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, four scare zones, two live shows and the usual parade of themed food and drink across 48 select nights. The lineup is now complete, and here is all of it.
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 finished revealing the lineup on July 29, 2026, when Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness landed as the tenth and final house. All 10 houses, all four scare zones and both live shows are now confirmed, and multi-night passes went on sale in late July.
All 10 haunted houses, ranked by buzz
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 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 full lineup shakes out, ordered by the attention each is pulling so far.
- 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.
- Hellraiser (IP). HHN's first ever Hellraiser house, drawn from Clive Barker's original trilogy. It runs from Frank Cotton's family home through the Channard Institute and into the Labyrinth, and Doug Bradley, the original Pinhead, returns to voice the role. Announced July 1, 2026 and also running at 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.
- Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness (original). The tenth and final house, announced July 29, 2026, built around Ozzy Osbourne's 45 year solo career. It is the closest thing HHN has run to a music-driven original house in years, and it arrived after a leaked audio ad tipped it off in mid July.
- Evil Dead Burn (IP). Announced July 21, 2026 and based on the new Evil Dead film. An infernal force takes hold of a family home and guests dodge Deadites hell-bent on bloodshed. Also running at 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). 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.
Scare zones and live shows
Universal has confirmed four scare zones for HHN 35:
- Infernal Carnival of Nightmares, the title street experience, a decrepit carnival that unites Jack the Clown and Dr. Oddfellow and ties directly into their haunted house. It was the first scare zone announced, on July 14, 2026.
- Sideshow of Decay, a carnival sideshow gateway into the Oddverse.
- Downtown Clowntown, which brings Killer Klowns from Outer Space back to the Orlando event for the first time since 2019, alongside Art the Clown from the Terrifier films.
- FORTNITEMARES, a Fortnite themed battleground on the streets.
Two live shows round it out: Nightmare Fuel: Blood Noir, a vampire-themed stunt and aerial spectacular and the sixth entry in the Nightmare Fuel series, and Stranger Things: Return to Hawkins, a lagoon show looking back across all five seasons.
Tickets, passes and premium add-ons
INVASION: Alien Abduction, one of the original houses, stages an extraterrestrial siege on a remote Southwestern homestead. Photo: Universal Orlando Resort.
Single-night tickets are 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): single nights start at $170 and climb toward roughly $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: from $70, and read this one carefully. It is not event admission and it is not a daytime park ticket. It buys one-time entry to Universal Studios Florida from 2 PM (moved up an hour this year, from 3 PM) on the date of a Halloween Horror Nights ticket you have bought separately, and you have to be through the gate by 5 PM. Anyone already holding valid daytime admission or an eligible Annual Pass does not need it. It is nonrefundable and nontransferable.
- 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.
- 5-House R.I.P. Tour: new for 2026, from $299.99. Priority VIP entry to five pre-selected houses on either a North or South route, plus Universal Express on rides, though not on the houses. Event admission is separate.
- 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.
Early entry, and the two names people mix up
Universal confirmed on July 29, 2026 which houses open first. Stranger Things 5, Hellraiser and Jack & Oddfellow: Chaos & Control open at 2 PM, and the rest of the night staggers in behind them.
- 2 PM: Stranger Things 5, Hellraiser and Jack & Oddfellow: Chaos & Control open.
- 4 PM: queues open for select additional houses.
- About 5:15 PM: more houses begin operating.
- 6:30 PM: the event officially starts, with all 10 houses scheduled to be running.
That is a four and a half hour head start for anyone through the gate at 2 PM with a wristband. Stay & Scream and Scream Early are not the same product, and the difference decides what you need to buy. Stay & Scream is the early access program for eligible guests who are already inside the park on an event night. Scream Early is the paid add-on that gets you in at 2 PM without regular daytime admission. Either way you need a same-night event ticket and a Stay & Scream wristband to reach the early houses. Wristbands are handed out near Guest Services from park opening, with two more distribution points opening at 2 PM at Hogwarts Express: King's Cross Station and Illumination's Villain-Con Minion Blast.
One exception: Stay & Scream is not offered on the two Premium Scream Night dates, August 27 and October 19.
Multi-night passes, and the Express change you need to know
The multi-night Fear passes went on sale in late July 2026, and this year they come with a catch that matters more than the prices do. Universal has discontinued every version that bundled Express Pass, ending an add-on it had sold since 2003. If you are used to buying a Fear pass with Express included, that product no longer exists. Express is now a separate, date-specific purchase on top of your pass.
- Rush of Fear Pass: $229.99, covering the early run from August 28 through September 20.
- Frequent Fear Pass: $274.99, valid on select nights across the full run.
