Universal Beijing Resort’s autumn Halloween event, branded Scares at Universal (惊彩”环球, Jīng Cǎi Huánqiú), runs from September 4 through November 1, 2026, marking the resort’s 5th anniversary season under the theme “Infinitely Your Way.” The 2026 program is anchored by two new marquee haunted mazes based on major Chinese entertainment IPs: The Grave Robbers’ Chronicles (盗墓笔记) and Identity V (第五人格). This guide covers the confirmed 2026 additions plus the 2025 baseline expected to carry over.
Scares at Universal 2026 dates and event basics
| Detail | Confirmed for 2026 |
|---|---|
| Event name | Scares at Universal (惊彩”环球) |
| Dates | September 4 through November 1, 2026 |
| Location | Universal Studios Beijing, at Universal Beijing Resort |
| Season program | Part of UBR’s 5th anniversary “Infinitely Your Way” |
| Admission | Included with standard park admission (Scares Evening Ticket also sold separately) |
| Maze access | Walk-up queue; no online reservation or additional ticket required. Universal Express is optional. |
| Age policy (2025 baseline) | Not recommended for guests under 13. Guests under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. |
Nighttime experiences at Scares at Universal typically run Thursday through the following Monday each week during the season. The 2025 event set park close at 22:00 on event nights, with haunted mazes running 15:00 to 22:00 daily on operating dates. Full 2026 operating calendar, ticketing details, and Universal Express pricing are expected to be released in the mid-August UBR seasonal press release.
What is new for 2026 at Scares at Universal
| Addition | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| The Grave Robbers’ Chronicles (盗墓笔记) | Haunted maze (IP) | First-time collaboration with the landmark Chinese tomb-raiding novel franchise by Xu Lei (“Nanpai Sanshu”). IP operator: Quantum Pan-Entertainment. Maze title not yet confirmed. Some Chinese government coverage renders the IP name as “The Lost Tomb”; both refer to 盗墓笔记. |
| Identity V: Escape from White Sand Street (第五人格 – 逃离白沙街) | Haunted maze (IP) | NetEase’s asymmetric 1-vs-4 survival horror mobile game. Asylum theme (White Sand Street Asylum). Announced as part of Identity V’s 8th anniversary roadmap. |
| UBR 5th anniversary framing | Season program | 2026 runs as part of “Infinitely Your Way,” the resort’s year-long 5th anniversary celebration. |
The February 4, 2026 UBR press release notes verbatim that “more beloved fan-favorite international IPs will be gradually unveiled through official announcements for upcoming seasonal events,” so additional 2026 content beyond these two mazes is likely but unconfirmed. The full seasonal press release historically drops in mid-to-late August (2025: Aug 21; 2024: Aug 12).
Both 2026 mazes are homegrown Chinese IPs, a strategic shift from prior years that leaned on Universal-owned horror (Universal Monsters), UBR original characters (Emo Tu, Foxy Lady), and Chinese folklore (Hua Pi).
Is Scares at Universal the same as Halloween Horror Nights?
Not quite. Unlike Universal’s other international parks in Osaka and Singapore, Universal Beijing has not adopted the “Halloween Horror Nights” branding. The event is officially called Scares @ Universal (English) and “惊彩”环球 (Chinese). The Chinese name is deliberate wordplay: “惊彩” (jīng cǎi) is a near-homonym for “精彩” (jīngcǎi, meaning “wonderful” or “spectacular”), while the character “惊” evokes fright and shock. The name simultaneously alludes to being frightened without explicitly referring to “Halloween” (万圣节), which is not an official Chinese holiday and is treated cautiously by consumer brands operating in the market.
2025 baseline: what is expected to return
Unless UBR announces otherwise, the following 2025 program is the baseline expectation for 2026. The August 2026 UBR press release should confirm which elements carry over.
Haunted mazes (2025 lineup)
| Maze | Status in 2025 | Concept |
|---|---|---|
| Universal Monsters Crypt (环球怪物：地下秘穴) | New in 2025 | UBR premiere of the classic Universal Monsters, gathering five icons: Dracula, The Mummy, Frankenstein’s monster, The Phantom, and The Wolf Man. Effects-heavy production. |
| The House of Hua Pi (画皮幽宅) | New in 2025 | Chinese-folklore maze inspired by “Hua Pi” (Painted Skin) from the 18th-century Liao Zhai Zhi Yi (Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio). Built as a hutong-alley labyrinth. |
| Jack’s Circus (杰克马戏团) | Returning from 2024 | Universal / HHN character Jack the Clown and Chance as “Carn-Evil Masters.” |
| House NO. 81 (81号公馆) | Returning from 2024 | “Film set” concept referencing Beijing’s Chaonei No. 81 mansion. Chinese reviewers rate it the most intense of the 2025 lineup. |
Scare zones (2025 lineup)
| Scare zone | Status in 2025 | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Frenzy Street (狂热街头) | New in 2025 | Hollywood Boulevard; “demonic devotees” of HamiKuma, Emo Tu, and Foxy Lady; rave/techno atmosphere. |
| Creepy Crawlies (幽虫出没) | New in 2025 | Sunset Boulevard (“落霞大道”); insect-swarm / “Forest of Crawling Doom” theme. |
Show and characters
The 2025 marquee stage show, HamiKuma Hallow-Palooza, paired three UBR characters together for the first time:
| Character | Origin | 2025 framing |
|---|---|---|
| Emo Tu (恶魔兔, “Emo Rabbit”) | UBR original (2024 breakout) | Returning in 2025 with a punk look, tearing off the “cute” label. |
| Foxy Lady (诡魅狐) | UBR original (new in 2025) | Positioned as a “confident stage queen.” |
| HamiKuma (哈觅酷玛) | Imported from Universal Studios Japan | Special guest at UBR; partially-dismembered teddy bear marketed as a “Charisma King refusing to be called ‘cute.'” |
Showtimes ran dynamically around daily sunset.
