Halloween Horror Nights 2026 Guide: HHN 35 Houses, Dates

The clowns are running the show this fall, and they are running it together. Halloween Horror Nights 35 brings Jack the Clown and Dr. Oddfellow back to Universal Studios Florida as twisted co-ringmasters of "Infernal Carnival of Nightmares," the first time these two legendary icons have ever shared top billing. It is the event's 35th anniversary, and Universal is marking it with 10 all-new haunted houses, scare zones, live entertainment and the usual parade of themed food and drink across 48 select nights. Here is everything confirmed so far, plus what is still hiding behind the curtain.

HHN 35 dates and the big picture

Halloween Horror Nights 2026 runs August 28 through November 1, 2026 on select nights at Universal Studios Florida. It is a separately ticketed after-hours event, so your daytime park ticket does not get you in.

The theme, "Infernal Carnival of Nightmares," was revealed March 21, 2026 at a MegaCon Orlando panel. The hook is the team-up of two of HHN's most beloved villains: Jack the Clown, the murderous carnival barker, and Dr. Oddfellow, the sinister showman behind the "Oddverse." For 35 years HHN icons have mostly worked solo, so positioning both as twisted ringmasters of one infernal carnival is the headline draw of the whole season.

Universal has confirmed the event will feature 10 houses, multiple scare zones, and live shows. As of late June, 7 of the 10 houses are announced, with three names still under wraps. No scare zone names or show titles have been released yet either, so treat this as a living guide that will keep filling in before opening night.

The 7 announced haunted houses, ranked by buzz

Sinners haunted house key art for Halloween Horror Nights 35
The Sinners house is set in 1930s Mississippi at Club Juke, where twins Smoke and Stack battle bloodthirsty vampires. Photo: Universal Orlando Resort.

Stranger Things 5 key art for Halloween Horror Nights 35 at Universal Orlando
Stranger Things 5 brings the final season's Hawkins horrors, including the Upside Down and Vecna, to a Halloween Horror Nights 35 house. Photo: Universal Orlando Resort.

Here is how the confirmed lineup shakes out, ordered by the attention each is pulling so far. Three more houses are still to be announced.

Jack & Oddfellow: Chaos & Control (original). The marquee house and the spine of the whole event. It is an origin story of the icons' rivalry, told from Oddfellow's perspective before Jack seizes control, and it dives deep into the "Oddverse." This was the first house revealed and it is the one fans are most excited about.
Stranger Things 5 (IP). Based on the final season of the Netflix juggernaut. Guests join the gang in Hawkins as the Upside Down invades, facing Demogorgons, the Mind Flayer and Vecna one last time. Stranger Things has been one of HHN's most popular mazes in past years, so expect long lines. The house is also running at Universal Studios Hollywood.
Sinners (IP). Based on the Warner Bros. film, set in 1930s Mississippi at Club Juke, where twins Smoke and Stack battle Remmick's troop of bloodthirsty vampires. A fresh, atmospheric IP that is also running at Universal Studios Hollywood.
H.R. Bloodengutz Presents: A Halloween Fright-Tacular! (original). Horror host Larry Kurtzberg, the murderous TV personality behind the WKNB studio massacre, returns for a curated Halloween broadcast of his favorite frights. This is the character's first starring house since his 2011 debut, a nostalgia hit for longtime fans.
Cybergoria (original). Guests awaken thousands of years in the future in a cold world driven by machines with a single goal: to make you live forever, even if it kills you. A frozen, machine-ruled dystopia where immortality comes at a gruesome price.
INVASION: Alien Abduction (original). The most recently announced house (revealed June 26, 2026). An extraterrestrial siege on a remote Southwestern homestead, where a ship full of Grays tears the place apart in search of fresh test subjects.
MADLANDS: Caged Cannibals (original). A post-apocalyptic wasteland where a defunct zoo has become the deadly domain of warring cannibal factions that have taken their animal instincts to extremes. One of the event's bloodiest houses, by the creative team's own admission.

Houses 8, 9 and 10 remain unannounced (TBD). Fan "speculation maps" have floated possibilities, but none are confirmed by Universal, so we are not listing rumored names as fact here.

Scare zones and shows: confirmed, not yet named

Universal's official release confirms there will be immersive scare zones tied to the carnival theme, and live entertainment is included in the event totals. However, no individual scare zone names or show titles have been announced as of late June 2026. Universal has said more details are coming. Once those drop, the carnival framing strongly suggests a midway-style street experience, but that remains to be seen.