- Frequent Fear Plus Pass: $324.99, adding most Friday and Saturday nights.
- Ultimate Frequent Fear Pass: $449.99, valid every eligible night and adding free self-parking after 5 PM.
Each tier runs roughly $25 to $30 above its 2025 equivalent. Check the eligible-night calendar for the tier you are considering before buying, since the cheaper passes black out the busiest October weekends.
First-timer tips that actually help
HHN is a marathon, not a sprint, and a little strategy goes a long way.
- Go early or buy Scream Early. Lines for marquee houses like Stranger Things 5, Hellraiser and Sinners build fast after dusk. Scream Early, from $70 on top of your event ticket, gets you in at 2 PM for the three houses that open first, 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.
- Budget Express separately if you buy a Fear pass. With the bundled versions gone, a multi-night pass plus Express on two peak nights is now two purchases, not one, and the combined total is well above what the old bundle cost.
- Know what general admission includes. Your event ticket covers all 10 houses, all four scare zones, both live shows, 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.
What is left to come
The creative lineup is done: 10 houses, four scare zones, two shows. Universal has since filled in the early entry schedule and named the Tribute Store, Sideshow Obscura, themed to a traveling sideshow and opening August 26 back in its original spot beside Revenge of the Mummy, with Annual Passholders getting in a day early. Food and drink has started to trickle out: Edgar Schmidt's Draft Wagon appeared between World Expo and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in early August alongside a Hellraiser food truck, and Universal has detailed its Halloween Horror Nights hotel offerings including a new Universal Monsters Laguna Lounge. Universal revealed the full Eats and Drinks lineup on August 18, 2026, a 14 item menu themed to the Infernal Carnival of Nightmares, with the alcoholic options limited to guests 21 and over. Still unpublished as of late August 2026 are the house-by-house locations across the park and soundstages and the full nightly entertainment schedule, which Universal typically releases closer to opening night. With the Jack and Oddfellow team-up anchoring a complete carnival-themed lineup, the 35th anniversary is shaping up to be one of the more ambitious events in the run's history.
Sources
- Universal Orlando official Halloween Horror Nights site
- Universal Orlando HHN extras and tickets page
- Discover Universal (official blog) HHN 35 hub
- Universal official press overview, HHN 2026
- Attractions Magazine, HHN 2026 tracker
- Haunted Attraction Network, Frequent Fear passes and the 5-house R.I.P. Tour
- Haunted Attraction Network, Fear with Express Pass discontinued
- WDW News Today, HHN 35 early access houses confirmed
- Blog Mickey, Stay and Scream and Scream Early early entry guide
- Inside Universal, Jack the Clown and Dr. Oddfellow return
- Haunted Attraction Network, Evil Dead Burn
- iHorror, Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness
- WDWNT, INVASION: Alien Abduction announcement
- Blog Mickey, Jack and Oddfellow lore and backstory
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.
What are all 10 haunted houses at HHN 35?
Jack and Oddfellow: Chaos and Control, Stranger Things 5, Hellraiser, Sinners, Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness, Evil Dead Burn, H.R. Bloodengutz Presents: A Halloween Fright-Tacular!, Cybergoria, INVASION: Alien Abduction, and MADLANDS: Caged Cannibals. Universal completed the lineup on July 29, 2026.
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.
What are the HHN 35 scare zones?
There are four: Infernal Carnival of Nightmares, Sideshow of Decay, Downtown Clowntown, which brings Killer Klowns from Outer Space back to Orlando for the first time since 2019, and FORTNITEMARES. Two live shows also run, Nightmare Fuel: Blood Noir and Stranger Things: Return to Hawkins.
How much do HHN 2026 tickets cost?
Single-night tickets range from about $88 to $130 depending on the date. Multi-night passes run $229.99 for Rush of Fear, $274.99 for Frequent Fear, $324.99 for Frequent Fear Plus and $449.99 for Ultimate Frequent Fear.
Does the Frequent Fear Pass still include Express Pass?
No. Universal discontinued every multi-night Fear pass that bundled Express Pass for HHN 35, ending a product it had sold since 2003. Multi-night passes are on sale without Express, and single-night Express Passes are sold separately starting at $170.
Does the Scream Early ticket include admission to Halloween Horror Nights?
No. Scream Early starts at $70 and buys one-time entry to Universal Studios Florida from 2 PM. It is not event admission and it is not a daytime park ticket. You still need a separately purchased Halloween Horror Nights ticket for the same night, and you have to enter the park by 5 PM. Three houses open at 2 PM: Stranger Things 5, Hellraiser, and Jack and Oddfellow: Chaos and Control.
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.
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