SeaWorld, Universal announce musical acts ahead of annual food festivals

Universal and SeaWorld have announced the details on one of the best theme park deals of the year: concerts that are included in regular park admission during their annual food festivals.

Both theme parks are bringing in major artists as part of Universal Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval and SeaWorld’s Seven Seas Food Festival. 

Disney World also welcomes well-known artists and nostalgic favorites to play for theme park guests. But the Mouse has not officially released the 2026 schedule for the Garden Rocks concerts at the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. The festival runs March 4 to June 1.

Universal’s Mardi Gras concerts kick off Feb. 7 through March 28 on select nights. This year’s lineup features Grammy-winning DJ and producer Zedd, Bebe Rexha, and The All-American Rejects, who are returning for the second year in a row as the concert series’ finale.

The nightly concerts take place following Universal’s Mardi Gras parade featuring elaborate floats and plenty of bead throwing.

At SeaWorld, the music includes KISS rocker Gene Simmons, the Beach Boys, Flo Rida, Fitz and the Tantrums, the Fray and Boyz II Men during the concert series running on select nights from Jan. 31 to May 17.

“This is the biggest and most diverse concert lineup we’ve ever presented as part of Seven Seas Food Festival,” said SeaWorld Orlando Park President Jon Peterson in a statement. “With chart-topping artists, throwback favorites, and every concert included with park admission, we’re delivering one of the best entertainment values in Central Florida.”

The majority of the dates have been announced, although SeaWorld said a few additional acts will be announced later in the year.

Orlando has deep ties to boy band history, which you’ll find at the theme parks’ festival concerts.

You won’t see Justin Timberlake anytime soon playing behind a backdrop of roller coasters. But Chris Kirkpatrick of NSYNC performs Feb 22 at the Pop 2000 Tour night at SeaWorld. Meanwhile, Kirkpatrick’s former bandmate Joey Fatone teams up with the Backstreet Boys’ AJ McLean at Universal Orlando Feb. 21.