Theme parks, attractions, performing arts venues and neighborhoods offer experiences for every age and scare level from Aug. 7-Nov. 8 

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ORLANDO, Fla. (Aug. 7, 2026) – Orlando is stretching Halloween into its longest spooky season yet, with 94 consecutive days of celebrations from Aug. 7 through Nov. 8. Home to world-renowned Halloween events, family-friendly festivals, immersive haunted attractions and one of the country's largest horror conventions with Spooky Empire, Orlando continues to cement its reputation as the Halloween Vacation Capital. 

Across the destination, visitors can experience four major theme park resort celebrations, the 35th anniversary of Universal Orlando Resort's Halloween Horror Nights, nationally recognized haunted attractions, live theater and concerts, neighborhood festivals, and dozens of additional seasonal experiences ranging from lighthearted trick-or-treating to extreme scares. 

"In Orlando, Halloween isn’t just a single day; it comes to life for an entire season,” said Casandra Matej, president and CEO of Visit Orlando. “For more than three months, visitors can find everything from family friendly trick-or-treat trails and festive fall fun to heart-pounding haunted houses and real-life jump scares at our world-famous theme parks and many area attractions, making Orlando the ultimate Halloween getaway for every level of scare.”  
 
For more information on Orlando’s Halloween events, click here. Visitors can also take advantage of Visit Orlando’s free vacation planning resources, including OPAL, the destination’s AI-powered trip planner, and complimentary, personalized Vacation Planning Services, where destination experts help travelers build the perfect Orlando itinerary. 

SPOOKY THEME PARK EVENTS 

  • Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World Resort returns to Magic Kingdom Park (select nights Aug. 7 - Oct. 31), marking the event’s earliest start date yet. The separately ticketed event features trick-or-treating, themed food and beverages, character meet-and-greets, merchandise, photo opportunities and returning entertainment such as Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade, Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular and the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular. New for 2026, Stitch hosts an ever-changing masquerade-style dance party at Rockettower Plaza Stage in Tomorrowland, joined by Lilo and Angel. 

  • Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Florida returns for its 35th year (select nights Aug. 28 - Nov. 1) with 48 nights of horror, 10 all-new haunted houses, scare zones, live entertainment and themed food and beverages. The 2026 event transforms Universal Studios Florida into the “Infernal Carnival of Nightmares,” with Jack the Clown and Dr. Oddfellow joining forces for the first time in the all-new haunted house “Jack & Oddfellow: Chaos & Control,” alongside other highly anticipated experiences, including “Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness,” a haunted house inspired by the heavy metal icon's legendary solo career. 

  • At SeaWorld Orlando, guests can experience three Halloween-themed events, including daytime fun and separately ticketed nighttime thrills. 

    • SeaWorld Spooktacular (select dates, Aug. 29 - Nov. 2) returns as a family daytime event included with park admission. Kids can trick-or-treat (with purchase of a reusable bag), meet colorful Halloween characters and enjoy immersive seasonal festivities throughout the park.  
    • Howl-O-Scream (select nights Sept. 11 - Oct. 31) returns as a separately ticketed event featuring five haunted houses, including four all-new storylines and a new haunted house inspired by the Sony Pictures horror franchise “I Know What You Did Last Summer”; six scare zones, including four all-new experiences and two returning fan favorites; two roaming hordes; five all-new themed bars; nighttime rides; live shows and additional surprises. 
    • Howl-O-Sprint 5K Run (Sept. 18) returns for its third year, inviting runners to race through a nighttime course filled with scare zones, shadowy pathways and coaster views and an exclusive post-race party. Race amenities include a finisher medal, post-race food and entertainment, and a complimentary Howl-O-Scream ticket valid Sept. 18-Oct. 31. 

  • This year’s Brick-or-Treat at LEGOLAND Florida Resort (select dates Sept. 5 - Oct. 31) is the park’s biggest Halloween season yet expanded to 18 event days. Families can enjoy a new trick-or-treat trail and glowing Halloween light experience, overflowing candy cauldrons, exclusive seasonal LEGO character encounters, the returning Monster Skytacular drone show and additional surprises throughout the park. 

SCARES BEYOND THE THEME PARKS 

Family Friendly Frights 

  • Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar returns August 11 as Halloween Hangar Bar, transforming the popular Disney Springs watering hole into a limited-time Halloween-themed adventure. Guests can enjoy immersive seasonal decor, creative spooky bites like the Alien Ivander Sliders and Cursed Mummy Sausages, signature drinks like the Cauldron Cooler and Snake Egg Surprise mocktail, and festive entertainment inspired by the legendary adventures of Jock Lindsey. 

  • Villatel Resort Orlando’s lineup of Halloween festivities (Sept. 10 – Nov. 1) invites guests to step inside the immersive Haunted Villa Experience, featuring theatrical lighting, spooky soundscapes, interactive surprises and themed décor. Seasonal fun continues with Halloween dance parties, character meet-and-greets, a floating pumpkin patch, trick-or-treat adventures and hands-on crafts throughout the resort. 

