Universal Orlando has revealed the second haunted house for Halloween Horror Nights 2026. Find out what’s coming to HHN 35 and how to grab your tickets now.

The fog just got thicker. Universal Orlando has officially announced the second haunted house coming to Halloween Horror Nights 2026. If this reveal was any indication, this year’s lineup is shaping up to be one for the record books.

Quick Facts: HHN 35 at a Glance

  • Event dates: August 28 – November 1, 2026
  • Location: Universal Studios Florida
  • Milestone: 35th anniversary of Halloween Horror Nights
  • Theme: Infernal Carnival of Nightmares
  • Tickets: On sale now at UniversalOrlando.com/HHN

Halloween Horror Nights 2026: Turning 35

Jack the Clown
Image Credit: Universal Orlando Resort

Halloween Horror Nights has been terrifying theme park fans for 35 years, and Universal Orlando Resort isn’t letting this anniversary pass quietly. The event runs on select nights from August 28 through November 1, 2026, once again taking over Universal Studios Florida with its signature mix of haunted houses, immersive scare zones, and high-energy live entertainment.

This year’s overarching theme, the Infernal Carnival of Nightmares, sets the stage for a celebration of the event’s most iconic characters, lore, and fear-drenched history. Think decrepit big tops, twisted midways, and the unmistakable smell of something sinister under the sawdust.

The First House Was Just the Beginning: Jack & Oddfellow Return

Halloween Horror Nights 2026
Image Credit: Universal Orlando Resort

When Universal kicked off announcement season at MegaCon Orlando in March 2026, they didn’t hold back. The first confirmed haunted house, Jack & Oddfellow: Chaos & Control, sent shockwaves through the HHN fan community. Jack the Clown, arguably the most iconic figure in the event’s history, is back for HHN 35. However, this time, he’s not alone.

His legendary rival, Dr. Oddfellow, returns alongside him. The two antagonists, one a chaos-fueled killer clown, the other a calculating occultist, will face off inside a haunted house that drops guests directly into the heart of their conflict. According to Senior Director of Halloween Horror Nights Mike Aiello, guests will journey into the “Oddverse,” Dr. Oddfellow’s domain, witnessing Jack’s dark origin story while being caught in the crossfire of a battle for dominance. By the end, the enemies unite, making them far more dangerous than before.

The Second House Is Here — What We Know

Sinners HHN House
Image Credit: SinnersMovie.com

On May 20, Halloween Horror Nights posted a video with only a date on it…5.21.26. So, we had every breadcrumb possible for this Halloween Horror Nights 2026 announcment.

With rumors of Sinners, Hellraiser, Evil Dead Burn, and Stranger Things floating around, HHN fans waited in anticipation of the second Halloween Horror Nights 2026 house. In recent days, the rumors of a Sinners house announcement grew louder and louder. Thankfully, the wait for house number two is over. With a few “leaks” before the official Halloween Horror Nights 2026 announcement, we learned that Sinners would be coming to Halloween Horror Nights on both coasts.

Dark gray T-shirt featuring a red–black graphic of two men in hats, with the yellow word 'SINNERS' across the chest and a small subtitle beneath.
Photo Credit: Universal Orlando Resort

Halloween Horror Nights 2026: Official Statement from Universal

Following an over $370 million global box office run and earning widespread acclaim from audiences and critics alike, Warner Bros. Pictures’ Sinners adds “haunted house” to its repertoire as it joins Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights lineup of immersive experiences beginning Friday, August 28 at Universal Orlando Resort and Thursday, September 3 at Universal Studios Hollywood.

Since debuting in 2025, Sinners became the highest grossing original horror film, garnering a record-breaking 16 Academy-Award nominations and four Oscar® wins. Written, directed and produced by Ryan Coogler, alongside fellow Proximity Media producers Zinzi Coogler and Sev Ohanian, the film takes place in 1930s Mississippi Delta, where twin brothers Smoke and Stack return to their hometown to open a juke joint for their community. Celebration turns to panic as a troupe of unrelenting vampires crash the opening night, threatening to violently curse the guests in a brutal battle for survival.

