Elvis Presley’s Graceland will begin its 2026 Christmas season with three days of live music, special tours and holiday events in Memphis. Holiday Lighting Weekend runs November 19 through 21, bringing the mansion’s traditional decorations back to life while introducing a new after-dark experience centered on Christmas at Elvis’ home.
The weekend combines the annual lighting ceremony with an Elvis-themed holiday party, an archives presentation and the return of Dean Z’s Rockin’ Christmas Show. Seasonal tours will then continue at Graceland through December 23.
The Holiday Lighting Ceremony
The celebration begins Thursday, November 19, at 6 p.m. Central Time with Graceland’s annual Holiday Lighting Ceremony. The public event marks the moment the mansion’s Christmas display is illuminated for the season, including the blue lights lining the driveway and decorations associated with Elvis and the Presley family’s holiday traditions.
Fans who cannot travel to Memphis will be able to watch the ceremony through a livestream. Following the lighting, visiting families can take photos with Santa and participate in holiday crafts on the Graceland campus.
Elvis famously enjoyed the Christmas season, and Graceland continues to decorate the mansion in a style that recalls the years when he lived there. Inside, visitors can expect seasonal trees, red velvet drapes and Presley family artifacts, while the exterior display includes the driveway lights and traditional lawn decorations.
A New After-Dark Graceland Experience
Also debuting on November 19 is Graceland Unwrapped: After Dark, a one-night experience offering a more atmospheric look at the mansion during the holidays.
Rather than following the format of a standard daytime visit, the program uses seasonal sights, sounds and scents to evoke Christmas when Elvis was at home. Graceland guides will add context through stories, artifacts and details connected with family celebrations at the property.
The evening experience is designed for visitors interested in the personal history behind Graceland’s decorations, rather than simply seeing the mansion dressed for Christmas.
Jingle Jam at The Guest House at Graceland
Holiday Lighting Weekend continues Friday, November 20, with the Jingle Jam Holiday Party at The Guest House at Graceland.
Elvis Radio personality Argo will host the event, which features 2026 Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest winner Finley Watkins. The evening combines live entertainment, music and dancing, with guests invited to wear holiday pajamas or other festive attire.
Located near the mansion, The Guest House at Graceland serves as one of the weekend’s principal event venues and provides an easy base for visitors attending multiple programs.
Elvis Artifacts and a Rockin’ Christmas Show
Saturday’s program begins with Elvis Unbuttoned: Archives Show & Tell, led by Graceland Vice President of Archives and Exhibits Angie Marchese.
The presentation will explore a more personal side of Elvis through clothing, favorite objects and rarely displayed items from his life at Graceland. The format gives fans an opportunity to hear the stories behind pieces that are not normally central to a standard mansion tour.
On Saturday evening, Dean Z’s Rockin’ Christmas Show returns to the Graceland Soundstage. Dean Z won the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest in 2013 and has since become a familiar figure at Graceland events.
Backed by a live band, the show moves beyond a conventional Elvis tribute to cover rock and roll, rockabilly and swing-era Christmas music. The program includes songs associated with Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Brenda Lee, Brian Setzer and The Ronettes. The performance is scheduled for 7 p.m. on November 21.
Christmas Tours Continue Through December
Travelers unable to attend the opening weekend can still experience Christmas at Graceland later in the season. Special guided Christmas Tours will be offered from November 19 through December 23, with guides sharing stories about the Presley family’s holiday traditions as visitors explore the decorated mansion.
Select Christmas Ultimate VIP Tours add an evening visit after regular operating hours, along with seasonal photo opportunities. Tour formats, operating dates and availability vary, so advance planning is recommended during the busy holiday period.
The decorations themselves remain an important part of the experience. Elvis traditionally put them up in late November and kept them in place through his birthday in January, a custom Graceland continues today.
Planning a Holiday Trip to Memphis
Holiday Lighting Weekend can be incorporated into a longer music-focused visit to Memphis. Beyond Graceland, the city’s musical story encompasses blues, soul and early rock and roll, with landmarks including Beale Street, Sun Studio and the Stax Museum of American Soul Music. DRIFT’s guide, Soothe Your Soul – Must Be Memphis, offers additional ideas for exploring the city’s music heritage.
Holiday Lighting Weekend packages and individual event tickets are scheduled to go on sale September 25, with advance access for Graceland Insiders beginning September 24. The lighting ceremony itself is free to attend.
Current schedules, livestream details and reservation information are available through the official Graceland Holiday Lighting Weekend and Christmas at Graceland pages.