Tickets, passes and premium add-ons

INVASION Alien Abduction key art for Halloween Horror Nights 35
INVASION: Alien Abduction, one of the most recently announced original houses, stages an extraterrestrial siege on a remote Southwestern homestead. Photo: Universal Orlando Resort.

Single-night tickets are already on sale and range from about $88 to $130 depending on the date. Early-run weeknights in late August and early September are the cheapest and least crowded; October Fridays and Saturdays plus Halloween weekend are the priciest and busiest. Here is how the add-ons stack up.

Universal Express (HHN): roughly $170 to $280 on peak nights. Lets you skip the regular line once at all 10 houses plus participating attractions. Event admission is still required separately.
Scream Early ticket: $70. Adds daytime park admission and gets you into at least three houses starting at 2 PM (newly moved earlier this year, from 3 PM). You must enter the park during the afternoon window before the main event begins.
R.I.P. Tour: from $400. Guided VIP priority entry once per house, a reception with light appetizers, reserved show seating and a commemorative credential.
Private R.I.P. Tour: by phone quote (866-346-9350, Universal's VIP Tours line). An exclusive private group experience; separate same-night admission required.
Premium Scream Night: $399 per person, on two dates only, August 27 and October 19, 2026. Shorter waits and all-you-care-to-enjoy select food and beverage.
Behind the Screams: Unmasking the Horror Tour: $99 for a 3-house daytime version (from Aug 21) or $199 for a 6-house version with lunch (from Aug 28). This is a lights-on backstage tour and does not require event admission.

One important caveat: the multi-night Frequent Fear passes are not yet on sale. Universal has said multi-night passes are expected to go on sale later in 2026, so if you plan to visit several times, it is worth waiting rather than buying multiple single-night tickets. Any Frequent Fear pricing floating around right now is unconfirmed, so treat it as TBD.

First-timer tips that actually help

HHN is a marathon, not a sprint, and a little strategy goes a long way. These tips hold up regardless of which final houses get announced.

Go early or buy Scream Early. Lines for marquee houses like Stranger Things 5 and Sinners build fast after dusk. The $70 Scream Early ticket gets you into at least three houses from 2 PM, before the crowds peak.
Hit the back of the park first. Conventional HHN wisdom is to walk to the farthest houses at park opening, then work your way back toward the front, saving lower-demand originals for late at night when waits drop.
Consider Express on peak nights. One skip per house can save hours on October Fridays and Saturdays. On cheaper late-August and early-September weeknights, you may not need it at all.
Know what general admission includes. Your event ticket covers all 10 houses, all scare zones, live entertainment, and select rides operating during the event. Express, Scream Early, R.I.P. and Premium Scream Night are all separate add-ons.
Match the night to your budget. Cheapest nights are early-run weeknights; priciest are October weekends and Halloween. A multi-visit fan should hold out for the Frequent Fear Pass.

What to watch for next

Three houses, the full scare zone lineup, the show titles and Frequent Fear pass pricing are all still to come before opening night on August 28. The carnival theme and the Jack and Oddfellow team-up give HHN 35 a strong identity already, and with seven houses confirmed, the 35th anniversary is shaping up to be one of the more ambitious events in the run's history. Check back as the remaining pieces are revealed.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When does Halloween Horror Nights 2026 run?

HHN 35 runs on select nights from August 28 through November 1, 2026 at Universal Studios Florida, a record 48 nights. It is a separately ticketed after-hours event.

How many haunted houses are there at HHN 35?

Universal has confirmed 10 all-new houses. As of late June 2026, seven are announced, including Jack and Oddfellow: Chaos and Control, Stranger Things 5 and Sinners. Three more remain unannounced.

What is the theme of HHN 2026?

The 2026 theme is Infernal Carnival of Nightmares, with icons Jack the Clown and Dr. Oddfellow serving as twisted ringmasters. It marks the event's 35th anniversary.

How much do HHN 2026 tickets cost?

Single-night tickets range from about $88 to $130 depending on the date. Early-run weeknights are cheapest, while October weekends and Halloween are the most expensive.

Is the Frequent Fear Pass available for HHN 2026?

Not yet. Universal has said multi-night Frequent Fear passes are expected to go on sale later in 2026. Any pricing circulating now is unconfirmed, so treat it as TBD.

Is Universal Express worth it at Halloween Horror Nights?

On peak October Fridays and Saturdays it can save hours since it lets you skip the regular line once per house. On cheaper late-August and early-September weeknights, lines are shorter and you may not need it.