“It’s been incredible to see audiences connect with Sinners in such a powerful way,” said Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler and Sev Ohanian, producers of Sinners and founders of Proximity Media, in a joint statement. “Now, partnering with Halloween Horror Nights gives fans the chance to step even deeper into the world of the film — to feel the music, the atmosphere and the tension all around them. Watching it come to life on this scale has been really special for all of us.”

Club Juke

The terrifying Halloween Horror Nights house will transport guests back in time to the popular Club Juke where they will quickly realize that nothing is as it seems when nefarious, red-eyed vampires Remmick, Bert and Joan appear with their insatiable hunger. As they attempt to evade the vampires at every turn, fans will encounter some of their favorite characters lifted straight from the film, including Sammie, Mary, Annie, Pearline and Cornbread. Caught in a deadly struggle between twins Smoke and Stack and the bloodthirsty vampires, guests must survive the night – because the terror will only relent once the sun rises. 

John Murdy

Man with a beard stands in a dark doorway, wearing a black cap with 'Sinners' and a graphic t‑shirt that also reads 'Sinners', hands in pockets.

“At Halloween Horror Nights, we push the boundaries of what a live horror experience can be,” said John Murdy, Executive Producer, Halloween Horror Nights, Universal Studios Hollywood. “Just as Ryan Coogler’s Academy Award winning film, Sinners re-invented the vampire movie, we are re-inventing the haunted house and creating new ways to scare our guests that we’ve never attempted and are thrilled to bring this amazing story to life in a truly terrifying and fully immersive way.”

“The moment Sinners premiered, we knew it was an undeniable fit for Halloween Horror Nights and it’s an honor to bring this story to life,” said Mike Aiello, Senior Director of Entertainment Creative Development at Universal Orlando Resort. “It’s rare for a film to fully satisfy hardcore horror fans while also inviting new audiences into the genre—and that’s exactly what Sinners does. Its world, characters and intensity will translate into a relentless haunted house. We can’t wait for our fans to step inside and experience the horror firsthand in a way that only Halloween Horror Nights can deliver.” 

With a selection of event tickets on sale now for both coasts, guests can begin planning their visits to brave Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando Resort this fall.

A variety of Halloween Horror Nights ticket options for Universal Studios Hollywood are now available. This year’s event runs for a record 42 nights with 8 haunted houses, Terror Tram, multiple scare zones and more. Tickets include General Admission, the Early Access Ticket,which provides entry to select haunted houses beginning at 5:30 p.m. (subject to change), Frequent Fear Pass and Ultimate Fear Pass, which enable guests to experience the scares again and again. The Day/Night TicketAfter 2 P.M. Day/Night TicketUniversal Express Ticket and R.I.P Tour will all include access to the new “Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift” coaster. Click here to purchase tickets and for Terms and Conditions.

Halloween Horror Nights 2026: Universal Orlando

Outdoor Halloween display on a sidewalk: a round rusty metal table with a Halloween Horror Nights sign, plus small figurines and props near a weathered wooden wall.

At Universal Orlando, guests can purchase select tickets, upgrades and event-inclusive vacation packages as Halloween Horror Nights, The World’s Premier Halloween Event, returns for its milestone 35th year in Orlando, running 48 select nights from August 28 through November 1.The event will feature 10 all-new haunted houses, outrageous live entertainment, terrifying scare zones and street experiences – with a few haunting surprises. Products on sale now include single-night tickets; the Scream Early add-on ticket, which grants access to Universal Studios Florida, including select haunted houses, beginning at 2 p.m. (guests must have a Halloween Horror Nights admission ticket), and event extras such as Halloween Horror Nights Express Passes, the R.I.P Tour, and the Behind the Screams: Unmasking the Horror Tour. 

Guests can also take advantage of the Stay, Scream and Save vacation package and save up to $200. The package includes one night of Halloween Horror Nights admission, daytime theme park admission (including Universal Epic Universe), and a stay at one of Universal Orlando’s 11 themed hotels with exclusive theme park benefitsincluding access to a dedicated Halloween Horror Nights entry gate, complimentary resort transportation, access to seasonal experiences at the hotels and more. Plus, guests can now purchase tickets to Premium Scream Night which returns for two event nights this year – August 27 and October 19. Click here to learn more.

