Last updated: July 17, 2026. The 2026 convention is this weekend. VIP passes are sold out, but General Admission passes remain available throughout the show. This guide will be updated in place each year.
Irving, TX — The Texas Haunters Convention is a two-day, cash-and-carry Halloween and cosplay convention held annually in the Dallas–Fort Worth area. The 2026 edition runs Saturday, July 18 and Sunday, July 19, 2026 at the Irving Convention Center, which offers over 84,000 square feet of exhibit space. The event is open to the public and draws haunt owners, industry professionals, home haunters, cosplayers, families, and Halloween fans across the region.
What is the Texas Haunters Convention?
The Texas Haunters Convention is a two-day Halloween-themed convention produced by Texas Haunters Group, LLC. Attendees walk a full exhibitor floor of Halloween and haunt-industry vendors, sit in on classes and workshops led by industry instructors, and participate in demonstrations, Make N’ Takes, and fun events. The convention operates cash-and-carry style: exhibitor purchases are taken home from the show floor rather than shipped later.
The convention is open to the public and is designed for haunt owners, industry professionals, home haunters, cosplayers, trick-or-treaters, and families who love the Halloween season.
When and where is the Texas Haunters Convention?
The 2026 Texas Haunters Convention runs Saturday, July 18 and Sunday, July 19, 2026 at the Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas, 500 W. Las Colinas Blvd., Irving, TX 75039. The convention typically takes place in mid-to-late July each year and rotates its exact dates and venue. Watch this guide for date and venue updates when the following year’s edition is announced.
How much do Texas Haunters Convention tickets cost?
Ticket prices for 2026 range from $5 for a single-day Kids Sunday pass (early bird) to $75 for a VIP weekend pass at the door. Early-bird pricing is in effect through June 15, 2026 at midnight. Online registration opens March 1, 2026 and runs through the convention.
2026 pricing:
| Ticket type | Standard (door) | Early bird |
|---|---|---|
| VIP Pass | $75 | $65 |
| Adult Weekend | $25 | $20 |
| Adult Saturday | $20 | $18 |
| Adult Sunday | $12 | $10 |
| Kids Weekend | $10 | $9 |
| Kids Saturday | $6 | $5 |
| Kids Sunday | $6 | $5 |
Kids passes are for guests 12 and under. Guests 2 and under do not require a pass. Add-on options for events, education, and merchandise are available during the registration process. All registrations are non-refundable and non-transferable.
2026 status: VIP passes are sold out. General Admission passes remain available throughout the show at texashauntersconvention.com/attendee-registration and at the door.
Convention floor hours
Saturday, July 18, 2026:
- VIP-only access: 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
- All attendees: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, July 19, 2026:
- All attendees: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Registration desk hours
- Friday, July 17, 2026: 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (onsite check-in only)
- Saturday, July 18, 2026: 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Sunday, July 19, 2026: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
What is included
Every attendee wristband includes access to the convention floor during the ticketed day and to demonstrations and the Demo Stage. Classes, Make N’ Takes, and Workshops are separately ticketed even for VIP attendees due to limited seating; each must be individually registered during the registration process.
VIP Pass benefits (from prior years, expected 2026): Early entry to the convention floor on Saturday from 9 to 10 a.m., a VIP registration line, and priority queuing for VIP-designated events. The convention publishes specific VIP inclusions each year on the attendee registration page.
Education programming
The convention’s education tracks pull haunt-industry instructors from across the country and typically include four formats:
- Classes — Instructor-led seminar sessions covering haunt design, business, marketing, character work, effects, prop building, and industry business topics. Limited seating; requires individual registration during the registration process.
- Make N’ Takes — Hands-on sessions where guests build a prop, mask, or effect and take the finished piece home. Materials included in the class fee.
- Workshops — Longer, deeper-dive learning experiences on specific specialties like silicone work, animatronics, latex casting, or airbrush technique.
- Instructors — The convention publishes its annual instructor roster on the instructors page. Watch it for the confirmed 2026 lineup.
A sample of the 2026 classes
The 2026 Classes roster spans business, effects, character work, performance, and technology. A sampling:
Business and operations:
- Handbook for Your Boo Crew — Actor and crew handbook essentials.
