events - What's the difference??
- Navigating to Dollywood from North Carolina post-Hurricane Helene.
- 8 Things to do at Dollywood if you don't care for rides - There's a lot to do!
- Pigeon Forge Trolley Info You'll Want to Know!
- Trip Advisors Top 10 Budget Friendly Hotels in Pigeon Forge.
- Tons of YouTube videos - I have so many YouTube videos of Dollywood including every festival and lots of general park updates as well as Big Bear Mountain footage.
- Check out my 2025 End of Year Recap to see all of my Dollywood videos from 2025.
- Check out my 2024 End of Year Recap to see all of my Dollywood videos from 2024.
- Check out my 2023 End of Year Recap to see all of my Dollywood videos from 2023.
- Check out my 2022 End of Year Recap to see all of my Dollywood videos from 2022.
- 2024-2025 School Break Calendar - includes Fall, Christmas & Spring Breaks for regional schools.
- Link to Dollywood's TimeSaver Info Page - click Here.
- GrayLine Day-Long Tours from downtown Nashville to Dollywood and back to Nashville - click here
Have a wonderful 2026 season at Dollywood!
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