Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood kicks off this Thursday, September 3, running select nights through November 1, and this year’s lineup is the most packed the event has ever been.
From Stranger Things and Sinners to a quinceañera-turned-death-festival scored by SLASH, the 2026 edition layers new originals on top of returning fan favorites.
For the first time in Halloween Horror Nights history, guests are also being offered a new “Unmasking the Horror Tour Add-On,” a lights-on, behind-the-scenes walkthrough of select haunted houses.
Read on for more details.
2026 Halloween Horror Nights attractions
The Terror Tram gets a full makeover this season, with Art the Clown (the deranged killer from the Terrifier franchise) taking over the historic Universal backlot. Metal band Ice Nine Kills composed new music for the experience, reworking classic Christmas songs into something considerably darker. Guests who think they’ve made it out safely should stay alert, because Art reportedly surfaces elsewhere in the park throughout the night.
New original houses are the headline addition this year. KILLceañera: Music by SLASH follows Lola, a girl whose quinceañera becomes a festival of revenge and death, with Grammy-winning guitarist SLASH composing an original score featuring Spanish guitar. Crowd-pleaser Killer Klowns From Outer Space also returns this year, sending visitors back to the 1980s and into the path of murderous alien circus clowns.
Previously announced houses include themes from Sinners, Stranger Things, Hellraiser, Evil Dead Burn, and Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness.
The stunt show “The Purge: Dangerous Waters” returns to the WaterWorld venue, and four scare zones (“Hackerz,” “Fortnitemares,” “El Circo de la Muerte,” and “Blood Bog”) spread the chaos across the park. Nikki, the main character from Focus Features’ horror film Obsession, will also make nightly appearances on the streets.
A behind-the-scenes first
For the first time in the event’s history, Universal is offering an “Unmasking the Horror Tour Add-On,” a daytime, lights-on walkthrough of select haunted houses, currently the “Sinners” and “KILLceañera” builds. The guided tour gives a close look at the construction and design behind the sets, with designated photo opportunities inside. It’s available as a separate purchase alongside regular event tickets.
Full details and tickets are available at the Universal Studios Hollywood website.