- Haunters vs Paperwork — Legal, insurance, and business-paperwork essentials for haunt operators.
- Writing a Killer Business Plan — Building a business plan for a first-year or expanding haunt.
- Navigating the Haunt Industry — Career and business orientation for haunters entering the industry.
Effects, makeup, and prop work:
- Basic Out of Kit Effects — Silicone, foam latex, and prosthetic work from commercial kits.
- Casting With Intention: How to Build a Cast — Casting workflow from mold to finished piece.
- How to Make, Apply, and Paint 3D Transfers — 3D transfer application and finishing.
- Monster Assembly Line: Intro to Airbrush — Airbrush workflow for high-volume production runs.
- Theme Park Effects for Home Haunt Prices — Adapting theme-park-caliber effects on a home-haunt budget.
Character and performance work:
- How to Elevate Slider Characters — Character development, movement, and staging for slider actors.
- Haunt Improv — Improv fundamentals for scare actors.
- Tales From the Haunt — Storytelling as a scare-actor tool.
- Victorian Dancing for Vampires — Period movement and dance for gothic characters.
Physical skills and stunts:
- Hula Hoop and Staff — Flow arts as a scare-actor performance skill.
- Poi and Juggling — Poi and juggling fundamentals.
- Stunts and Rigging in the Haunt Industry — Flying and rigging safety for haunted attractions.
Technology:
- From Concept to Immersion — Design workflow from concept sketch through immersive built environment.
- Using AI for Your Haunting — Applying generative AI tools to design, marketing, and operations for haunts.
The convention publishes the full 2026 instructor roster and class details on the Classes and Instructors pages.
Convention floor and vendors
The main show floor is a cash-and-carry exhibitor hall. Every purchase is taken home the same day; the convention does not ship items. The 2026 show floor hosts over 150 exhibitors across 84,000 square feet. The exhibitor mix includes haunt props and animatronics, masks and silicone, makeup and cosmetics, costumes, décor, artwork and prints, small-business haunt operators, industry associations, and adjacent Halloween-themed retailers.
The convention publishes a live vendor map on its website with the confirmed 2026 exhibitor floor plan.
Fun events and Demo Stage
Beyond the show floor and classes, the convention runs a slate of interactive events on the Fun Events and Demo Stage pages. These have historically included costume contests, character meet-and-greets, live demos from vendors and instructors, cosplay competitions, and evening after-hours activities.
2026 Friday Night Haunt Tour. The 2026 convention kicks off with a Friday-night haunt tour on July 17, featuring stops at Imminent Doom Haunted House (Kilgore, TX), Doc Wilkes House of Horrors (Longview, TX), and Graystone Scream Park (Longview, TX).
2026 Saturday Costume Ball. Saturday night, July 18, the convention runs a Costume Ball with a live DJ, giveaways, food trucks, a cash bar, and an adult (18+) costume contest.
The Demo Stage is included with every convention pass. Individual Fun Events may require separate registration; the convention flags which ones on the Fun Events page each year.
Getting to the Irving Convention Center
Address: 500 W. Las Colinas Blvd., Irving, TX 75039
Parking: An 800-space parking garage is attached to the venue. The venue charges $15 for parking. Additional parking is available within walking distance.
Mass transit: The Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) orange line serves the Irving Convention Center station, directly at the venue. Guests flying into Dallas Fort Worth International Airport can board the orange line at Terminal A and reach the convention center by rail without transferring.
Wi-Fi: The venue provides free Wi-Fi to attendees.
Host hotels
The convention negotiates special rates at nearby host hotels each year. Book directly through the convention’s host hotel page to receive the negotiated group rate. Rates and blocks change annually.
Costume, prop, and equipment rules
The Texas Haunters Convention is family-friendly, and costumes are welcome. The convention publishes the following costume rules:
- Costumes may not be vulgar or create a disturbance.
- No real weapons or parts of real weapons may be part of a costume.
- Outside props must be inspected at the Prop Check table near the Help Desk before entering the convention floor.
- The convention reserves the right to refuse admission for costume violations.