Death Eaters Takeover and daytime programming
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Beijing hosted a Death Eaters Takeover for the first time in 2025, with hourly dark-magic performances and exclusive Death Eater merchandise across the Hogsmeade area. Daytime programming included the Minion Monsters Meet & Greet and beloved UBR characters in exclusive Scares at Universal costumes.
2025 food, beverage, and merchandise
Signature 2025 food and beverage items included Freaky Feast (诡味派对), Sweet & Creep (搞怪甜心), Foxy Lady Specialty Drink, and the Scares-tacular Feast buffet at Case de Pavon (铭仁阁) in Hollywood. Scares-tacular Treats returned with a limited HamiKuma souvenir drink cup. Merchandise included the Emo Tu punk line, three UBR-exclusive HamiKuma designs, a Scares at Universal medallion, and blind-box character cards.
Ticketing
Scares at Universal is included with standard Universal Studios Beijing admission. There is no separate hard ticket for the core event, and mazes have no additional entry fee (queue-only access, with Universal Express as a paid optional upgrade). A separately sold Scares Evening Ticket with 17:00 park entry has been offered in past years through the Universal Beijing Resort official App, WeChat Mini-Program, and Douyin Flagship Store. Full 2026 ticketing and Universal Express pricing are expected to be released in the mid-August UBR seasonal press release.
The 2025 early-bird ticket window ran August 18 through September 3; the pattern is expected to repeat for 2026.
About Universal Beijing Resort
Universal Beijing Resort is a Comcast NBCUniversal park in the Tongzhou district of Beijing that opened September 20, 2021 and marks its 5th anniversary in 2026. It is the world’s largest Universal theme park, spanning seven themed lands: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Transformers Metrobase, Kung Fu Panda Land of Awesomeness, Hollywood, WaterWorld, Minion Land, and Jurassic World Isla Nublar, plus the Universal CityWalk Beijing dining and shopping district and two on-property hotels. Universal Beijing hosts nine major seasonal events across 2026 including Universal Infinite Spring, Universal Cool Summer, Scares at Universal, and Winter Holiday.
Frequently asked questions
When does Scares at Universal 2026 run?
Scares at Universal at Universal Beijing Resort runs September 4 through November 1, 2026. Nighttime experiences typically operate Thursday through the following Monday each week, with the full 2026 calendar expected to be confirmed in the mid-August UBR seasonal press release.
Do I need a separate ticket for Scares at Universal?
No. Scares at Universal is included with standard Universal Studios Beijing admission. Haunted mazes are free with park admission and have no reservation or additional ticket requirement, with Universal Express as an optional paid upgrade for shorter queue times. A separately sold Scares Evening Ticket with 17:00 park entry has been offered in previous years.
What is new for Scares at Universal in 2026?
The two confirmed new mazes for 2026 are The Grave Robbers’ Chronicles (盗墓笔记), tied to Xu Lei’s landmark Chinese tomb-raiding novel franchise, and Identity V: Escape from White Sand Street (第五人格 – 逃离白沙街), tied to NetEase’s asymmetric survival horror mobile game. Both are homegrown Chinese IPs, a notable shift from prior years that leaned on Universal-owned horror properties and UBR originals.
Is Scares at Universal the same as Halloween Horror Nights?
No. Universal Beijing does not use the Halloween Horror Nights branding. The event is officially called Scares at Universal (惊彩”环球). The Chinese name is a deliberate wordplay that avoids the word “Halloween,” which is not an official Chinese holiday.
Are the mazes scary?
The 2025 mazes ranged from cinematic and effects-driven (Universal Monsters Crypt) to Chinese-folklore-heavy (The House of Hua Pi) to intense (House NO. 81, reviewed by Chinese guests as the scariest of the 2025 lineup). Universal Beijing does not recommend the mazes or nighttime activities for guests under 13. Guests under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
When will the full 2026 lineup be announced?
The full 2026 UBR seasonal press release is expected in mid-to-late August 2026. UBR released its 2025 announcement on August 21 and its 2024 announcement on August 12.
Where is Universal Beijing Resort?
Universal Beijing Resort is in the Tongzhou district of Beijing, China, roughly 40 kilometers east of central Beijing. It opened September 20, 2021 and marks its 5th anniversary in 2026.
HAN prior Halloween Horror Nights coverage
- Halloween Horror Nights 2026: Dates, Tickets, and Lineups for Every Park — HAN’s master HHN hub across every Universal park
- Halloween Horror Nights Japan 2026 at USJ Guide
- Halloween Horror Nights 14 Singapore Reveals Four Haunted Houses and Two Scare Zones for 2026
- Halloween Horror Nights 2026 Reveals First Haunted House and Returning Icons for 35th Anniversary — HHN Orlando
For tickets and the full 2026 program, visit Universal Beijing Resort’s official news page.
Last updated: July 18, 2026. This guide is updated as Universal Beijing Resort announces additional 2026 Scares at Universal details, including the full maze lineup, scare zones, show, F&B, merchandise, and ticketing.
