Overview
- Universal Orlando announced Halloween Horror Nights will begin August 28, 2026, as the event marks its 35th anniversary with returning icons Jack the Clown and Dr. Oddfellow and franchise-based haunted houses such as Stranger Things and Hellraiser.
- Walt Disney World will open Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in early August with family-focused offerings like trick-or-treating, the Boo-to-You parade, exclusive fireworks, and character appearances that require separate after-hours tickets.
- SeaWorld is staging two distinct programs this year: daytime, admission-included SeaWorld Spooktacular for families and after-dark Howl-O-Scream with haunted houses and scare zones for older guests.
- Legoland Florida will bring back Brick-or-Treat as an included park experience, and a wide range of non-park Orlando venues from CityWalk and Volcano Bay to ICON Park, Old Town, Pirates Dinner Adventure, and Gatorland plan seasonal overlays and pop-ups.
- The early, nearly three-month calendar draws recurring public criticism for starting in August, but operators argue a longer season spreads crowds, gives one-shot visitors more chances to attend, and creates more revenue and scheduling flexibility for guests and hotels; some ancillary Universal dates, such as Volcano Bay Nights and certain hotel pop-ups, remained unannounced at the time of reporting.