Midsummer Scream runs August 7 to 9, 2026 at the Long Beach Convention Center. Single-day passes run $42 to $60. Weekend and VIP Gold Bat passes are sold out. The largest Halloween and horror convention on the West Coast draws roughly 50,000 attendees for over 300 exhibitors, the Hall of Shadows dark zone, panels, and this year, the Scream 30th anniversary reunion.
Midsummer Scream 2026 at a Glance
| Dates | Friday through Sunday, August 7–9, 2026 |
| Location | Long Beach Convention Center, Long Beach, California |
| Tickets | Friday $42 · Saturday $60 · Sunday $54 (passes). Weekend + VIP Gold Bat: SOLD OUT |
| 2026 theme | Horror Musicals |
| Scale | Roughly 50,000 attendees, 300+ exhibitors |
| Dark zone | Hall of Shadows: “Descent Into Darkness,” all three days |
What Is Midsummer Scream?
Midsummer Scream is the Halloween and horror convention that kicks off the season in Southern California each summer. The show floor packs more than 300 exhibitors selling props, masks, art, and haunt merchandise, alongside panels and presentations from major theme parks and haunts, live entertainment, workshops, and the Hall of Shadows, a convention-floor dark zone where SoCal home haunts and professional groups build working walkthrough experiences. The 2026 convention theme is Horror Musicals, drawing on productions like The Phantom of the Opera.
The Hall of Shadows: Descent Into Darkness
This year’s Hall of Shadows carries a “Descent Into Darkness” theme and features more than 15 attractions, with Universal, Lionsgate, and Thirteenth Floor Entertainment appearing alongside Southern California home haunts and independent groups like Eulogy Collective. The dark zone is open all three days and is included with admission.
The Scream 30th Anniversary Reunion
Midsummer Scream and Paramount Scares are staging a weekend-long celebration of the 30th anniversary of Wes Craven’s Scream, bringing much of the original Woodsboro cast, Ghostface voice actor Roger L. Jackson, and composer Marco Beltrami to Long Beach. It is Paramount Scares’s largest presence at the convention to date. Separately, Matthew Lillard makes his first-ever Midsummer Scream appearance this year, and the official guest list includes Peaches Christ (Terror Vault) and Spider One.
Why the Industry Watches This Weekend
Midsummer Scream doubles as Southern California’s reveal weekend. Several major haunts are expected to announce their 2026 lineups at the convention, including Queen Mary Dark Harbor, the Los Angeles Haunted Hayride, Six Flags Fright Fest at Magic Mountain, and Festival Fright Nights at the Winchester Mystery House. We update those guides, the California hub, and the opening-dates guide as the reveals land.
Tickets and Passes
Single-day passes remain on sale at midsummerscream.org: Friday $42 (6 to 10 p.m.), Saturday $60 (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.), and Sunday $54 (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.). Weekend Passes ($80) and the VIP Gold Bat Pass ($199, which included one-hour early show-floor entry Saturday and Sunday and the MSS After Dark Saturday night party) are sold out, per the official ticket page. Celebrity photo-ops and the Roger L. Jackson private meet-and-greet are bookable add-ons.
Schedule and Panels
The full panel and appearance schedule had not been posted as of July 18; Midsummer Scream directs attendees to the event app and program for appearance schedules closer to the convention. We add the panel highlights here when the schedule drops.
Midsummer Scream FAQ
When is Midsummer Scream 2026?
Friday through Sunday, August 7 to 9, 2026, at the Long Beach Convention Center.
How much are Midsummer Scream tickets?
Single-day passes remain on sale at midsummerscream.org: Friday $42, Saturday $60, and Sunday $54. Weekend passes and the VIP Gold Bat Pass are sold out.
What is the Hall of Shadows?
A dark zone on the convention floor where haunts build real walkthrough attractions. The 2026 edition, themed “Descent Into Darkness,” features more than 15 attractions from Universal, Lionsgate, Thirteenth Floor, and SoCal home haunts, open all three days with admission.
Do haunts announce their Halloween lineups at Midsummer Scream?
Yes. It is Southern California’s reveal weekend: Dark Harbor, the LA Haunted Hayride, Fright Fest at Magic Mountain, and Festival Fright Nights are all expected to show their 2026 plans at the convention.
Our Midsummer Scream Coverage
- Scream 30th anniversary reunion announced with Woodsboro cast (July 2026)
- Universal, Lionsgate, and Thirteenth Floor join the 15-plus attraction Hall of Shadows lineup (July 2026)
- Tickets on sale for Midsummer Scream 2026 (March 2026)
- Midsummer Scream 2025: thrills, haunts, and horror in Long Beach (2025)
- John Carpenter joins Midsummer Scream 2025 (2025)
For every haunt convention and trade show on the calendar, see our Tradeshows & Conventions hub.
Updated July 18, 2026. We update this guide as Midsummer Scream announces its schedule and as haunt reveals land at the convention.
