Most haunted houses open between September 11 and the first weekend of October 2026. Theme park events start much earlier, with Disneyland’s Halloween season beginning August 18 and Halloween Horror Nights Orlando opening August 28, the earliest start in its history. And the season no longer ends on Halloween: several of the country’s biggest independent haunts now run into mid-November. This page lists confirmed 2026 dates, sorted by opening week, and is updated as haunts announce. Each linked event has a full guide with dates, tickets, and lineup.
August: The Theme Parks Start
| Opens | Event | Location | Runs through |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 18 | Oogie Boogie Bash | Disney California Adventure, Anaheim | Oct 31 |
| Aug 21 | Halloween Time at Disneyland | Disneyland Resort, Anaheim | Oct 31 |
| Aug 28 | Halloween Horror Nights 35 | Universal Studios Florida, Orlando | Nov 1 |
The September 11 and 12 Wave
| Opens | Event | Location | Runs through |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sept 3 | Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood | Universal Studios Hollywood | Nov 1 |
| Sept 11 | Howl-O-Scream Orlando | SeaWorld Orlando | Oct 31 |
| Sept 11 | Howl-O-Scream San Diego | SeaWorld San Diego | Oct 31 |
| Sept 11 | Howl-O-Scream Williamsburg | Busch Gardens Williamsburg | Nov 1 |
| Sept 11 | Howl-O-Scream San Antonio | SeaWorld San Antonio | Nov 1 |
| Sept 11 | Field of Screams | Mountville, PA | Nov 7 (Extreme Blackout Nov 13) |
| Sept 11 | Woods of Terror | Greensboro, NC | Nov 7 |
| Sept 12 | House of Torment | Austin, TX | Nov 8 |
| Sept 12 | Nashville Nightmare | Nashville, TN | Nov 13 |
Mid September
| Opens | Event | Location | Runs through |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sept 17 | Knott’s Scary Farm | Knott’s Berry Farm, Buena Park | Oct 31 |
| Sept 18 | Six Flags Fright Fest | Six Flags Magic Mountain, Valencia | Nov 1 |
| Sept 18 | Queen Mary Dark Harbor | The Queen Mary, Long Beach | Nov 1 |
| Sept 18 | Los Angeles Haunted Hayride | Griffith Park, Los Angeles | Nov 1 |
| Sept 18 | Festival Fright Nights | Winchester Mystery House, San Jose | Nov 1 |
| Sept 19 | LEGOLAND Brick-or-Treat | LEGOLAND California, Carlsbad | Nov 1 |
| Sept 19 | Reapers Revenge | Blakely, PA | Nov 1 |
| Sept 19 | Fear Farm | Scottsdale, AZ | Nov 14 |
Late September
| Opens | Event | Location | Runs through |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sept 25 | Halloween Horror Nights 14 | Universal Studios Singapore | Nov 1 |
| Sept 25 | The Haunted Trail of Balboa Park | Balboa Park, San Diego | Nov 1 |
| Sept 25 | Pennhurst Asylum | Spring City, PA | Closing date TBA |
| Sept 25 | Terror in the Corn | Erie, CO | Oct 31 |
| Sept 25 | Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail | Plant City, FL | Nov 1 |
October
| Opens | Event | Location | Runs through |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2 | Pirates of Emerson | Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton | Nov 1 |
| Oct 2 | Carved at Descanso Gardens | Descanso Gardens, La Cañada Flintridge | Nov 1 |
| Oct 2 | The Haunted Car Wash | Four Southern California locations | Oct 31 |
| Oct 2 | Heartstoppers Haunted House | Rancho Cordova, Sacramento | Nov 1 |
| Oct 29 | Wicked Lit | Chance Theater, Anaheim | Nov 2 |
November: The Season Doesn’t End on Halloween
The biggest independent haunts increasingly run past Halloween, and the industry itself keeps going after the public season winds down.
- Fear Farm (Scottsdale, AZ) runs through November 14, the latest close on this list.
- Nashville Nightmare runs through November 13.
- Field of Screams holds its Extreme Blackout event November 13 and the Zombie Fun Run November 14, after its regular season ends November 7.
- House of Torment (Austin) runs through November 8, and Woods of Terror (Greensboro) through November 7.
- Legendary Haunt Tour, the industry’s post-season tour event, runs November 5 to 7, 2026 in North Carolina, visiting Woods of Terror, Kersey Valley Spookywoods, and Lake Hickory Haunts.
Dates Coming
These major haunts have not yet posted 2026 dates. We add each one to the tables above as its dates land.
| Event | Location | 2026 Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Terror Vault | San Francisco, CA | Oct 2026, dates TBA |
| Dark Hour Haunted House | Plano, TX | TBA |
| Hobb’s Grove | Sanger, CA | TBA |
| The Dent Schoolhouse | Cincinnati, OH | TBA |
| Niles Scream Park | Niles, MI | TBA |
| Delusion | Los Angeles, CA | TBA |
| Nights of the Jack | Calabasas, CA | TBA |
When Do Haunted Houses Open FAQ
When do most haunted houses open in 2026?
The busiest opening window is September 11 through October 2. Theme park events open first, most regional and independent haunts follow from mid-September, and the season runs through Halloween and beyond.
What is the earliest Halloween event in 2026?
Oogie Boogie Bash at Disney California Adventure opens August 18, followed by Halloween Time at Disneyland on August 21 and Halloween Horror Nights Orlando on August 28, its earliest start ever.
Which haunted houses stay open after Halloween?
More than you’d think. Fear Farm runs to November 14, Nashville Nightmare to November 13, House of Torment to November 8, and Woods of Terror and Field of Screams to November 7, with Field of Screams adding special events on November 13 and 14. Most theme park events end October 31 or November 1.
Updated July 16, 2026. Dates are added as events announce them. See our destination guides for full lineups: Halloween Horror Nights (all parks) and Haunted Houses in California.
