35th edition49 nights, Aug. 28 to Nov. 1, 2026Universal Studios Florida
Halloween Horror Nights 2026: Dates, Houses, Prices & How to Pick Your Night
HHN 35 runs 49 select nights August 28 through November 1, 2026, at Universal Studios Florida. It's the earliest start in event history, all 10 houses are announced, and tickets are on sale now. This year's theme is the Infernal Carnival of Nightmares, with Jack the Clown and Dr. Oddfellow teaming up for the first time.
What's confirmed for 2026
The full picture, now that everything's announced
Event
Halloween Horror Nights 35. Theme: Infernal Carnival of Nightmares
Dates
49 select nights, August 28 through November 1, 2026. Earliest start in HHN history.
Event hours
6:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. on event nights
Host park
Universal Studios Florida only. HHN doesn't run at Islands of Adventure or Epic Universe.
Tickets
Separately ticketed night event. Single nights from about $88 plus tax, moving with the date.
Houses
All 10 announced, five based on horror IPs and five original concepts
Scare zones
Four named. Reports point to a possible fifth Universal hasn't detailed.
Live shows
Two: Nightmare Fuel: Blood Noir and a Stranger Things lagoon show
Big ticket change for 2026: Universal dropped the Express-bundled versions of every multi-night pass. If you want Express on more than one night this year, you're buying it night by night.
Last checked August 18, 2026. Prices shown are Universal's on-sale ranges from early August; they move with demand.
The houses
All 10 haunted houses at HHN 35
The full lineup is locked: five IP houses and five originals. Here's each one and what you're walking into.
1Stranger Things 5The final season: Vecna, Demogorgons, and the Upside Down swallowing Hawkins.
2SinnersThe 1930s Mississippi Delta vampire film gets its first HHN house, Club Juke and all.
3HellraiserFrom Frank Cotton's attic to Pinhead's Labyrinth, with Doug Bradley back as the voice of Pinhead.
4Evil Dead BurnDeadites overrun a secluded vacation home, based on the newest film in the franchise.
5Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of DarknessA Crazy Train ride through dark realms built from his album covers.
6Jack & Oddfellow: Chaos & ControlJack the Clown's origin story, told from inside Dr. Oddfellow's Oddverse.
7H.R. Bloodengutz Presents: A Halloween Fright-Tacular!The escaped TV horror host is back on the air, and the special gets violent.
8MADLANDS: Caged CannibalsWarring cannibal factions in a post-apocalyptic zoo.
9CybergoriaHumans wake from cryo-sleep to machines harvesting flesh.
10INVASION: Alien AbductionA family homestead in the Southwest, mid-abduction.
Between the houses
Scare zones and shows
Four scare zones are named, with reports of a possible fifth Universal hasn't detailed:
1Infernal Carnival of NightmaresThe 35th-anniversary centerpiece, where Jack and Dr. Oddfellow run the show together.
2Sideshow of DecayThe Caretaker's daughter resurrects past HHN nightmares in a carnival junkyard.
3Downtown ClowntownKiller Klowns from Outer Space and Art the Clown in the same zone. Good luck.
4FortnitemaresA Fortnite battleground zone, Battle Bus included.
The two live shows: Nightmare Fuel: Blood Noir, a stunt-and-pyro musical set in a vampire metropolis, and Stranger Things: Return to Hawkins, a lagoon projection show marking the series' 10th anniversary. The Tribute Store, themed as Sideshow Obscura this year, sits just left of Revenge of the Mummy.
Tickets
Every ticket type, with real prices
All 2026 pricing is live. Everything below is "starting at," plus tax, and moves with the date you pick. These were Universal's on-sale ranges as of early August 2026.
Single-night admission
From about $88, climbing to around $130 on peak nights.
Multi-night passes
Rush of Fear from $229.99 (up to the first 18 nights, through Sept. 20), Frequent Fear from $274.99 (up to 31 nights), Frequent Fear Plus from $324.99 (up to 41 nights), Ultimate Frequent Fear from $449.99 (all 49 nights, plus free self-parking after 5 p.m.; not valid on Premium Scream Nights). How many nights each pass covers depends on the start date you pick.
Express Pass
Roughly $170 to $280 depending on the night, one use per house. Sold single-night only in 2026: the Express-bundled multi-night passes are gone.
Premium Scream Night
The two exclusive nights (Aug. 27 and Oct. 19) with shorter waits and food and non-alcoholic drinks included. About $399 to $415 per person. Aug. 27 sold out back in July, so Oct. 19 is the one left.
R.I.P. Tour
The full guided all-house tour starts at $469.99. New this year: a 5-house version from about $300, sold as set North or South routes.
Behind the Screams: Unmasking the Horror Tour
Lights-on daytime walkthrough of three houses, from $99.99.
Scream Early
About $70 to enter the park from 2 p.m. ahead of your event night. Requires an event ticket for that night.
We don't sell tickets, Express Pass, or any of these upgrades, and we don't do affiliate links. This is just what Universal offers so you know your options before you buy from them.
Planning
How to pick your night
HHN runs 49 nights across more than two months, and not every night draws the same crowd. Weekend nights sell heavier than weeknights, and opening weekend plus the last two weekends of October draw the biggest crowds. A Sunday through Thursday night in September that isn't opening week usually moves you through the most houses.
One 2026-specific signal worth knowing: demand is running hot early. The Aug. 27 Premium Scream Night sold out in July, and standard R.I.P. Tour dates were showing no availability around the same time. If you're targeting a specific Saturday, don't sit on the ticket.
Universal Studios Florida runs its regular daytime operation right alongside HHN, so it's worth checking the park's crowd calendar for the daytime picture on your date before you commit to a ticket.
Is Halloween Horror Nights included with regular park admission?
No. HHN is a separately ticketed night event. A daytime park ticket doesn't get you in, and an event ticket doesn't cover the daytime park. Scream Early is the bridge if you want both in one day.
Is HHN too scary for kids?
Universal's line is "not recommended for children under 13," and there's no ID check, so it's your call. Real talk: the houses are graphic, alcohol is everywhere, and there's no toned-down path through the park. If you're planning around younger kids, a regular daytime visit is the better play.
Can you wear a costume?
Not on regular event nights. No costumes, no masks. The two Premium Scream Nights allow costumes, but masks stay banned even there.
What time does it start and end?
6:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. on event nights. Scream Early gets ticket holders in from 2 p.m. for about $70 more.
Can you do all 10 houses in one night?
On a light September weeknight with a plan, it's doable. On a Saturday in October, not without Express. Rank your top 4 or 5 houses before you walk in and hit the longest-line ones first.
Is HHN at Islands of Adventure or Epic Universe?
No, Universal Studios Florida only. Universal Nights at Epic Universe (Oct. 3 and 17) is a separate after-hours event, and it isn't Halloween-themed.
Wrapping a park day around your HHN night?
Most HHN trips have a park day attached. The app tracks live ride waits at all three Universal Orlando parks and rebuilds your plan when the day gets weird. Get it on the App Store before your trip.