Halloween Horror Nights 2026 Merchandise

All-new merchandise inspired by the Sinners haunted house is now available at Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Orlando Resort and shopUniversal.com. Fans can celebrate the upcoming house in style with a limited release t-shirt and hat. Additionally, an acrylic figure inspired by the house is now available for purchase. Guests can exhibit all the house announcements proudly in a collectible infernal carnival display leading up to the opening night.

Additional event details, including new haunted houses coming to Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando Resort, will be revealed soon. For more information and to purchase tickets to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood, visit www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com/Halloween and at Universal Orlando, visit www.UniversalOrlando.com/Halloween.

Good Follow-Up to First House Announced in Orlando

Gray T-shirt with a bold yellow 'SINNERS' graphic, draped over a rustic windowsill; a brown cap also labeled 'SINNERS' sits nearby with a small horror-themed figurine display beside it.

With the first house setting an impossibly high bar, fans have been watching every Universal social media post like hawks. Now the wait is over since the second haunted house for Halloween Horror Nights 2026 has been officially announced, adding another layer to what is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious lineups in the event’s 35-year history.

Details continue to roll out as Universal ramps up its annual reveal cycle leading into the summer. Each announcement builds on the Infernal Carnival of Nightmares framework, and the second house is no exception, staying true to the dark carnival aesthetic while expanding the world guests will walk through come opening night.

As has become tradition, Universal is dropping announcements strategically over the spring and summer months, building anticipation through a careful drip of information that keeps the community buzzing. With ten haunted houses expected across the full event, each new reveal is a critical piece of the puzzle, and the second house just snapped into place.

HHN 35 Ticket Options: Don’t Wait

Halloween Horror Nights 2026
Photo Credit: Universal Orlando Resort

Tickets for Halloween Horror Nights 2026 are already on sale, and if history tells us anything, the most sought-after dates and upgrade packages will disappear fast. Here’s what’s currently available:

  • Single-night tickets — valid for any one event night; pricing tiers vary by date, with August and early September offering the best value
  • Halloween Horror Nights Universal Express Pass — skip the regular lines at haunted houses and participating attractions; limited availability and worth every penny on busy nights
  • R.I.P. Tour — the gold standard VIP experience, featuring a guided tour, priority entry to haunted houses, and exclusive food perks
  • Behind the Screams: Unmasking the Horror Tour — lights-on daytime tours that reveal the craftsmanship behind the scares
  • Scream Early / Stay & Scream — gain access to Universal Studios Florida starting at 2:00 p.m. before the official event begins
  • Premium Scream Night — a limited-capacity event returning for two nights this year: August 27 and October 19, both offering lower crowd levels and shorter wait times
  • Vacation packages — bundles combining HHN admission, daytime park tickets (including Universal Epic Universe), and on-site hotel stays with perks like exclusive entry gates and complimentary transportation

Multi-night tickets are expected to go on sale later this year. If you attended Premium Scream Night last year, you may be eligible for a discount. Please check your email for details.

Halloween Horror Nights 2026: Why This Year Feels Different (So Far)

Every anniversary year at Halloween Horror Nights carries extra weight, but HHN 35 feels particularly significant. The Infernal Carnival of Nightmares theme creates a cohesive world-building opportunity that Universal Orlando Resort hasn’t had since some of the event’s most celebrated years. The return of not just Jack the Clown but Dr. Oddfellow, and the creative decision to pit them against each other before ultimately uniting them, signals a level of narrative ambition that goes well beyond a simple greatest-hits celebration.

Will the theme work? We hope so! More announcements are coming. More houses will be revealed. Also, with a 35-year legacy riding on every decision, you can be sure Universal’s creative team isn’t holding anything back.

With ten haunted houses expected and only two announced so far, there is plenty more to come from Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights 2026 announcement season. Remember to check back as we cover every new reveal, rumor, and ticket update between now and opening night on August 28, 2026.

For more theme park-related news and information, visit MSM News.

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Jon Self

Jon Self is an avid theme park fan. You can follow him at @pastorjonself on X/ Twitter or Jon.Self.37 at Instagram. He has been writing and editing in the theme park media world for over a decade. He also writes for several "foodie" sites as well as in the faith-based world.