Halloween Horror Nights 2026 at Universal Studios Hollywood

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood is always one of the biggest Halloween events in Southern California, and the 2026 lineup is shaping up to deliver plenty of new scares alongside some returning fan favorites.

The screams begin Thursday, September 3, 2026, and Halloween Horror Nights will run on select nights through Sunday, November 1, 2026. With new haunted houses, returning favorites, scare zones, street experiences and a brand-new daytime behind-the-scenes tour, there are plenty of reasons to make a trip to Universal City this Halloween season.

It has been one of my longest running traditions to attend HHN and I'm excited for what's new and what's staying - 2026 could be one of the most memorable years yet.

Halloween Horror Nights 2026 Dates & Times

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood runs on select nights from:

September 3 through November 1, 2026

Event hours vary by night, so guests should check the official Halloween Horror Nights calendar when purchasing tickets. Early Access begins at 5:30 p.m. on select nights and is subject to change, while the event continues into the late evening.

Halloween Horror Nights is a separately ticketed nighttime event, and daytime admission to Universal Studios Hollywood does not automatically include access to the Halloween Horror Nights experiences.

Terror Tram Starring Art the Clown

One of the announcements I’m personally most excited about is “Terror Tram starring Art the Clown.”

The Terror Tram has always been one of my favorite parts of Halloween Horror Nights. There’s something special about leaving the traditional theme park setting and heading onto the historic Universal backlot, where the experience takes on a different atmosphere. This year, the infamous Art the Clown from Terrifier takes over.

Art arrives on the backlot with his blood-soaked bag of presents, only to realize that it’s a little too early for Christmas. Naturally, his solution is to hijack the tram and create his own twisted holiday celebration. Adding another layer to the experience, Ice Nine Kills will provide new music for the Terror Tram, putting a sinister spin on classic Christmas songs. Escaping the backlot may not mean escaping Art. Guests could encounter him elsewhere in the theme park during the event.

For me, the Terror Tram is a must-do every year, and putting Art the Clown in charge sounds like a particularly chaotic—and very bloody—upgrade.

Killer Klowns From Outer Space Returns

Another fan favorite is coming back. “Killer Klowns From Outer Space” returns to Halloween Horror Nights, bringing guests back to the bizarre 1980s cult horror classic. The haunted house once again puts guests face-to-face with murderous alien clowns, giving fans another opportunity to step inside the colorful—but deadly—world of the Killer Klowns.

For longtime Halloween Horror Nights fans, bringing back a popular house like this is a great way to balance the new experiences with some familiar favorites.

KILLceañera: Music by SLASH

One of the new houses that immediately caught my attention is “KILLceañera: Music by SLASH.”

Halloween Horror Nights has continued to incorporate Latin American folklore, mythology and cultural traditions into its lineup, and this year's original haunted house takes that tradition in a very dark direction.

The story follows Lola, a fifteen-year-old celebrating her quinceañera. Instead of marking the traditional rite of passage, however, Lola transforms her celebration into a festival of death as she seeks revenge against everyone who has wronged her.

What makes this house particularly interesting is the involvement of legendary guitarist and songwriter SLASH, who created an original score featuring Spanish guitar along with an exclusive song titled “15 Candles.”

As someone who loves seeing Latin-inspired storytelling represented at Halloween Horror Nights, this is definitely high on my list for 2026.

Dead, Deader, Deadest

Another original haunted house coming to the event is “Dead, Deader, Deadest.”

The experience takes guests inside an abandoned funeral home where disturbing things once took place.

Universal has been keeping the premise fairly mysterious, which may actually make this one more intriguing. There is something especially creepy about entering a location where you know something terrible happened—but you don't necessarily know exactly what you're going to encounter.

The Purge: Dangerous Waters Returns

The popular “The Purge: Dangerous Waters” stunt show is also returning.

Once again taking over the WaterWorld venue, the show combines the franchise's chaotic world with live stunts, fire and action as characters fight to survive. If you've attended Halloween Horror Nights before, you know that the stunt show provides a nice break from walking through haunted houses while still keeping the adrenaline going.

Meet Freaky Nikki From Obsession

One of the more unusual additions this year is the nightly appearance of Freaky Nikki, the iconic character from Focus Features' horror film Obsession.

Nikki will appear throughout the darkened streets of Universal Studios Hollywood, giving guests the opportunity to potentially encounter the character—and hopefully avoid becoming the latest victim of the terrifying One Wish Willow curse. It's another example of how Halloween Horror Nights continues to incorporate recognizable horror characters into the larger event rather than limiting them to haunted houses.

New 2026 Scare Zones & Street Experiences

The haunted houses aren't the only places where you'll encounter something terrifying.

