What To Expect at Universal Halloween Horror Nights 2026

The author was a guest of Universal Orlando Resort. All opinions expressed here are the author’s own, and Universal Orlando Resort had no input in any part of this review.

Universal Halloween Horror Nights is back and is celebrating its 35th anniversary by pulling out all the stops.

With 10 seriously scary haunted houses, a stacked IP lineup including Ozzy Osborne, Sinners, and Stranger Things, and 2 of the event’s most iconic characters sharing the spotlight, HHN 35 is shaping up to be one of the most impressive in the event’s history.

And that’s in addition to the live performances, scare zones, and scary good food options.

Upgraded Points was invited for opening night. Here’s what you can expect at the event.

Halloween Horror Nights 35

Halloween Horror Nights 35 takes place on select nights from August 28 through November 1, 2026, at Universal Studios Florida. Tickets and schedules are available here.

HHN is a separately ticketed event that starts at $89 per person, plus tax, and runs from 6:30 p.m. until 2 a.m., so be sure to rest up. This year has 10 haunted houses, 4 scare zones, bold live entertainment, access to rides, and more. 


Guests can also add on Express Passes, R.I.P. Tours, and Behind-the-Scenes Tours for an extra cost. While this means spending more money in addition to expensive tickets, being able to skip to the front of the line is your best chance at seeing everything in 1 night.

Haunted Houses

The haunted houses at Halloween Horror Nights always deliver big scares and impressive theming, but HHN 35 has taken that to another level.

This year has some of the biggest names and most popular IPs of all time

This year’s houses include:

• Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness
• Stranger Things 5
• Sinners
• Hellraiser
• Evil Dead Burn
• Jack & Oddfellow: Chaos & Control
• Cybergoria
• H.R. Bloodengutz Presents: A Halloween Fright-Tacular!
• Madlands: Caged Cannibals
• Invasion: Alien Abduction

With a mix of great music, iconic movies and TV shows, and plenty of gore and jump scares, there is something for all (well, most) Halloween fans.

Scare Zones

What makes Halloween Horror Nights special isn’t just the haunted houses. It’s everything around the park that goes into making the event flow together.

Throughout the park, there are Scare Zones and Street Experiences that keep the jumpscares coming throughout the night while guests make their way between houses and food stalls.

‹›

1 of 2

Infernal Carnival of Nightmares

This years Scare Zones include:

• Fortnitemares
• Downtown Clowntown
• Sideshow of Decay
• Infernal Carnival of Nightmares

Street Experiences include:

• Mel’s Die-In: Zombies
• Club Horror

For guests experiencing HHN for the first time, warming up in a Scare Zone is a great way to get the jitters out, as the cast members and scare actors do a great job, but the atmosphere is much more manageable.

Entertainment

While the haunted houses get most of the attention at HHN (for good reason), there is a lot to see and do. And if you’re going for just 1 night, you should plan your time wisely.

If you’ve visited all of the houses on your list, you can take in some Street Experiences and shows.

‹›

1 of 2

Nightmare Fuel: Blood Noire.

Street Experiences include:

• Mel’s Die-In: Zombies
• Club Horror

Shows include:

• Stranger Things: Return to Hawkins
• Nightmare Fuel: Blood Noire

The Stranger Things show is a 12-minute music and laser show over the lagoon, while Nightmare Fuel is a 30-minute dark acrobatic experience with plenty of fire.

And in addition to all of that, guests can enjoy essentially no wait time on popular rides, including:

• Revenge of the Mummy
• Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
• Transformers: The Ride-3D
• Men in Black: Alien Attack

Food and Merchandise

As the houses and performances seem to get better with each pasing year, so do the food and merchandise offerings.

Universal has a strong merch game, and HHN puts those skills on display. With a decked-out Tribute Store at Universal Studios Florida, guests can find everything they need to perfect their Halloween look and plenty of souvenirs to bring home.

And when you get hungry, there is a long list of new and exclusive menu items for HHN 35.

Final Thoughts

Halloween Horror Nights has officially returned for its 35th anniversary, bringing terrifying new houses and experiences to Universal Studios Florida for 2+ months.

This is a milestone year for HHN, and the team has pulled out all the stops with headliner houses including Stranger Things 5, Sinners, Ozzy Osbourne, and Hellraiser.

Whether you’re a die-hard Halloween fan or just looking for a fun, late-night experience with a few rides and a whole lot of jump scares, add Halloween Horror Nights to your calendar by November 1.