Halloween Horror Nights returns to Universal Studios Hollywood on select nights from Sept. 3 through Nov. 1, 2026. The Hollywood event has its own rhythm: haunted houses, the Terror Tram, scare zones, shows, themed food and drinks, merch, and a late-night park layout built around the movie studio lot.
The first confirmed houses are Sinners and Stranger Things. More houses, scare zones, entertainment, food, and shopping details will arrive as Universal works through its summer reveal cycle.
Dates and tickets
Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood opens Thursday, Sept. 3 and continues on select nights through Sunday, Nov. 1. Tickets and packages are on sale now, with online savings on select event nights.
Universal is selling General Admission, Universal Express, After 2 p.m. Day/Night, Early Access, and R.I.P. Tour options. Early Access starts at 5:30 p.m. on select tickets and can matter a lot in Hollywood, where the lower-lot travel time and Terror Tram timing can shape the whole night.
Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift is not included with Halloween Horror Nights admission. That restriction matters if your group is trying to combine the new coaster with the event in one visit.
Haunted houses and the Terror Tram
Hollywood's 2026 event includes haunted houses, the Terror Tram, scare zones, shows, and themed food and beverages. The Terror Tram is the piece Orlando does not have, and it is usually the biggest reason to plan Hollywood differently instead of copying an Orlando HHN strategy.
Sinners takes guests into Club Juke, the 1930s Mississippi Delta setting from Ryan Coogler's film. Remmick, Bert, Joan, Sammie, Mary, Annie, Pearline, and Cornbread are part of the house setup, with the vampire attack building around the music and the juke joint.
Stranger Things
Stranger Things returns with a new house based on the Netflix series' fifth and final season. The house sends guests through Hawkins, Hawkins National Laboratory, the MAC-Z military base, the Upside Down, and the Abyss while Vecna and other creatures close in.
The Stranger Things house is confirmed for both Hollywood and Orlando, but Hollywood guests should still watch for local routing, entrance placement, and early-access rules once Universal starts publishing event maps.
Food and merch
Food, drink, and merchandise details are still rolling out. Universal has opened the HHN dining and shopping sections for Hollywood, and the first 2026 merchandise push includes Stranger Things and Sinners items.
Do not treat food as a bonus stop at Hollywood. The park footprint is tighter than Orlando, and popular booths can create their own bottlenecks once the night is moving.
How to plan the night
Start with the ticket. Early Access can help if you want a calmer first hour, while Express makes more sense for peak October nights or groups that want every house, the Terror Tram, and time for food.
Build the Terror Tram into the plan before the night gets away from you. It takes more time than a normal house, and it can be awkward to save it until everyone is tired.
Hollywood HHN rewards a tighter plan than Orlando. Pick the first two houses, choose a Terror Tram window, and leave enough room for scare zones and food instead of chasing every posted wait across the park.
Image credit: Universal Parks media. Sinners image: Discover Universal.
Official sources
- Universal Studios Hollywood: Halloween Horror Nights 2026
- Universal Studios Hollywood: Halloween Horror Nights tickets
- Universal Studios Hollywood: haunted houses and Terror Tram
- Discover Universal: Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood lineup
- Universal Parks media: Stranger Things haunted house announcement