Universal Orlando Resort is proving once again that it is never too early to start panicking. Halloween Horror Nights 2026 will return to Universal Studios Florida on select nights from Aug. 28 through Nov. 1, the event’s earliest start date ever.
This year’s 35th-anniversary event is already taking shape with returning icons Jack the Clown and Dr. Oddfellow, an “Infernal Carnival of Nightmares” theme, a haunted house based on Ryan Coogler’s Oscar-winning horror film Sinners, and an all-new house showcasing the final season of Stranger Things.
More announcements are still lurking in the fog, but here’s what Universal has revealed so far.
This article will continue to be updated with additional Halloween Horror Nights 2026 announcements.
NEW! Fortnitemares Scare Zone
Halloween Horror nights puts its signature twisted spin on Fortnite with an immersive scare zone inspired by Fortnitemares, the game’s signature Halloween event.
Halloween Horror Nights guests will have the chance to “drop in” to the world of Fortnitemares, with an all-new scare zone featuring ever-evolving and high-stakes environments, including Freaky Fields, a Halloween-inspired living battleground overcome with a threatening force.
Throughout the scare zone, fans will encounter the Battle Bus along with familiar Fortnitemares characters – plus a few new additions exclusive to Halloween Horror Nights – as they work to escape and claim victory.
The Fortnitemares scare zone will be part of the lineup at both Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood.
New merchandise inspired by the Fortnitemares scare zone include a graphic tee, decal set, and acrylic collectible piece. These items are available now at Universal Orlando Resort and will be available on ShopUniversal.com starting July 23 at 9 a.m. PST.
Frequent Fear Passes On Sale Now!
Universal Orlando guests can experience the terror again and again with a Halloween Horror Nights Fear Pass, with this year’s options including the Rush of Fear, Frequent Fear, Frequent Fear Plus and Ultimate Frequent Fear Pass.
Guests can also take advantage of enhanced Scream Early add-on ticket, which includes admission to Universal Studios Florida starting at 2 p.m. with early access to select haunted houses before the event officially starts.
Iconic Icons
The biggest news for fans of Universal Orlando’s after-hours haunt is that past icons Jack The Clown and Dr. Oddfellow will return to “wreak havoc together.”
“The overall thematic is going to be taking you within the Infernal Carnival of Nightmares,” said Michael Aiello, Director of Entertainment Creative Development at Universal Orlando Resort.” And it’s within that new vision between Jack and Oddfellow that all of our content is going to reside this year.”
Who are Jack and Dr. Oddfellow?
Jack the Clown was first introduced in 2000 for Halloween Horror Nights 10, with multiple scare zones and haunted houses themed to the character. Jack’s presence has continued to be felt at the event, including in 2015, when he co-hosted the event with Chance. Jack and Chance are also featured at Universal’s year-round Horror Unleashed attraction in Las Vegas.
“The first time we created Jack, we didn’t know what we had in that iconic character,” said Lora Sauls, Assistant Director of the Creative Development Group and Show Direction at Universal Orlando Resort. “We all know people are scared of clowns, so we knew if we created a creepy clown, everyone would love him, but we didn’t know how much.”
As for Dr. Oddfellow, he was the icon for Halloween Horror Nights 32 (though he’d made appearances before that), and all of the 2023 event’s scare zones were themed to Oddfellow. He even had his own dedicated house.
surprise maniacs
see u in the fog 😈 pic.twitter.com/dL42evdS4W
— Halloween Horror Nights (@HorrorNightsORL) March 21, 2026
Jack & Oddfellow: Chaos & Control
Witness Jack the Clown’s unholy origins, then enter Dr. Oddfellow’s wickedly twisted universe where two of the most powerful forces in horror face off in a death match of chaos versus control.
As guests walk through the house, they’ll hear Jack’s origin story – or at least Oddfellow’s version of it. And, according to Oddfellow, it was because of Jack’s carnival killing spree that he was “forced” to seal Jack inside a box. But there’s a new twist: Oddfellow is a “time traveler” who can go through portals to different dimensions… and the box is one of those portals.
Here’s the back story, courtesy of Michael Aiello on social media:
As guests walk through the house, they’ll experience Jack’s origin story, or at least Dr. Oddfellow’s version of it.
