Orlando, FL — Universal Orlando has discontinued all of its “Fear with Express Pass” products for Halloween Horror Nights 35, ending the multi-year practice of packaging Universal Express access with the event’s multi-night Fear passes. The change affects guests who would previously have added Express access to the Rush of Fear, Frequent Fear, Frequent Fear Plus, or Ultimate Frequent Fear passes.
In a statement, Universal Orlando said: “As we continue to evaluate our offerings in an effort to provide the best Halloween Horror Nights experience for all Guests, we have discontinued all Fear with Express Pass products. Other Fear pass options will go on sale soon.”
What is changing for Halloween Horror Nights 35
Halloween Horror Nights 35 will still offer its full multi-night pass lineup, but none of them will include a bundled Universal Express option in 2026. The multi-night passes still expected to go on sale include:
- Rush of Fear Pass — the multi-night pass for the opening weekends and early event window.
- Frequent Fear Pass — the base multi-night pass.
- Frequent Fear Plus Pass — the mid-tier multi-night pass with expanded event-night access.
- Ultimate Frequent Fear Pass — the top-tier pass with access to every event night in the run.
All four passes are expected to continue for 2026 without an Express add-on. Universal has said the on-sale date for these multi-night passes has not yet been set.
What is not changing
Universal Orlando’s statement does not affect standard single-night Halloween Horror Nights Express Passes, which continue to be available with single-night tickets. Guests attending on a single-night ticket can still purchase a separate Express Pass at check-out, subject to availability. Single-night tickets and standard Express Passes are on sale now.
Why this matters
The Fear with Express Pass has historically served the event’s most engaged repeat guests, letting them combine multi-night entry with the ability to skip standby lines. For those guests, Express access was the difference between clearing the full house lineup on a busy weekend night and missing out. Removing the bundled option means those guests now have two choices for the 2026 event: purchase a multi-night Fear pass and rely on standby, or pay separately for a single-night Express Pass on each of the nights they most want to prioritize.
The change also concentrates Universal Express supply behind single-night tickets on peak weekend evenings, where it is likely to command higher pricing. Universal has not disclosed how the removal of the multi-night bundle affects Express availability or pricing on those single-night purchases.
What Universal has said so far
Universal Orlando has not detailed the rationale beyond its short statement. The removal has drawn immediate reaction in the Halloween Horror Nights fan community, and Inside Universal published a follow-up opinion piece on July 16 examining the trade-off between business and fan loyalty.
Halloween Horror Nights 35 event details
Halloween Horror Nights 35 runs select nights from August 28 through November 1, 2026 at Universal Studios Florida. HHN 35 has already revealed two haunted houses (with additional houses still to be announced), several scare zones, and the return of a Stranger Things: Return to Hawkins lagoon show.
For the full 2026 ticket structure, see HAN’s Halloween Horror Nights Tickets Guide. For 2026 lineup coverage, see HAN’s HHN 35 first house and returning icons announcement.
HAN will update this article as Universal Orlando announces the on-sale date and pricing for the 2026 multi-night Fear passes.
