Discover the top things to do in Orlando this month, including options for families and adults.

Ready to discover the best of Orlando this September? You’re in for a treat. Orlando in September brings Halloween events, food festivals, and Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining® presented by Orlando Health. Add endless entertainment, live sports, and free events for families and adults, and you’ll see that Orlando really is for everyone. Start with these suggested picks, then let our AI planning assistant, OPAL, create a custom September itinerary that’s meant just for you.

Discover: Orlando Events

Orlando vacation planning made easy — and free. Make a complimentary appointment with Visit Orlando’s Vacation Planners at a time and date of your choosing for the latest insider advice, special offers and more ahead of your next visit. You can also plot your adventures with our AI planning assistant, OPAL.

Free Things to Do in Orlando This September

Luminary Market & Kaleidoscope 360 Movie Night

Sept. 2 & 16, 2026

Spend the evening shopping, dining and unwinding at Orlando’s Luminary Market, a free monthly gathering hosted in downtown Orlando’s Creative Village. Shop curated finds from local vendors, then settle in for a free, family-friendly showing of Encanto (Sept. 2) or In the Heights (Sept. 16) beneath the stars.

Free Day at Harry P. Leu Gardens

Sept. 7, 2026

Discover a 50-acre botanical oasis with free admission to Harry P. Leu Gardens on the first Monday of the month. Explore the historic Leu House Museum, tour the rose garden, and remember to search for whimsical fairy doors hidden throughout the grounds. Free Day is your last chance to see them before they fly away for the season!

Discover: Orlando Gardens

Czech Heritage Day at the Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens

Sept. 13, 2026

The Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens will honor Czech Heritage Day with free admission, live music and cultural activities in a serene lakefront setting. Discover the life, legacy and works of Czech artist Albin Polasek, then round out your day with a budget-friendly boat tour and dinner along Park Avenue.

Discover: Things to Do in Winter Park

Free Access Day at the Orange County Regional History Center

Sept. 19, 2026

Discover the Orange County Regional History Center’s newest exhibition, By Heart and By Hand, with free admission, crafts, music and themed activities dedicated to the artistry of Black craft makers in Central Florida. Create your own castanets and more while you learn how art, craft and storytelling can preserve a culture’s heritage for generations during Free Access Day.

Discover: Orlando History

National Public Lands Day at Mead Botanical Garden

Sept. 26, 2026

Celebrate the beauty of our public lands with free activities for all ages at Mead Botanical Garden. Enjoy free yoga and tai chi sessions, self-guided nature tours, children’s activities, the Winter Park Library Story Walk and even a free tree giveaway — perfect if you live within driving distance of Orlando.

Discover: More Free Things to Do

September Events for Orlando Foodies

Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining® Presented by Orlando Health

Through Sept. 30, 2026

Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining® presented by Orlando Health is in full swing, and local foodies know it’s the tastiest time of the year. Explore multi-course menus from over 180 top-rated restaurants for just $40 or $60 per person, with $1 or $2 from each meal donated toward a charitable cause. Browse restaurant menus and make your reservations now to savor sushi, steak, seafood and more.

Discover: Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining

Fins & Flights at SEA LIFE Orlando

Sept. 3 – 5, 2026

Next, head to SEA LIFE Orlando for their first-ever Fins & Flights, an after-hours brewery experience that pairs local beer with awesome aquatic adventure. Sip and stroll with tastings from five local breweries in an adults-only setting at ICON Park®.

Discover: Things to Do at ICON Park

Uncorked: A Food & Wine Series at Wine Bar George

Select Dates, Sept. 3 – 19, 2026

Experience the only wine bar in Florida helmed by a Master Sommelier with Uncorked, a limited-time tasting series hosted at Wine Bar George at Disney Springs®. Choose from chef-led demonstrations, master classes, pairing workshops and more throughout the fall season.

Discover: Orlando Wineries & Wine Bars

September highlights include a Riesling master class, a laid-back “sliders & somms” pairing event, a craft cocktail class, and three opportunities to Taste Like a Master Sommelier.

Sushi Showdown at Morimoto Asia

Sept. 21, 2026

MICHELIN Recommended Morimoto Asia will introduce a thrilling new foodie tradition with their inaugural Sushi Showdown, a playful tasting event with standout dishes from Orlando’s top sushi chefs. Don’t miss your chance to try signature dishes and optional sake pairings with live entertainment, local celebrity appearances and all the excitement of an unforgettable night out at Disney Springs.

