Brisk, cool days; long, cozy nights; bright, crunchy leaves … fall is a distinct time of year beloved by many. And while there are abundant ways to embrace the delights of the season — think indulging in pumpkin pie, sitting near a roaring campfire, sipping on hot apple cider — one of the most tried and true traditions of Autumn is finding yourself frozen in fear at an over-the-top haunted house. As Spooky Season rolls around, devout celebrants agree, getting freaked out for fun is a must, and, after 35 years, one initiative has truly mastered the art of the scare: Universal Destinations & Experiences’ Halloween Horror Nights.
Decked out in guts, gore and grotesque glory, each year, Universal Orlando Resort, Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Studios Singapore and Universal Studios Japan dial the terror up to 11 with “sinister scare zones,” twisted entertainment, macabre merchandise, eerie eats and, of course, next-level haunted houses. It’s a scary soiree not to be missed, and a true bucket list travel experience for many.
To celebrate 35 years of Halloween Horror Nights, The Compass on VAX chatted with Lora Sauls, assistant director of creative development and show, direction for art and design at Universal Orlando Resort, to look back at the event’s success and give travelers a glimpse of the frights to come.
Evolution and Planning
When asked how Halloween Horror Nights has evolved over the years, Sauls said the Universal team’s dedication to ensuring a positive guest experience is a major contributor to the event’s ongoing success. “I have had the honor to work on Halloween Horror Nights since 1998,” she said. “I have seen this event grow not only in the content we offer, but in terms of our audience as well. There is a reason we are the World’s Premier Halloween event. Our continued evolution, the integration of popular intellectual properties and our original stories that guests can experience are not just in the haunted houses, but also in the streets. We work consistently to bring amazing experiences to our guests. We love our fans and love that our fan base grows with every new season. We like to say, ‘once they come to Halloween Horror Nights, they become fans for life.’”
As Sauls mentioned, haunts based on uber-popular IPs are a big draw for many attendees, and in recent years, notable titles like “Sinners,” “Terrifier,” “Stranger Things,” “Ghostbusters,” “Alien vs. Predator,” “Us,” “Killer Klowns From Outer Space,” “The Walking Dead,” “The Thing,” “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” and many, many more, have all graced the parks’ gates, allowing fans to watch their favorite stories unfold, bad guys and all, before their eyes.
Knowing the great care that goes into creating these experiences for guests and choosing which houses will make their big debut each year, we asked Sauls how long it takes to plan the event from start-to-finish. “Halloween Horror Nights is a year-round planning effort beginning about 18 months before the event opens,” she said. “Our Entertainment, Design, and Marketing teams work closely together to develop a diverse lineup of experiences, including original haunted houses, popular intellectual property favorites, eerie scare zones, live shows and more for guests to enjoy.”
Making the Most of the Event
Anyone who’s visited a Universal park knows there’s no shortage of exciting nooks and crannies to explore. To help optimize their Halloween Horror Nights experience, we asked Sauls for her top advice for guests hoping to make the most of their time. “One of the best ways to maximize your experience, especially if you’re already in Universal Studios Florida during the day, is to take full advantage of Stay & Scream,” she said. “Guests with both daytime admission and Halloween Horror Nights admission can get a head start by experiencing select haunted houses starting at 2 p.m., before the event officially begins in the evening.”
Additionally, Sauls said travelers will want to keep their eyes peeled for creepy fun throughout every area of the park. “Beyond the haunted houses, be sure to explore everything the event has to offer, from live entertainment and immersive scare zones to themed food and more,” she said. “Don’t miss a must-do experience outside the park: the Dead Coconut Club at Universal CityWalk. Plus, the seasonal experiences at the hotels — the perfect way to keep the spooky vibes going all season long.”
Halloween Horror Nights 2026
In celebration of 35 years, die-hard fans attending Halloween Horror Nights in 2026 can expect to see some familiar, alongside terrifying new, faces. “We’re transforming Universal Studios Florida into an ‘Infernal Carnival of Nightmares’ — a twisted, fear-filled carnival featuring 10 all-new haunted houses inspired by horror’s biggest names and original stories, along with scare zones, live entertainment, themed food and beverages and more,” said Sauls. “Serving as ringmasters of this year’s event are Jack the Clown — one of the most notorious Halloween Horror Night icons — and his legendary rival, Dr. Oddfellow. For the first time, these two nemeses will join forces to unleash chaos on our guests, making this anniversary celebration one for the books.”
Visit the Universal Destinations & Experiences Halloween Horror Nights landing page for detailed information on Halloween Horror Nights tickets, haunts and more at Universal Orlando Resort, Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Studios Singapore and Universal Studios Japan.
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