Halloween Horror Nights 2026: Hours, Costume Policy, and Know Before You Go

Halloween Horror Nights runs 48 nights at Universal Orlando and 42 at Universal Studios Hollywood in 2026, and the two events share houses but not rules. The costume policies are opposites, the re-entry policies differ, and only one of the two publishes a fixed closing time. This guide covers the visitor logistics for both parks: hours, costume rules, age limits, scare zones, what each ticket tier actually does for your night, and the policies that catch first-timers. For prices across every tier, our tickets guide is the companion page.

Orlando vs Hollywood at a Glance

Event Hours: When HHN Starts and Ends

At Universal Orlando, the event runs 6:30 pm to 2:00 am on every event night, across all 48 select nights from August 28 through November 1. The event runs most Wednesdays through Sundays, and the daytime park closes to regular guests in the late afternoon before reopening to event ticket holders.

At Universal Studios Hollywood, the event begins at 7 pm on 42 select nights from September 3 through November 1, and a $20 Early Access add-on opens select haunted houses from 5:30 pm. Hollywood has not published a closing time. The official Universal app carries each night’s calendar, so check it for your Hollywood date rather than assuming a 1 am or 2 am close.

Costume Policy: Opposite Rules at the Two Parks

This is the question trending hardest ahead of the 2026 season, and the answer depends entirely on which coast you are visiting.

Universal Orlando: no costumes on regular event nights. Universal’s event guidance is blunt: “For HHN event nights, costumes and costume masks are not allowed. Leave that to our scareactors.” Halloween-themed shirts and accessories are fine. The only exception is Premium Scream Night, the separately ticketed limited-capacity nights on August 27 and October 19, where costumes are permitted under the costume policy, still with no masks.

Universal Studios Hollywood: costumes are allowed. Universal’s 2026 costume guidelines permit costumes at both the park and CityWalk on event dates, and the rules are restrictive: guests must be fully clothed, face paint may cover no more than half the face applied vertically, and Universal bans all prosthetic makeup, any covering that obscures the face, anything gory or indecent, costumes that imply you work for Universal or emergency services, weapon-shaped props, atmospheric effects like fog or sound, veils, long trains, stilts, and anything larger than 25 inches wide by 80 inches tall at the metal detectors. Impersonating a scareactor or event character is also banned, and Universal’s interpretation of the guidelines is final.

Both parks ban costume masks at all times. No exceptions at either event, on any night.

Age Limits

Neither park sets a hard minimum age. Both publish the same recommendation in their ticket terms: the event may be too intense for young children and is not recommended for guests under 13. Universal Orlando’s guest communications confirm younger children can enter with valid admission, so the 13-and-up line is guidance rather than an enforced restriction. There are no child-specific areas at either event, and the scareactors, gore, strobe effects, and sound target every guest in the park.

Scare Zones: What They Are and What’s Announced

Scare zones are open-air themed areas along the parks’ streets, filled with fog, lighting, effects, and roaming scareactors. They sit on the walking paths between houses, so you pass through them whether you seek them out or not. They are included with event admission.

Orlando’s four zones are now fully announced: Infernal Carnival of Nightmares (Illumination Boulevard), which shares the event’s theme; Sideshow of Decay (Hollywood area), which opens a portal to the event’s past; Fortnitemares: Freaky Fields (Central Park), a shared Orlando + Hollywood zone tied to Epic Games’ annual in-game Halloween event; and Downtown Clowntown (New York), which unites the Killer Klowns from Outer Space and Terrifier’s Art the Clown on one street. Orlando has also confirmed two returning street experiences (Mel’s Die-In: Zombies and Club Horror) plus the roaming Chainsaw Horde along the walkways between houses.

Hollywood’s first announced scare zone is the shared Fortnitemares: Freaky Fields, opening with the event September 3. Hollywood has not announced an overall 2026 theme. The Terror Tram returns for 2026 as an Art the Clown takeover, “Every Day Is Artmas,” scored by Ice Nine Kills. One show is confirmed, the returning Purge: Dangerous Waters stunt spectacular in the WaterWorld venue. Five of its eight announced houses are shared with Orlando: Sinners, Stranger Things 5, Hellraiser, and Evil Dead Burn, and Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness. Three are Hollywood exclusives: Dead, Deader, Deadest, an original set in the Deville Family Funeral Home; the returning Killer Klowns from Outer Space; and Killceañera: Music by SLASH, a new original revealed at Midsummer Scream that completes the eight-house lineup. Orlando’s full lineup runs 10 all-new houses, with Stranger Things: Return to Hawkins as the event’s first single-franchise lagoon show.