According to Michael Aiello, Dr. Oddfellow originally used his traveling circus to harness dark supernatural forces, while Jack turned the carnival into a stage for “increasingly chaotic and theatrical violence.”
Eventually, Oddfellow decided Jack had become too dangerous and sealed him inside a mysterious box. Instead of destroying him, the dark energy transformed Jack into something even worse.
“Jack returned as something no longer human,” Aiello explained. “He broke free, killed Oddfellow, and took control of the circus, reshaping it into the Carnival of Carnage.”
But Oddfellow didn’t stay dead. After gaining control of the Dark Zodiac, he returned more powerful than before, setting the stage for HHN 2026’s central battle between chaos and control.
Guests enter the story inside “the Oddverse,” where Oddfellow attempts to narrate Jack’s rise to power. Naturally, Jack refuses to stay contained, and the house spirals into a supernatural showdown between the two icons.
By the end, the rivals realize something even more terrifying: together, they’re stronger.
The result is the “Infernal Carnival of Nightmares,” the overarching theme for Halloween Horror Nights 2026 and the event’s 35th anniversary celebration.
So much more to come…
Not only is this the most technically demanding HHN house I’ve ever worked on, but one of the most technically demanding projects I’ve worked on period. We are taking some big swings in here, doing things we’ve never tried in an HHN house before. This one’s gonna be special. 🤡🎩 https://t.co/8KscSzDSZK
— Jordan A. Hill (@JordanAHill) March 21, 2026
A new HHN35 merch collection featuring Jack the Clown and Dr. Oddfellow has already dropped at Universal Studios Florida and online at @ShopUniversal.
Killer Klowns from Outer Space
The Killer Klowns are returning to the streets of Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights. Is it a scare zone? Is it a show? Is it a roaming horde? Time will tell.
Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights Haunted Houses 2026
Each year, Universal Orlando Resort features a new slate of horrifying haunted houses—some ripped from well-known horror franchises; others dreamed up by the twisted geniuses at Universal Creative—all featuring movie-quality make-up, costumes, special effects, and set design that turns them into living nightmares.
IP Haunted Houses
Each year, Universal creates immersive haunted houses based on established horror franchises, from Freddy and Jason to Stranger Things. This year, the line-up includes an Oscar-winning movie, an iconic horror franchise, and a final bow.
Evil Dead Burn
An all-new haunted house will be based on the newly-released sixth film in in the Evil Dead Franchise.
First introduced in 1981, Evil Dead evolved from an independent cult classic to one of the most iconic horror properties. Blending extreme gore with dark humor, the franchise centers on the Book of the Dead, an ancient text that unleashes supernatural parasitic demons who possess and twist their victims into Deadites.
Guests will embark on a terrifying journey through the new film’s most frightening moments, beginning at the Price family’s secluded vacation home in the woods. The nightmare worsens as guests venture through the haunted house, encountering Deadites around every turn before succumbing to evil forces themselves.
All-new limited-release merchandise inspired by Evil Dead Burn includes a T-shirt and hat, along with its own acrylic figure designed for the infernal carnival collectible display. The collection is available at the park and on shopUniversal.com, with additional merchandise emerging later this year.
The Evil Dead Burns haunted house will be part of the lineup at both Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood.
Here’s a sneak peek:
Hellraiser
For the first time, Halloween Horror Nights unleashes Hellraiser, one of horror’s most influential franchises. The trilogy redefined supernatural horror and introduced the mythology of the Lament Configuration puzzle box, which, when solved, opens a portal to another dimension inhabited by ritualistically torturous beings known as the Cenobites and their leader, the iconic Pinhead.
For the first time at Halloween Horror Nights, guests will step into a dark realm of pain and pleasure with Pinhead and the Cenobites. From the attic in Frank Cotton’s family home (where he was first cast to Hell) to the Channard Institute where the legendary box lures guests with its promise of forbidden pleasures, fans will encounter moments and settings from all three movies in the Hellraiser franchise. In addition, Pinhead actor Doug Bradley will reprise his character and lend his voice to the experience.