Halloween Horror Nights 2026 will feature several scare zones and street experiences, including:

Hackerz. Guests will have to make their way through a group of chainsaw-wielding killers in “Hackerz.”

Because apparently Halloween Horror Nights needed another reason to make walking between houses stressful.

“Fortnitemares” brings Fortnite's annual in-game Halloween event into the real world with characters and horror-inspired gameplay. This should be an especially fun addition for gamers and younger horror fans.

Located outside the KILLceañera: Music by SLASH haunted house, “El Circo de la Muerte” takes inspiration from 1930s circus and sideshow acts that traveled across Mexico. Of course, this is Halloween Horror Nights, so the circus has a much darker twist.

Another street interaction, “Shriek of the Banshee,” features a carnival barker and a talking skeleton.

These smaller encounters are one of the things that make Halloween Horror Nights feel like an entire world rather than a series of isolated haunted houses.

To round out the experience, there are a few more scare zones to check out. Guests will also need to survive “Blood Bog,” where moss monsters lurk throughout the bogs and bayous. The creepy “Murder of Crowz” returns, featuring the crow family—including dad, mom and baby—as they flock to their nest.

The Previously Announced Haunted Houses

The new additions join several previously announced haunted houses, giving Halloween Horror Nights an impressive variety of horror themes for 2026.

The lineup includes:

• Sinners — based on Warner Bros. Pictures' Academy Award-winning film

• Stranger Things — based on Netflix's hit series

• Hellraiser — inspired by the first three films

• Evil Dead Burn — based on the sixth film in New Line Cinema's Evil Dead franchise

• Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness — celebrating the legacy of the legendary metal rock star

With original concepts, major film and television franchises, and horror icons all represented, there should be something for just about every kind of horror fan.

We're Especially Excited for the Unmasking the Horror Tour

One of the biggest changes to Halloween Horror Nights this year isn't actually part of the nighttime event.

For the first time, Universal Studios Hollywood is introducing the “Unmasking the Horror Tour Add-On,” a daytime, behind-the-scenes experience that gives horror fans a closer look at how the haunted houses are created.

The guided, lights-on experience will provide insight into the creative process behind select houses, including Sinnersand KILLceañera: Music by SLASH.

Guests will also have opportunities to photograph themselves inside designated areas of the haunted houses.

This is something we're particularly excited about.

There is a huge amount of artistry, design, set construction, lighting, makeup, special effects and storytelling that goes into creating Halloween Horror Nights. Getting the opportunity to see those details without the darkness, fog and scare actors surrounding you should offer a completely different perspective on the event. For fans who want to know how Halloween Horror Nights is made, this could be a fantastic addition to the experience.

Attractions Open During Halloween Horror Nights

If you need a break from the haunted houses—or simply want to pack as much into your evening as possible—several theme park attractions will remain open during the event.

Select attractions include:

• SUPER NINTENDO WORLD

• Transformers: The Ride-3D

• Revenge of the Mummy—The Ride

• The Simpsons Ride

Meanwhile, Death Eaters and "He Who Shall Not be Named" followers, will roam The Wizarding World of Harry Potter beginning in the early evening.

Halloween Horror Nights Ticket Options

Universal Studios Hollywood offers several ways to experience Halloween Horror Nights in 2026.

Ticket options include:

• General Admission

• Universal Express Ticket

• R.I.P. Tour

• Day/Night Ticket

• After 2 P.M. Day/Night Ticket

• Early Access Ticket

• Frequent Fear Pass

• Ultimate Fear Pass

  
  

The Early Access Ticket provides entry to select haunted houses beginning at 5:30 p.m., subject to change.

For serious Halloween Horror Nights fans, the Frequent Fear Pass and Ultimate Fear Pass offer opportunities to return multiple times throughout the season.

Halloween Horror Nights 2026 at a Glance

Where: Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal City, California

Dates: Select nights September 3–November 1, 2026

Event: Halloween Horror Nights

Hours: Vary by event night; check the official calendar for nightly hours

Early Access: Select haunted houses beginning at 5:30 p.m., subject to change

Tickets: General Admission, Express, R.I.P. Tour, Day/Night, After 2 P.M. Day/Night, Early Access, Frequent Fear Pass and Ultimate Fear Pass

Planning your visit? Check the official Halloween Horror Nights calendar and ticket information before heading to Universal Studios Hollywood, as event dates, hours, attractions and experiences are subject to change.

For more Southern California Halloween events, theme park news, travel ideas and event coverage, keep following SoCal Travel Blog and @SoCaltravelblog.

Check out my previous review on HHN at Universal Studios Hollywood.

Images provide by NBC Universal