Tickets and Passes: What Each Tier Does for Your Night

Both events are separately ticketed. A regular daytime park ticket does not get you into HHN at either park, and daytime guests who stay must hold event admission.

Orlando single nights start at $88.99, with pricing varying by date. The multi-night passes are on sale now: Rush of Fear from $229.99 (the first 18 nights, through September 20), Frequent Fear from $274.99, Frequent Fear Plus from $324.99, and Ultimate Frequent Fear from $449.99, which also carries free self-parking after 5 pm on eligible nights. Universal discontinued the Fear with Express bundles for 2026, so Express is now a separate per-night purchase from $199.99, covering one shorter-line entry at all 10 houses and participating attractions. Express gives you one shorter-line entry per house per night, not walk-on access. The R.I.P. Tour starts at $469.99, and a new 5-House R.I.P. Tour from $299.99 runs a fixed North or South itinerary. Scream Early admission from $70 opens select houses as early as 2 pm.

Hollywood single nights start at $77. Frequent Fear runs $179 for up to 35 nights and Ultimate Fear $299 for every night. Express starts at $259 with an Unlimited tier from $299, the R.I.P. Tour starts at $469 and includes the VIP backlot trolley, Full tier-by-tier pricing for both parks lives in our tickets guide.

Stay & Scream: Early Access From 2 p.m.

Stay & Scream is Universal Orlando’s early-access program for Halloween Horror Nights. Eligible guests stay inside Universal Studios Florida as the park transitions into the event and get into select haunted houses and food and beverage locations from 2 p.m., ahead of the official 6:30 p.m. start. Last year the same head start began at 3 p.m.

It runs on event nights from August 28 through November 1, and it is not available on Premium Scream Night, the separately ticketed nights on August 27 and October 19.

Who Qualifies

You need two things, and the second one trips people up.

1. Valid daytime admission to Universal Studios Florida. Universal lists four ticket types that satisfy this:

• A Single-Day Ticket valid for Universal Studios Florida
• A Multi-Day Ticket valid for Universal Studios Florida
• A valid Universal Orlando Resort Annual or Seasonal Pass
• A valid Halloween Horror Nights Scream Early Ticket

2. Valid Halloween Horror Nights admission for that same night. This is separate from all of the above. Daytime admission alone does not get you into the event, and neither does an Annual Pass.

How It Works if You Have an Annual Pass

An Annual or Seasonal Pass counts as your daytime admission, so passholders are eligible for Stay & Scream without buying anything extra on that side. You do not need a Scream Early ticket. Scream Early exists for guests who have no other daytime admission, and it is simply a fourth way to satisfy the same requirement.

What the pass does not cover is the event itself. You still need a separately purchased Halloween Horror Nights ticket for that night. Universal offers passholders discounted event tickets, and Premier Passholders get one complimentary event admission, which must be reserved online in advance. Those reservations are first come, first served, limited in number per night, and each Premier Passholder is limited to a single reservation date. A Premier Passholder can reserve for up to eight additional Premier Passholders.

One naming warning. Universal’s passholder perks page separately advertises a “Passholder Stay and Scream Package,” which is a phone-booked hotel-and-ticket bundle. It is a travel package, not the in-park early-access program described here, despite the shared name.

Wristbands Are Required

Wristbands are mandatory to participate, and they cover both the early house openings and queue access. Eligible guests can pick one up near Guest Services inside Universal Studios Florida starting at park open. At 2 p.m., two more distribution points open at Hogwarts Express: King’s Cross Station and Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast.

Which Houses Open, and When

Houses open in waves rather than all at once.

• 2 p.m. — three haunted houses open: Stranger Things 5, Hellraiser, and Jack & Oddfellow: Chaos & Control.
• 4 p.m. — select haunted house queues open. The queues, not the houses.
• 5:15 p.m. — select additional haunted houses begin opening.
• 6:30 p.m. — Halloween Horror Nights officially begins and all houses open.

Universal recommends the official app for the most accurate house opening times and locations on the night.

The Scream Early Ticket

Scream Early is the paid route in for guests without daytime admission. It starts at $70 per person and grants one-time admission to Universal Studios Florida from 2 p.m. on the date of a valid Halloween Horror Nights event ticket, including the park, park attractions, and a minimum of three haunted houses. Those three are the same ones listed above.

