The marquee includes 24 acts spread across three consecutive evenings Sept. 9-11 – including a first-ever Thursday evening Night of Joy. The expansion to a third night follows early sellouts in recent years.
“The demand for wholesome family entertainment like that provided by Night of Joy increases every year,” said Walt Disney World President Al Weiss. “So we are expanding our offerings – and we hope our guests will enjoy the result.”
The result is 24 acts that have amassed 174 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards and 21 Grammy Awards. The star-studded lineup features three-time artist-of-the-year Michael W. Smith, six-time artist-of-the-year Steven Curtis Chapman, two-time female vocalist-of-the-year winners CeCe Winans and Jaci Velasquez, king of contemporary gospel Kirk Franklin, three-time group-of-the-year Third Day, three-time group-of-the-year 4Him, and two-time group-of-the-year winners Jars of Clay and Point of Grace.
But that’s not the half of this year’s Night of Joy lineup. They are joined by 2004 new-artist-of-the-year and male-vocalist-of-the-year Jeremy Camp, Avalon, Rebecca St. James, Salvador, FFH, Mark Schultz, Skillet, Joy Williams, Stryper, 12 Stones, SONICFLOOd, downhere, Across the Sky, Jump 5 and Warren Barfield.
Performances will take place at several stage locations between 7:30 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. each evening (following regular Magic Kingdom closing). Popular attractions will also be available for guests to enjoy during Night of Joy hours.
The Line Up
| Sept. 9 | Sept. 10 | Sept. 11 | |
| Michael W. Smith | Steven Curtis Chapman | Kirk Franklin | |
| Avalon | Third Day | Jaci Velasquez | |
| Jars of Clay | Rebecca St. James | CeCe Winans | |
| Point of Grace | Skillet | 12 Stones | |
| 4HIM | Stryper | Salvador | |
| FFH | SONICFLOOd | Jeremy Camp | |
| Mark Schultz | downhere | Joy Williams | |
| Across the Sky | Warren Barfield | Jump 5 | |
