Princess Tiana Exhibit Travels Nationwide

Princess Tiana, Disney’s first Black American princess, has inspired millions since her debut in ‘The Princess and the Frog’ in 2009. Her story, rooted in entrepreneurship and resilience rather than damsel-in-distress tropes, continues to expand. Now, Disney is bringing Tiana’s world directly to children nationwide through an exciting new traveling exhibition, ‘Tiana’s Joyful Celebration.’

Bringing New Orleans to You

Inspired by the legendary Creole chef Leah Chase, Princess Tiana embodies passion, talent, and ambition. To ensure children everywhere can experience her story, Disney Imagineering, led by Carmen Smith, collaborated with Leah Chase’s daughter, Stella Chase, to create this immersive exhibition. The goal is to share the vibrant culture of New Orleans and Tiana’s inspiring journey with communities who may not have access to Disney Parks.

The exhibition launched at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis in March 2026 and will remain there for the rest of the year. Starting in January 2027, ‘Tiana’s Joyful Celebration’ will embark on a nationwide tour, visiting 12 additional cities.

An Immersive Celebration of Culture and Play

Carmen Smith describes the exhibition as ‘Tiana’s next chapter,’ blending history, culture, and play. It highlights the beauty of Mardi Gras through interactive activities designed to engage both children and adults. Guests are assigned ‘tasks’ to collaborate on making a Mardi Gras parade come to life, fostering a sense of community and shared experience.

The exhibit features four main areas: Eudora’s Chic Boutique, the Food Float, the Music & Royal Float, and the Food Truck. Visitors can participate in activities like cooking mock gumbo (inspired by Tiana’s dad’s famous recipe), coloring a digital mural designed by Louisiana artist Malaika Favorite, and learning second-line dancing steps, inspired by traditional New Orleans parades.

• **Eudora’s Chic Boutique:** Explore Tiana’s fashion sense.
• **Food Float:** Learn to make Tiana’s dad’s famous gumbo.
• **Music & Royal Float:** Engage with Tiana’s world through art and dance.
• **Food Truck:** Discover more culinary delights.

Inspiring the Next Generation

The experience culminates with a special appearance by Princess Tiana herself, accompanied by her friend Louis the alligator, engaging the crowd with music and dancing. ‘Tiana’s Joyful Celebration’ aims to extend the groundbreaking character’s impact by showcasing authentic representation and allowing visitors to discover the magic in cultural traditions.

As Smith emphasizes, the exhibit’s core message for young Black girls is powerful: ‘You can be anything you want to be.’ By seeing Tiana’s entrepreneurial spirit, community values, and determination, children are encouraged to feel a sense of presence and possibility, knowing that every idea is worthy and can be pursued with fun and adventure.