For anyone who has ever wished they could order a cup of coffee at Luke's Diner or wander through the twinkling streets of Stars Hollow, this is your moment. Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood is turning its Burbank backlot into the beloved fictional town for a holiday event that runs from 12 December 2026 to 3 January 2027 (closed Christmas Day). It's the studio's biggest Gilmore Girls experience yet, and it's about to make a lot of fans very, very happy.
The standalone ticketed event, called Gilmore Girls Holidays, is an expanded version of the studio's previous Holidays Made Here celebrations. It will recreate some of the series' most iconic spots, including Lorelai's house, Luke's Diner, the Dragonfly Inn, and Miss Patty's School of Ballet. But there are also new additions that haven't been seen before, like Luke's apartment, which is being rebuilt at its original Stage 13 filming location using the show's production specs. That's about as authentic as it gets.
You'll also get to walk through the Chilton graduation courtyard and explore an expanded version of the Gilmore Estate, the grand home of Emily and Richard. And for those who remember the season two drama, there's an interactive holiday version of Rory's Basket Auction, where you can bid on baskets just like Dean and Jess did. It's a chance to step into the story rather than just watch it.
Food is a huge part of the Gilmore Girls universe, and this event leans into that hard. You can grab Caesar's Chilaquiles Nachos served in a collectable upside-down Luke's baseball cap, or head to the Stars Hollow Creamery for shakes themed around Rory's boyfriends. There's also a secret bar pouring drinks like the "I Smell Snow" peppermint colada, a tiramisu martini, and Jackson's peach julep. Yes, there's a secret bar. You'll have to find it.
Scott Patterson, who played Luke Danes, is expected to make appearances for live podcast events and photo ops. That's a nice bonus for fans who want to meet the man behind the diner counter. General admission starts at $79 (about €68), while a $124 (about €106) bundle includes access to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood itself. Given the level of detail and the chance to walk through actual filming locations, it feels like a fair price for the experience.
This event is part of a bigger trend that's reshaping how people travel. It's called "set-jetting," and it's exactly what it sounds like: planning trips around places you've seen on screen. The phenomenon has turned filming locations into destinations in their own right. Dubrovnik, Croatia, has become a pilgrimage site for Game of Thrones fans, while the English village of Lavenham lets visitors stay in the 15th-century house that stood in for Harry Potter's childhood home in Deathly Hallows. If you're looking for more screen-inspired stays, you might also want to check out a fairy tale hotel in Cappadocia or a dreamy hotel inside a restored post office in Ghent.
Even newer productions are fueling this wanderlust. Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey is filming across Sardinia, the Strait of Messina, Ithaca, Troy, and Gozo, which is already inspiring travel plans. And The White Lotus has shown just how powerful television can be, with its third season putting Thailand in the spotlight and driving interest in the hotels and destinations featured. The show's impact on travel demand has been so strong that tourism boards are paying attention.
So whether you're a die-hard Gilmore Girls fan or just someone who loves the idea of walking through a storybook town, this event is a chance to do something a little different. You can sip a peppermint colada in a hidden bar, sit in Luke's diner booth, and pretend you're part of the town's quirky charm. It's a holiday experience that feels personal, nostalgic, and wonderfully immersive. And if you're already dreaming of your next screen-inspired trip, you might also enjoy a Minecraft-themed hotel in London or a gondola ride through Tennessee's mountains.