  • Screamin’ Green Hauntoween at Crayola Experience (Sept. 19 - Nov. 1) features a spooky fun scavenger hunt, Halloween crafts, spooktacular character photo opportunities and weekend trick-or-treat stations, all in addition to more than 20 hands-on experiences. New highlights for this year include painting spooky creations with glowing melted wax at Meltdown and other activities. 

  • A Petrified Forest (select nights, Oct. 2-31) is Central Florida’s premier scream park with haunted scare trails featuring uniquely themed environments and scares in every corner. Set within an eerie multi-acre forest in Altamonte Springs, the event offers immersive experiences, laser tag, food trucks, art vendors, live entertainment and special event nights throughout the season.  

  • Gatorland’s Gators, Ghosts & Goblins (Oct. 10-11, 17-18 and 24-25), a daytime Halloween celebration included with park admission, features festive décor, trick-or-treating, live shows and entertainment, specialty vendors, interactive characters, animal meet-and-greets, photo opportunities and a Children’s Halloween Costume Parade. Guests can also explore the Haunted Museum, which returns each year with a new theme. 

  • Spooky Empire (Oct. 30 – Nov. 1) returns to Hyatt Regency Orlando as one of the country’s largest horror conventions. The weekend event features celebrity guests, photo ops, autographs, vendors, tattoo artists, film programming and all-ages horror fandom experiences. This year’s guest lineup includes Susan Sarandon, Jamie Campbell Bower, Geena Davis and Juliette Lewis. 

Music and Entertainment 

  • Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts will host spooky-themed performances throughout October, including:  

    • The  LCO Chamber Pops Orchestra Presents Music for the Macabre: Halloween in Concert Live (Sept. 13), an immersive experience featuring spin-tingling scores, Halloween classics and cinematic favorites performed live by professionals in a darkly enchanting celebration. Guests are encouraged to cosplay their favorite Halloween characters.  
    • Evil Dead The Musical (Oct. 2-4) brings the cult horror franchise to life through a thrilling mix of outrageous comedy, rock musical performances and horror-energy production featuring iconic characters, chainsaws, demons and fan-favorite songs. 
    • Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror Live-to-Film with Cameron Carpenter (Oct. 31), featuring a screening of the iconic 1922 silent horror film accompanied live by Grammy-nominated organist and composer performing his original score in an immersive Halloween cine-concert experience.  

  • Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors (Sept. 23-Nov. 8) comes to Orlando Shakes with a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud twist on the classic vampire tale. This 90-minute theatrical comedy features five actors portraying dozens of characters, inspired by the comedic styles of Mel Brooks and Monty Python. Filled with gothic mischief, gender-bending humor and outrageous comedy. 

  • Haunted Illusions Starring David Caserta (Oct. 22) at the Garden Theatre blends mind-blowing illusions, supernatural mystery and interactive storytelling into one unforgettable night of entertainment. Featuring jaw-dropping magic, eerie suspense and audience participation, the high-energy production delivers a thrilling Halloween-season experience for all ages. 

  • Magnolia Park: Halloween Fest Presented by WJRR (Oct. 31) comes to the House of Blues Orlando at Disney Springs for a Halloween night of live alternative rock music and high-energy performances. 

Thrilling Experiences and Adults-Only Entertainment

  • Orlando Science Center’s After Dark returns this season as an adults-only Halloween party with after-hours exhibits, an open bar, spooky trivia and karaoke, a vendor market and dancing beneath the dinosaurs in DinoDigs. The evening also features a costume contest, telescope viewing in the observatory, interactive themed activities and food available for purchase from local partners. Proceeds support the Science for All Fund, which helps remove barriers to science education and expand community access to the Orlando Science Center. 

  • The 2nd Annual Thriller Halloween Bar Crawl (Oct. 31) takes over Pointe Orlando with a night of Halloween-themed entertainment across many participating venues. Guests can enjoy themed cocktails, costume contests, live DJs and bands, interactive activities, and four complimentary premium drinks at select locations, making it one of the International Drive’s largest Halloween nightlife celebrations. 

About Visit Orlando    

Visit Orlando is The Official Tourism Association® for Orlando, the most visited destination in the United States, Theme Park Capital of the World® and No. 1 meeting destination in the country. A not-for-profit trade association that brands, markets and sells the Orlando destination globally, the organization represents more than 1,600 member companies comprising every segment of Central Florida’s tourism community. 

Visit Orlando connects consumers and business groups with all facets of Orlando’s travel community, whether for a vacation or meeting. Home to 15 of the world’s top theme parks and water parks — as well as nature and outdoor adventures, vibrant neighborhoods, a dynamic dining scene with Michelin-recognized restaurants, and a robust calendar of entertainment and sports events — Orlando is a diverse, welcoming and inclusive community for all travelers. Find more information at VisitOrlando.com, VisitOrlando.org or OrlandoMeeting.com. 

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