The terrifying experience begins as guests enter the Lament Configuration puzzle box, unwittingly summoning the Cenobites and opening a gateway to a diabolical dimension where unspeakable horrors await. Their ourney ultimately lands them in The Labyrinth where Pinhead and the Cenobites lie in wait for new souls to torment for eternity.
New limited-release merchandise inspired by the Hellraiser haunted house are now available at Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood, including a T-shirt and a Pinhead acrylic figure which can be added to the separately sold Infernal Carnival collectible display. The Hellraiser collection is also available on shopUniversal.com.
The Hellraiser haunted house will be part of the lineup at both Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood.
Here’s a sneak peek:
Step Into The Final Season of Stranger Things
Halloween Horror Nights is revisiting the Upside Down, with an all-new haunted house showcasing the fifth and final season of Stranger Things and placing guests at the center of the ultimate battle to save Hawkins.
Guests will be transported to the town of Hawkins just as the barrier between reality and the supernatural unleashes an ominous darkness. As visitors make their way through the Wheeler House, Hawkins National Laboratory, the MAC-Z military base, and the haunting realms of the Upside Down and the Abyss, they’ll be hunted by Demogorgons and other sinister creatures, including Vecna himself.
A parks-exclusive collection of all‑new limited-release merchandise includes a T-shirt and a mug infused with ‘80s nostalgia, plus a new Stranger Things-inspired acrylic figure that fits into the separately sold Infernal Carnival collectible display (additional figures will be available as new haunted houses are announced).
These items are available now at Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood and will launch June 18 at 9 a.m. PST on shopUniversal.com.
The Stranger Things haunted house will be part of the lineup at both Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood.
Here’s a sneak peek:
The Oscar-winning Sinners is coming to Halloween Horror Nights
The supernatural horror film takes place in 1930s Mississippi Delta, where twin brothers named Smoke and Stack return to their hometown to open a juke joint for their community. Unfortunately, a troupe of vampires crash the club’s opening night, threatening to curse the guests in a battle for survival.
The Halloween Horror Nights house will transport guests back in time to Club Juke, where they’ll come face-to-face with red-eyed vampires Remmick, Bert and Joan. As they attempt to evade the vampires, fans will encounter characters from the film, including Sammie, Mary, Annie, Pearline and Cornbread. Caught in a deadly struggle between Smoke and Stack and the bloodthirsty vampires, guests must fight to survive the night.
“The moment Sinners premiered, we knew it was an undeniable fit for Halloween Horror Nights and it’s an honor to bring this story to life,” said Mike Aiello, Senior Director of Entertainment Creative Development at Universal Orlando Resort. “It’s rare for a film to fully satisfy hardcore horror fans while also inviting new audiences into the genre—and that’s exactly what Sinners does. Its world, characters and intensity will translate into a relentless haunted house. We can’t wait for our fans to step inside and experience the horror firsthand in a way that only Halloween Horror Nights can deliver.”
All-new merchandise inspired by the Sinners haunted house is already available, including a limited release shirt and hat.
An acrylic figure inspired by the house is also available for purchase. Guests can exhibit all the house announcements in a collectible infernal carnival display leading up to opening night.
The Sinners haunted house will be part of the line-up at both Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood.
Here’s a sneak peek:
Original Haunted Houses
Universal’s creative team creates original haunted houses that transport unwitting guests until realms of unimaginable horror. This year, a previous original Halloween Horror Nights character returns to finish what he started.
INVASION: Alien Abduction
Make contact with horrors from worlds unknown in this haunted house, where a ship full of Grays have torn apart a remote homestead in search of fresh test subjects.
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Cybergoria
Awaken thousands of years in the future in this haunted house and brave a cold world driven by machines with a singular goal: to make you live forever, even if it kills you.
View this post on Instagram
MADLANDS: Caged Cannibals
A defunct zoo is now the deadly domain of warring cannibal factions that have taken their animal instincts to extremes. They’re territorial. They’re hungry. And you’re lunch.
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H.R. Bloodengutz Presents: A Halloween Fright-Tacular!
The fan-favorite maître d’macabre returns to WKNB with a special Halloween scare-athon! The creature feature host first appered in 2011’s H.R. Bloodengutz Presents: Holidays of Horror and then made a brief appearance in 2021’s Welcome to SCarey: Horror in the Heartland.