Discover: Things to Do at DISNEY SPRINGS

Sports & Outdoors Events

2026 BNP Paribas World Team Cup

Sept. 16 – 19, 2026

The BNP Paribas World Team Cup makes its triumphant return to the United States this September, celebrating 50 years of international wheelchair tennis with spirited matches and free on-court activities. Catch all the action at the United States Tennis Association (USTA) National Campus in Lake Nona.

Discover: Things to Do in Lake Nona

Howl-O-Sprint 5K Run at SeaWorld® Orlando

Sept. 18, 2026

Need a little extra motivation to run? SeaWorld® Orlando has you covered with the Howl-O-Sprint 5K Run, a thrilling 5K race that propels you through harrowing scare zones and on to an exclusive post-race party. You’ll get a glimpse of the horrors in store at Howl-O-Scream, plus a return ticket to come back and experience the full event — haunted houses, scare zones, themed bars and all — on a night of your choosing.

U.S. Men’s National Team vs. Peru

Sept. 26, 2026

Head to Inter.co Stadium and rep your favorite soccer team as the U.S. Men’s National Team takes on Peru in their first match following the 2026 FIFA World Cup™. Discover even more soccer fun as the Orlando Pride and Orlando City Soccer Club compete on home turf throughout the month.

Discover: Soccer Season

September Concerts, Festivals & Performing Arts

Come From Away

Select Dates Through Sept. 27, 2026

Experience the Tony Award-winning musical Come From Away performed at Orlando Shakespeare Theater. The play tells the true story of 7,000 passengers grounded in Newfoundland in the wake of 9/11, and how visitors and locals came together as one on that day.

Discover: Orlando Arts & Entertainment

Disney on Ice Presents Spotlight Magic at Kia Center

Sept. 4 – 6, 2026

Disney on Ice returns to Kia Center for three days this September, bringing a brilliant cast of new friends and familiar faces. See stories from Zootopia 2, Tangled, Beauty and the Beast, Toy Story, and Monsters, Inc. unfold on the ice, with special appearances by the Disney Villains and the guest of honor, Angel.

Labor Day Jazz Festival at Timucua Arts Foundation

September 7, 2026

Chicago’s Labor Day Jazz Festival is making its big move to Orlando this September. Your ticket gets you access to all four shows performed at Timucua Arts Foundation, plus a Labor Day cookout with beer.

Discover: Timucua Arts Foundation

Fringe Favorites

Sept. 10, 2026

Get two shows for the price of one with Fringe Favorites, featuring two breakout productions from the 2026 Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival. Expect comedy, drama, improv and musical breakouts from this duo, hosted at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Orlando.

Little Shop of Horrors

Select Dates, Sept. 18 – Oct. 4, 2026

Get a head start on the Halloween season with Little Shop of Horrors, the award-winning tale of a meek floral assistant and a carnivorous plant intent on world domination. Hosted at Theatre South Playhouse near Universal Orlando Resort, it will feed your need for up-and-coming theatrical talent.

September Theme Park & Attraction Events

Halloween Events

Spooky season starts early in Orlando, and by mid-September, many of our most popular Halloween events are already in full swing. Discover bloodcurdling thrills, family-friendly fun, thrilling live arts and more in our guide to the best Halloween happenings, including early September highlights like Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, SeaWorld® Spooktacular, Brick or Treat, Howl-O-Scream and Halloween Horror Nights.

Discover: Halloween Events

EPCOT® International Food & Wine Festival

Through Nov. 21, 2026

Tricks and treats aren’t the only things in store this September at Walt Disney World Resort. You can also take a culinary tour around the globe at the EPCOT® International Food & Wine Festival, a fan-favorite event featuring traditional cuisine served in immersive, themed settings at EPCOT®. Explore flavors from six continents, embark on a flavorful cheese stroll, and savor fresh sounds with the Eat to the Beat Concert Series.

Discover: Fall Food Festivals

Stay Connected to Orlando
You never know what we will dream up next. Connect with Visit Orlando’s Vacation Planning Services for free, personalized assistance, and follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, Threads and YouTube for valuable offers, exclusive tips, fresh attractions and the latest events. You can also subscribe to our eNewsletter for more information from Orlando: Theme Park Capital of the World.

Have feedback about this blog? Let us know.