PortAventura World, the resort near Barcelona that brought Halloween to Spain back in 2000, is running its 2026 season from September 19 to November 15, and it is adding a fifth terror passage. The new haunt, El Carnicero de Penitence, drops guests into a gore-soaked butcher’s shop in the park’s Far West.
The featured new passage: El Carnicero de Penitence
Set in the late 19th century, El Carnicero de Penitence puts visitors in the middle of an investigation. In the dusty town of Penitence, neighbors have started disappearing, and the local Sheriff asks guests to help figure out what the town butcher is hiding. The route winds through the butcher’s home, shop, and slaughterhouse, built out with period detail, and the suspense climbs until the secret comes out. It is a distinctly gore-toned addition, a new corner of what the park calls the Penitence universe in its Far West.
The five haunted houses this year
With the butcher added, PortAventura’s 2026 season carries five haunted houses in all:
- El Carnicero de Penitence (new). A gore-toned butcher haunt in the Far West.
- La Isla Maldita.
- La Muerte Viva.
- REC Experience.
- Angkor: La leyenda del Rey Caníbal.
After dark, the scare zone La Maldición del Emperador (The Emperor’s Curse) adds another layer of fright across the park.
Halloween for the whole family
PortAventura is pitching this as its most complete Halloween yet, with plenty for guests who would rather laugh than scream. Family favorites return, including Truco o Trato, a Día de los Muertos celebration, and the Halloween Parade, alongside new street characters and daytime entertainment spread across Mediterrània, SésamoAventura, México, and the Far West.
More new for 2026
The refresh reaches the shows, too. The Saloon hosts a new mystery-and-dance show called Resurrection, and new street characters roam the park. For nearly 60 days, PortAventura leans on special decoration, seasonal shows, themed food, and exclusive Halloween merchandise, marking 27 years of Halloween in Spain.
Halloween across Europe
PortAventura is one stop on a busy European Halloween map this fall, and each park has a featured draw:
- UK, Thorpe Park: unveiled Tenement, its first fully pitch-black scare maze, for the 25th anniversary of Fright Nights.
- UK, Alton Towers Scarefest: returns with a new maze.
- France, Disneyland Paris: runs its Halloween Festival.
- Germany, Movie Park: added a Jason Voorhees haunted house for 2026.
For opening dates across the season, see our guide to when haunted houses open.
When it runs
PortAventura World’s Halloween season runs September 19 through November 15, 2026, at the resort in Salou, near Barcelona.
Frequently asked questions
When is Halloween at PortAventura World in 2026? September 19 to November 15.
What is the new haunted house? El Carnicero de Penitence, a gore-toned butcher haunt set in the park’s Far West.
How many haunted houses does PortAventura have this year? Five: El Carnicero de Penitence, La Isla Maldita, La Muerte Viva, REC Experience, and Angkor: La leyenda del Rey Caníbal, plus the La Maldición del Emperador scare zone.
Is it good for families? Yes. Alongside the haunts, the park runs Truco o Trato, a Día de los Muertos celebration, the Halloween Parade, and daytime entertainment for younger visitors.
