Get ready to scream—beyond the signature thrill rides—when you visit Halloween Horror Nights from early September through early November at Universal Studios Hollywood in Los Angeles County. In this series of incredibly popular scare-fest nights, the theme park turns into a haunted nightmare that will likely scare the willies out of most visitors.
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What to Expect at Halloween Horror Nights
For years, the thumping heart of Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights had been found in its notorious mazes and haunted houses that recreated shriek-inducing moments from iconic horror films and television series. These days, the focus tends to be just on haunted houses. Visitors get to walk through eight movie-quality creepy domiciles that are populated with ghoulish, masked, or zombified actors, also known to dart out from darkened corners.
As of July 2026, three haunted houses have been officially announced for Halloween Horror Nights 2026 at Universal Studios Hollywood: Sinners, Stranger Things (season 5), and Hellraiser. But that's not the final count for the event—it's just what's been revealed so far. Check back here or at the Universal Studios website later for updates.
Of course, the haunted houses aren't the only attractions that will keep your fight-or-flight instincts firmly locked into overdrive. After your heart slows down from the fright of a haunted house tour, get it racing again on the Terror Tram, which reimagines the Studio Tour's real backlot into a walk-through nightmare. Guests disembark the tram partway through and continue on foot past iconic movie locations—like the Bates Motel house from Psycho—now overrun by horror characters. In recent years, the Terror Tram has leaned into a specific theme, such as 2025's "Enter the Blumhouse," which brought together villains from Blumhouse horror franchises including The Black Phone, M3GAN, and The Purge for the studio's 15th anniversary.
Beyond the Terror Tram, a whole selection of scream-filled Scare Zones spread creatures throughout the streets of Universal Studios, turning ordinary walkways into ambush points between houses. Recent years have featured zones themed around killer clowns, murderous crows, and Día de los Muertos-inspired horrors, often paired with a stunt show, such as The Purge: Dangerous Waters, staged in the WaterWorld arena. As of this writing, Universal hasn't yet announced the specific Terror Tram theme or Scare Zones for the 2026 season at Universal Studios Hollywood, so expect those details to roll out as the event's September 3 start date approaches.
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Is Halloween Horror Nights Little-Kid-Friendly?
Universal Studios Hollywood does not recommend Halloween Horror Nights for guests younger than 13. Yes—it’s that scary. It's also worth noting that this isn't an official age limit, so it isn't strictly enforced with ID checks, but the recommendation reflects the event's late hours, intense scare-actor encounters, graphic haunted house content, and generally adult atmosphere.
Is Halloween Horror Nights Included with Admission?
No. Halloween Horror Nights is a separate-ticket event—it’s closed to guests who just came for the day—and admission begins at 7 p.m. There are a few ways to enhance your visit, though, starting with Universal Express passes that let you skip the lines for haunted houses or the VIP-style “R.I.P. Tour” that includes a guide and gourmet dinner. You can also book the Early Access Ticket that lets you start your evening at 5:30 p.m., or the “After 2 p.m. Day/Night” ticket, which also includes daytime general admission to the park starting at 2 p.m.
If you want to freak out repeatedly during the Halloween season, consider getting the Frequent Fear Pass, where you can experience up to 33 nights on select dates, or the Ultimate Fear Pass, which is good for all event nights with no blackout dates.
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Plan Your Trip
Shrieking your way through Halloween Horror Nights is just one way to celebrate the season in the Golden State. Check out these other Halloween events at California theme parks and more Halloween events and festivals across the state. Check out more holiday fun at Universal Studios Hollywood by planning your trip around other seasonal events throughout the year.
