The “Descent Into Darkness” dark zone runs all three days of the convention, August 7 to 9, at the Long Beach Convention Center.
For dates, tickets, the Hall of Shadows, and everything announced so far, see our Midsummer Scream 2026 guide.
Update: Midsummer Scream and Paramount Scares have added a Scream 30th anniversary reunion to the 2026 program, headlined by Matthew Lillard, Skeet Ulrich, David Arquette, and Roger L. Jackson.
Long Beach, CA — Midsummer Scream‘s 2026 Hall of Shadows will feature more than 15 attractions, with Universal, Lionsgate, and Thirteenth Floor Entertainment appearing alongside Southern California home haunts and independent groups. This year’s theme for the dark zone is “Descent Into Darkness,” and it will be open all three days of the convention, August 7 to 9, at the Long Beach Convention Center. Passes are on sale now.
The featured attractions
Eulogy Collective, Southern California’s only year-round haunted attraction, is creating this year’s entry portal experience. As guests move deeper into the hall, they will encounter vignettes and characters drawn from Eulogy Collective’s various seasonal overlays.
Universal Horror Unleashed is bringing a character encounter featuring some of the venue’s icons. It is the Las Vegas attraction’s first appearance at Midsummer Scream and the first time the convention has hosted an attraction from Las Vegas.
Lionsgate Entertainment returns for a third consecutive year with an all-new walk-through attraction taking guests deep into the woods to encounter an ancient evil.
Thirteenth Floor Entertainment presents the Magic of the Jack O’Lanterns Bar, serving themed drinks for guests 21 and older.
“Yet again, this year’s Hall of Shadows is absolutely the most intense and ambitious lineup of haunts and attractions we’ve ever assembled at Midsummer Scream,” said Rick West, Co-Founder and Creative Director of Midsummer Scream, in the announcement. West called the Universal Horror Unleashed appearance “a very important bridge between the SoCal and Southern Nevada haunt communities” and said fans “will find more than 15 unique attractions created by some of the most talented haunters anywhere in the world.”
Image courtesy of Midsummer Scream
The full attraction lineup
Within the Hall of Shadows, guests can explore the following attractions, displays, and photo ops, according to Midsummer Scream:
- A visit to the Hawkins National Laboratory for a photo op provided by Rawl of the Dead
- A witch hunt through a cursed forest led by H&L’s Realm of Horror
- Home haunt fun with the return of Clowns v Skeletons
- A ramshackle Floridian distillery presented by Straite to Hale
- The eerie, hallowed grounds of a long-forgotten Celtic graveyard known as The Haunt With No Name… Yet
- The Magic of the Jack O’Lanterns Bar, serving spooky libations for guests 21 and older, courtesy of Thirteenth Floor Entertainment
- A blood-sucking horde hidden away for generations within a dilapidated manor from Fear Farm
- Another go-around with your favorite soapy and sudsy monsters from The Haunted Carwash
- An old movie theater showcasing horror flicks of the 1980s, presented by The Dreich Society
- A chilling exploration through the whisper-filled halls of the Shadows Hollow Asylum, created by Realm of Shadow
- The continued cinematic misadventures of Sid from Toy Story, from Monclova Media Group
- An abandoned old morgue where forgotten souls refuse to decay in silence, from Black Casket Productions
Photo courtesy of Midsummer Scream
The Decayed Brigade returns
The Decayed Brigade returns to the Hall of Shadows with three days of slider exhibitions. The sliding team performs Friday night, followed by three shows daily on both Saturday and Sunday.
Photo courtesy of Midsummer Scream
Event details
All Midsummer Scream passes include admission to every attraction in the Hall of Shadows. Gold Bat VIP holders receive priority access to most attractions and bypass General Admission standby queues.
Passes for Midsummer Scream 2026 are on sale now. The official Midsummer Scream app, a free download in the Apple and Android stores, lets attendees “like” panels, presentations, and attractions to build a personalized schedule.
About Midsummer Scream
Midsummer Scream is the world’s largest Halloween and horror convention, presented by David Markland (Co-Founder and Executive Director), Gary Baker (Co-Founder and Executive Producer), Claire Dunlap (Co-Founder and Producer), and Rick West (Co-Founder and Creative Director). The convention showcases the Southern California haunt and horror community and draws fans from around the world for a weekend of panels, exhibits, and attractions.