Special-effects warning: The convention uses haze, mist, fog, scent, strobes, fast-flashing lights, lasers, and loud noises in the exhibit hall, ballrooms, classrooms, and lobby areas. Guests with sensitivities should account for this before purchasing tickets.
Food and beverage: Outside food and drink are not permitted in the venue or at sponsored events. Concession stands sell food and drinks. A cash bar operates during TABC serving hours and at special events. Water stations are available throughout the venue.
Important attendee policies
- All registrations are non-refundable and non-transferable.
- Photo ID may be required at registration and at gated events.
- Merchandise sold by the convention itself must be picked up at the on-site merchandise booth during the event. The convention does not ship items.
- Every class, Make N’ Take, and workshop requires individual registration due to limited seating. VIP status does not automatically confirm a class seat.
- Non-exhibitors may not conduct business on the convention floor, in classrooms, or during events. Anyone wishing to sell must register as an exhibitor.
- Attendees who cause disturbances or safety issues will be removed by security and barred from further participation without the right of a refund.
- Celebrity guest cancellations do not qualify for refunds. The convention announces cancellations as soon as it is notified.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Texas Haunters Convention 2026?
The Texas Haunters Convention 2026 runs Saturday, July 18 and Sunday, July 19, 2026, at the Irving Convention Center in Irving, Texas.
Is the Texas Haunters Convention open to the public?
Yes. The convention is open to the public and is family-friendly. It is designed for haunt owners, industry professionals, home haunters, cosplayers, families, and Halloween fans.
How much do Texas Haunters Convention tickets cost?
Adult weekend passes are $25 at the door and $20 during early-bird pricing. VIP passes are $75 standard and $65 early bird. Kids weekend passes are $10 standard and $9 early bird. Full pricing is in the ticket table above.
When does early-bird pricing end?
Early-bird pricing runs through midnight on June 15, 2026.
Do kids need a pass?
Kids 12 and under buy discounted kids passes. Kids 2 and under attend for free.
Are costumes allowed?
Yes, costumes are welcome. Costumes may not be vulgar and may not include real weapons or real weapon parts. All outside props must clear the Prop Check table near the Help Desk before entering the show floor.
Where do I park at the Irving Convention Center?
The Irving Convention Center has an 800-space parking garage attached to the venue. Parking is $15 at the venue.
Can I take public transit to the Texas Haunters Convention?
Yes. The DART orange line stops at the Irving Convention Center station, directly at the venue. Guests flying into DFW International Airport can take the orange line from Terminal A without transferring.
Do I get lunch or dinner with my convention pass?
No. Food and beverages are sold at the venue’s concession stands. Outside food and drink are not permitted.
Where the Texas Haunters Convention fits in the haunt calendar
The Texas Haunters Convention is one of the summer’s regional haunt conventions leading up to the Halloween season. Along with the East Coast Haunters Convention, the Midwest Haunters Convention, and TransWorld’s Halloween & Attractions Show earlier in the year, it forms part of the summer-to-fall convention circuit that carries the industry from pre-season planning into the operational season.
The Texas edition is distinctive for its consumer orientation. Where TransWorld is a haunt-owner trade show and the East Coast, Midwest, and other haunter conventions primarily serve haunt owners and home haunters, the Texas Haunters Convention leans further into cosplay and consumer Halloween fandom while retaining a strong education track for haunters.
For a full calendar of haunted-attraction trade shows and conventions, see HAN’s tradeshows and conventions hub.
Prior HAN Texas Haunters Convention coverage
- The Texas Haunters Convention 2023: The Ultimate Halloween and Cosplay Experience
- Weekend Preview: Texas Haunters Convention 2021
- Texas Haunters Convention 2021
Event details
- Event: Texas Haunters Convention 2026
- Producer: Texas Haunters Group, LLC
- Dates: Saturday, July 18 and Sunday, July 19, 2026
- Venue: Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas, 500 W. Las Colinas Blvd., Irving, TX 75039
- Registration opens: March 1, 2026
- Early-bird pricing ends: June 15, 2026 at midnight
- Website: texashauntersconvention.com
- Attendee registration: texashauntersconvention.com/attendee-registration
