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
| Universal Orlando | Universal Studios Hollywood | |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 dates | Aug 28 – Nov 1 (48 nights) | Sept 3 – Nov 1 (42 nights) |
| Event hours | 6:30 pm – 2:00 am | Starts 7:00 pm, closing varies |
| Costumes | Not allowed (except Premium Scream Night) | Allowed, subject to costume policy |
| Costume masks | Never allowed | Never allowed |
| Age minimum | None (not recommended under 13) | None (not recommended under 13) |
| Day ticket valid for HHN? | No, separate ticket | No, separate ticket |
| Re-entry | Not officially addressed | Allowed with valid event ticket |
| Single night from | $87.99 | $77 |
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, gates open at 6:30 pm and the event begins at 7:00 pm on 42 select nights from September 3 through November 1. Hollywood does not publish a fixed close, and closing times vary by date. 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 has announced two zones for 2026 so far: Infernal Carnival of Nightmares, which shares the event’s theme, and Sideshow of Decay, which opens a portal to the event’s own past. More announcements are expected before opening. Recent seasons have carried around five zones, though Universal has not confirmed a 2026 count.
Hollywood has not yet announced its 2026 theme, scare zones, shows, or Terror Tram plans. Its four announced houses are shared with Orlando: Sinners, Stranger Things 5, Hellraiser, and Evil Dead Burn. Orlando’s full slate 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 $87.99 and run to $129.99 on peak dates. 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 $169.99. Express gives you one shorter-line entry per house per night, not walk-on access. The R.I.P. Tour starts at $399.99, 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 $249 with an Unlimited tier at $289, the R.I.P. Tour starts at $439 and includes the VIP backlot trolley, and a $20 Early Access add-on opens select houses from 5:30 pm. Full tier-by-tier pricing for both parks lives in our tickets guide.
Can You Do Everything in One Night?
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 10 houses 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.
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 own guidance describes stepping out to CityWalk for dinner with a hand stamp. Universal Orlando does not publish an HHN re-entry policy either way. Unofficial guides say re-entry is not permitted, so plan to stay once you enter, or confirm with Guest Services on your night.
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 starts at 7:00 pm and its closing times vary by date, 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: July 21, 2026. Universal updates policies, hours, and lineups through the season. We will update this guide as 2026 announcements land, including Hollywood’s theme, scare zones, and Terror Tram.
