Universal Brings H.R. Bloodengutz Back as Halloween Horror Nights 35's First Original Haunted House

Published June 23, 2026 at 10:24 AM EDT

Universal Orlando just announced the third house for Halloween Horror Nights 35, and it marks the return of a character HHN fans have not seen as a headliner in 15 years: "H.R. Bloodengutz presents: Halloween Fright-Tacular", the first original (non-IP) haunted house of the 35th-anniversary event. The fan-favorite horror host character Larry Kurtzberg is back as a headliner for the first time since 2011.

Promo art for H.R. Bloodengutz presents: Halloween Fright-Tacular, the first original haunted house announced for Halloween Horror Nights 35 at Universal Studios Florida.
H.R. Bloodengutz returns to host the first original haunted house of HHN 35. Image: Universal Destinations and Experiences.

The headlines:

House (official styling): "H.R. Bloodengutz presents: Halloween Fright-Tacular" (lowercase "presents" per Universal).
Event: Halloween Horror Nights 35 (HHN 35), the 35th-anniversary edition of HHN.
Park: Universal Studios Florida.
Event dates: Select nights, August 28 through November 1, 2026.
Setting: Inside the fictional WKNB television studio in Carey, Ohio, the same in-universe station where H.R. Bloodengutz hosts his late-night B-movie show.
What makes it notable: First original (non-IP) house announced for HHN 35. The two prior house reveals were licensed: Sinners (the Ryan Coogler horror film) and Stranger Things (the Netflix series).
Character last headlined: 2011, at HHN 21 ("H.R. Bloodengutz Presents: Holidays of Horror"), a 15-year gap.

Who is H.R. Bloodengutz

For non-HHN-lifers: H.R. Bloodengutz is the on-air horror host persona of Larry Kurtzberg, a washed-up actor who hosted late-night B-movies on the fictional WKNB-TV in Carey, Ohio. After his show was canceled, the character descended into violent madness and turned on his TV crew. For the new house, the in-universe story is that Bloodengutz has "escaped from Carey Penitentiary" to return to WKNB for a final Halloween special.

Universal's house description, per the press materials reproduced by Inside Universal: "Tune into a curated selection of H.R. Bloodengutz' Halloween favorites in this haunted house complete with ghouls, gore and all the frights that keep you coming back for more."

Where this slots into the HHN 35 lineup

Universal has now announced four houses for HHN 35 so far:

Sinners (based on Ryan Coogler's film) - licensed
Stranger Things (Netflix) - licensed
Jack & Oddfellow: Chaos & Control - original
H.R. Bloodengutz presents: Halloween Fright-Tacular - original (just announced)

The Bloodengutz house, with Ramon Paradoa as Show Director, is the first one announced in the 35th-anniversary lineup that pulls directly from HHN's own back catalogue rather than from a licensed property.

Quick planner notes

HHN 35 runs select nights from August 28 through November 1, 2026. Check the official HHN event site for the latest on tickets, Express Pass, and packages.
Per Inside Universal, the in-universe premise is that Bloodengutz has broken out of prison on Halloween Day to return to WKNB for a final Halloween special.

Sources

Image credit: Universal Destinations and Experiences.

Related News

Aerial Photos Show Universal Upgrading the Ultrasaur and Baby Stegosaurus Animatronics in the Jurassic Park River Adventure Refurb

Aerial photos by bioreconstruct, published by Orlando ParkStop on June 29, show Universal upgrading the original Ultrasaur and baby Stegosaurus animatronics inside Jurassic Park River Adventure at Islands of Adventure during the ride's 10-month refurb. A clean white armature has been installed for the Ultrasaur's neck and the baby Stego has had its face skin removed to upgrade the head's moving elements. Inside The Magic separately confirmed the entrance roof shingles (in place since 1999) and sections of the ride track are being replaced. The ride closed January 5, 2026 and is scheduled to reopen November 20, 2026.

June 29, 2026 News

Level99 Opens at Disney Springs Today with 63 Challenge Rooms in the Old NBA Experience and DisneyQuest Space

Level99, the Massachusetts-born "Players Club" of physical-and-mental challenge rooms, opens its fourth and biggest location at Disney Springs West Side today, Monday, June 29, 2026. The 46,800-square-foot, two-story venue carries 63 mini-game challenge rooms, 40 plus original art installations, a two-story bar, Detroit-style pizza and wagyu burgers. Tickets start at $29.99 for 1.5 hours or $39.99 for 2.5 hours per player, with a $19.99 Premium Pass upgrade. The first 500 Players through the door today get a commemorative pin.

June 29, 2026 News

Universal Reveals Cybergoria, an Original Cryo-Future Haunted House for Halloween Horror Nights 35

Universal Orlando announced Cybergoria, an original Halloween Horror Nights 35 haunted house with a cryo-future premise: a corporation called Bio Immortal Bionic Intelligent Systems once sold cryo-freezing as immortality, and thousands of years later the machines that took over are still pursuing the goal, even if it kills you. Announced Thursday, June 25, 2026, the house is the sixth of a reported ten HHN 35 houses to be revealed. Senior Show Director Matthew Flood (Universal Orlando Resort) leads the project. HHN 35 runs select nights August 28 through November 1, 2026.

June 29, 2026 News

Legoland Florida Unveils Its Biggest-Ever Red, White & BOOM! for July 4 with a 12-Minute Fireworks Finale Over Lake Eloise

Legoland Florida's 4th of July event, Red, White & BOOM!, returns Saturday, July 4, 2026 in its biggest form yet, tied to America's 250th birthday. Extended park hours (10 a.m. to 9 p.m.), a 12-minute lakefront fireworks finale over Lake Eloise, free LEGO-brick holographic viewing glasses distributed starting 7:45 p.m. while supplies last, a 6 p.m. DJ dance party, collaborative giant American-flag LEGO build stations, and a $30 VIP Fireworks Seating Package capped at 120 guests in South Ski Stadium. Single-day tickets start at $69 for a limited time.

June 29, 2026 News

Disney's Wilderness Lodge Battles a Days-Long AC Outage During a Central Florida Heat Wave

A stay at one of Walt Disney World's flagship Deluxe resorts is not supposed to come with a box fan, but that has been the reality for some guests at Disney's Wilderness Lodge this week. The main building's central air conditioning has been down since Thursday, June 18, just as Central Florida sweltered under back-to-back heat advisories with feels-like temperatures topping 105 degrees. By Monday, June 22, Disney had trucked in temporary chillers and portable spot coolers and many guest rooms had cooled back down, though the Grand Lobby and some interior spaces stayed warm, and the central system was not yet fully restored. Disney has not commented publicly.

June 23, 2026 News

Universal Files Permits for a 71,500-Square-Foot Building in Epic Universe's Dark Universe

Something big is taking shape in the spookiest corner of Epic Universe. A new permit filing points to a building of roughly 71,500 square feet planned for the heart of Darkmoor Village, the classic-monsters town inside the park's Dark Universe world, with Stantec Architecture listed on the paperwork. That footprint is on par with full attractions at Epic Universe, like the Mario Kart ride and the Untrainable Dragon show, so this is no gift shop. Universal will only say that permit filings are routine and that it has no further details to share, which leaves the fun question wide open: a new monster ride, a theater, or something else entirely?

June 23, 2026 News