According to Universal, fan-favorite creature feature host, Larry Kurtzberg (better known as H.R. Bloodengutz), returns in the all-new haunted house following his “descension into violent madness where he tortured his crew when his show was canceled [as featured in 2021].” Now, H.R. Bloodengutz has escaped from prison, returning to WKNB for a final Halloween Special “of gruesome proportions.”
Sinister Scare Zones
Even if you skip the haunted houses, you can’t escape the horror of highly-themed scare zones that take over the streets of Universal Studios Florida. This year, we can expect to feel Jack and Oddfellow’s sinister presence throughout the park.
Infernal Carnival of Nightmares
Jack and Dr. Oddfellow invite you to step right up and see what horrors hide in every shadow at a sinister spectacle decades in the making.
Sideshow of Decay
Cindy’s time has come. With Dr. Oddfellow’s dark sorcery, she opened a portal in the carnival’s junkyard — using it to resurrect decayed nightmares from the past that are back to haunt you.
Eerie Entertainment
A full-scale stage production takes place during the event. In past years, the fire-filled Nightmare Fuel series followed an episodic circus-themed storyline, but the 2026 stage production takes a blood-curdling turn.
Nightmare Fuel: Blood Noir
This year’s live stage show takes the audience on a dark musical journey… and challenges them to resist temptation as death-defying stunts lure them into a vampire-ridden metropolis.
Stranger Things: Return to Hawkins
The music. The monsters. The memories. Tune in to a special WSQK broadcast and relive your favorite moments from five seasons of Stranger Things.
This will be the Halloween Horror Nights 2026 lagoon show.
Halloween Horror Nights 2026 Tickets
Tickets and select add-ons are already on sale, including single-night admission, Express, R.I.P. Tours, Behind the Screams tours, and two Premium Scream Night dates. As always, pricing varies by date, and the scarier part may be checking out.
- Tickets for Halloween Horror Nights Premium Scream Night on Aug. 27 or Oct. 19 are available now, starting at $399 per person + tax. The special limited-capacity event includes All-You-Care-to-Enjoy Select Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages (select alcoholic beverages available for purchase) and Free Self-Parking.
Tickets and Add-On Experiences:
- Single Night Ticket (starting at $87.99 per person + tax) – Admission to the after-hours event (no early park entry).
- Scream Early Ticket (starting at $70 per person + tax) – Includes early park entry at 3 p.m. Separate event admission for same date required.
- Halloween Horror Night Express (starting at $169.99 per person + tax) – Provides expedited entry into haunted houses. Separate event admission for same date required.
- R.I.P. Tour (starting at $399 per person + tax) – Includes valet parking for one vehicle, priority VIP entry into haunted houses (once per house), Universal Express Unlimited Access (excludes haunted houses),
appetizer reception, a commemorative R.I.P. tour credential, lanyard and button (one each per guest). Separate event admission is required for the same night.
- Behind the Screams: Unmasking the Horror Tour (starting at $99.99 per person + tax; available select dates starting August 21) – Daytime lights-on guided tour of 3 or 6 haunted houses, exclusive photo access in select haunted house rooms during your tour, exclusive commemorative pin (one per guest). A buffet-style lunch is included with the 6 Haunted House Tour only. Theme park and/or Halloween Horror Nights event admission is not included and NOT REQUIRED to participate in the tour.
Halloween Horror Nights is not recommended for children under the age of 13.
RELATED READING:
- Universal Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights 2026: Sinners, Scares & The Longest Season Yet!
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It’s Alive! Universal Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas is Officially Open!
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Let’s Hear From You!
That’s what we know so far, but Halloween Horror Nights announcements tend to arrive one scream at a time. We’ll continue updating this guide as Universal reveals additional haunted houses, scare zones, entertainment, food, merchandise, and ticket details.
Are you looking forward to the return of Jack the Clown and Dr. Oddfellow? And if you’re not already a die-hard HHN fan, will this be the year you finally venture into the fog? Let us know in the comments below!
Halloween Horror Nights 2026: Sinners, Scares & Universal’s Longest Season Yet
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