It does not include event admission. Universal requires a separate same-date Halloween Horror Nights ticket, and the ticket terms state that guests must enter Universal Studios Florida by 5 p.m. New for 2026, the entry window opens at 2 p.m. rather than 3 p.m.

Can You Do Everything in One Night?

Budget time for the HamiKuma meet and greet if you want it. The Universal Studios Japan mascot meets guests inside Five & Dime at Universal Studios Florida during event hours, and at Hollywood at select afternoon and early evening times. Universal has not published specific times for either.

Our take, after years of covering both events: on general admission alone, it is nearly impossible to get through everything at either park, and that is by design. Orlando is running all 10 of its announced houses, closing with Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness, plus scare zones and a lagoon show. Hollywood stacks its houses against the Terror Tram. On busy nights, popular houses post multi-hour standby waits, and the math simply does not fit inside the event window. The tier ladder exists precisely to sell the solution: early entry starts your night hours sooner, Express halves your lines, multi-night passes spread the event across visits, and the R.I.P. tours buy a guaranteed clear.

If you are going once on GA, pick a September weeknight, arrive before the gates open, and run the houses you care about first. If you must see everything in one visit, budget for Express or a tour, because Universal built the event so that GA alone will leave houses on the table.

CityWalk overlay (no ticket needed)

Universal CityWalk’s Red Coconut Club runs an annual Halloween overlay, and 2026’s is Dead Coconut Club – Harvest. It’s free, all ages, and open on HHN event nights – no HHN ticket required. If you can’t get an HHN ticket, or if you have someone in your group who doesn’t do haunt-level scares, this is the low-friction way to get a taste of the event’s atmosphere.

Re-entry, Parking, and Other Policies

Re-entry differs by park. Hollywood’s official event FAQ allows re-entry with a valid event ticket, and Universal’s guidance describes stepping out to CityWalk for dinner with a hand stamp. Universal Orlando does not publish an HHN re-entry policy either way, and guest reports conflict, with some saying re-entry works if you scan your ticket on the way out and others saying it is not permitted. Confirm with Guest Services on your night before you leave.

Parking is paid at both parks on event nights. Orlando’s free self-parking after 6 pm does not apply during HHN, and self-parking runs $32 prepaid or $35 at the booth. Hollywood event-night parking runs $35 general, $55 preferred, and $75 front gate. Two products bundle parking: Orlando’s Ultimate Frequent Fear Pass (free self-parking after 5 pm) and the R.I.P. Tours at both parks, which include valet.

Everything else worth knowing before you walk up:

• Bags and security — both parks run metal detectors and bag inspection. Standard prohibited-items lists apply. Travel light to clear screening faster
• Photography — allowed in scare zones and park streets, prohibited inside the houses
• Outside food and drink — not permitted at Hollywood. Standard park rules apply at Orlando
• Weather and refunds — both events run rain or shine, and neither offers refunds
• Accessibility — houses accommodate wheelchairs, but ECVs cannot go inside. Guests transfer to a manual wheelchair at each house. Orlando’s Attraction Assistance Pass requires IBCCES registration in advance, while Hollywood does not use IBCCES pre-registration

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you wear costumes to Halloween Horror Nights?

At Universal Orlando, no, except on Premium Scream Night. At Universal Studios Hollywood, yes, subject to the costume policy. Costume masks are banned at both parks on every night.

What time does Halloween Horror Nights end?

Universal Orlando runs 6:30 pm to 2:00 am on every event night. Universal Studios Hollywood begins at 7 pm and has not published a closing time, so check the Universal app calendar for your night.

How old do you have to be for Halloween Horror Nights?

There is no minimum age at either park, but both officially recommend against bringing children under 13. The recommendation is not an enforced restriction.

Do scare zones cost extra?

No. Scare zones are included with event admission at both parks, and because they sit on the main walking paths, you will pass through them on the way to the houses.

Is a regular park ticket valid for HHN?

No. Both events are separately ticketed. Daytime guests must exit unless they hold event admission, and same-day Super Nintendo World access is not included at Hollywood.

For dates, lineups, and every announced house, start with our Halloween Horror Nights hub. For prices on every tier at all five global events, see the tickets guide, including Halloween Horror Nights Japan.

Last updated: August 6, 2026. Universal updates policies, hours, and lineups through the season. We will update this guide as 2026 announcements land, including Hollywood’s theme, remaining houses, scare zones, and the Terror Tram’s 2026 theme.