Let’s be honest: if we walk down the street and ask people about their favorite event of the year, Halloween is going to win the gold medal.
Did you know that Universal Studios Florida and Universal Studios Hollywood both celebrate Halloween in a rather fun way? Yes, we’re talking about Halloween Horror Nights (HHN), a ticketed event that takes place each year inside the theme park from late August to the first days of November. Halloween Horror Nights gives you the opportunity to ride a bunch of attractions up to 2am, and also introduces several haunted houses you can explore, scare zones, live shows, and new food and merch items.
Halloween Horror Nights is amazing, and it's often considered the best Halloween event in any theme park. If you love classic IPs like Friday the 13th, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and modern hits like Stranger Things and The Last of Us, you’ll surely have an amazing time here.
This guide will tell you all about HHN, including:
- What is Halloween Horror Nights?
- When is Halloween Horror Nights?
- Ticket Prices for Halloween Horror Nights
- What to Expect from Halloween Horror Nights
- Halloween Horror Nights FAQ
Now click play on the Michael Myers theme song and let’s go!
What is Halloween Horror Nights?
Halloween Horror Nights, or HHN for short, is Universal Studios’ way of celebrating Halloween. This is a paid event that takes place from 6:30pm all the way to 2am inside the theme park. It’s not uncommon, however, for guests to be let inside at 6:15pm. or even at 5:45pm, so make sure to arrive early.
Halloween Horror Nights only takes place on select dates during Late August, September, October, and the first days of November. Prices for the event depend on your selected night. During early September, it can cost $89 per guest, while near Halloween it increases to about $139.
HHN is great for fans of Halloween and horror franchises. You have access to several rides with low wait times, like Revenge of the Mummy and Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, but you aren’t really here for the rides. The haunted houses are the real stars of the show, and every year Universal brings new IPs to the lineup. In 2024, for example, they had haunted houses based on Stranger Things, The Last of Us, and Child’s Play.
Each haunted house is like a standard theme park attraction, which means you'll need to queue for it. There are standard and express lanes - yes, Universal sells Fast Passes specifically for this event. Depending on how popular a haunted house is, you might wait in line for up to an hour. Inside, scare actors roam around in full makeup and themed set pieces to give you a good scare. Don’t worry, they aren’t allowed to touch you or directly interact.
Halloween Horror Nights also has scare zones, with characters walking around in costume and, well, scaring guests. Again, they’ll never touch you since that’s not allowed, but always stay alert when walking through those specific spots. You never know when Jason or Ghostface might jump out from a nearby tree!
This is also an event where you can enjoy new food items, exclusive merchandise, and even some live shows, where skilled performers sing in full makeup. Hey, maybe you’ll even catch Freddy Krueger on the guitar and Leatherface rocking the drums.
When is Halloween Horror Nights?
The exact dates for HHN change each year, but it usually runs from late August to the early days of November. In 2025, the event takes place from August 29 to November 2 at Universal Orlando, and from September 4 to November 2 at Universal Studios Hollywood. The event also takes place in Singapore and Japan!
Keep in mind that Halloween Horror Nights doesn’t happen every night. For example, at Universal Orlando, it never takes place on Mondays and rarely on Tuesdays. It almost always runs from Wednesday to Sunday.
Ticket Prices for Halloween Horror Nights
You’ll need a separate ticket to access Halloween Horror Nights. Prices vary depending on the date you choose, usually ranging from $89 to $139. For example, prices tend to be lower during the early days of September and are always highest near Halloween, which makes sense.
Halloween Horror Nights Express Pass
Universal also sells Express Passes for Halloween Horror Nights, giving you priority access to haunted houses and rides during the event. The Express Pass is an add-on and ranges from $160 to $260, depending on the night. It’s more affordable in early September and gets more expensive as Halloween approaches.
Keep in mind: Express Passes that come with Universal Premier Resorts do not work for this event.
The Rush of Fear Pass
Universal offers special ticket options for HHN, and one of the most popular is the Rush of Fear Pass. This pass gives you access to the first 18 nights of the event, with prices starting at $179.99.
Frequent Fear Pass
The Frequent Fear Pass lets you attend every Sunday through Thursday night, plus the first weekend of Halloween Horror Nights. Prices start at $239.99.
Frequent Fear Plus Pass
This pass includes every Sunday through Friday night, as well as the first and last Saturdays of the event. Prices start at $289.99.
Ultimate Frequent Fear Pass
The Ultimate Frequent Fear Pass lives up to its name. It includes access to every single night of Halloween Horror Nights, along with free parking after 5 p.m. Prices for this all-access pass start at $399.99.
RIP Tours
RIP Tours are basically the VIP experience at Halloween Horror Nights. You'll get one-time priority access to each haunted house and participating attractions while accompanied by an RIP Guide. The tour also includes reserved seating for live shows and unlimited Express Pass access to other rides and attractions. Prices range from $359.99 to $489.99 per person, and don’t forget - a separate Halloween Horror Nights admission ticket is still required.
Scream Early Ticket
This is essentially an early entry add-on for Halloween Horror Nights. With the Scream Early Ticket, guests can enter Universal Studios as early as 3pm, enjoy the park, and then head to a designated Stay & Scream area at 5pm to be among the first to experience HHN. Since this is an add-on, a standard Halloween Horror Nights ticket is still required. The Scream Early Ticket costs around $55.
What to Expect from Halloween Horror Nights
Haunted Houses
Haunted houses are the life and blood of HHN. Universal Studios usually sets up ten different haunted houses for Halloween, each based on a different IP or original Halloween theme. Past haunted houses have featured franchises like Ghostbusters, Universal Monsters, Stranger Things, Child’s Play, The Last of Us, and more.
Guests enter a haunted house and simply walk through it. It usually takes no more than five minutes to make your way through, encountering monsters and detailed set pieces along the way. It’s all well done, with excellent props and scare actors in full makeup putting on a top-tier show.
Depending on how popular a haunted house is, expect to stay in line for one hour. The Express Pass helps with that, and usually cuts down the wait time by half.
Scare Zones
Scare Zones are exactly what they sound like - areas inside Universal Studios filled with characters roaming around trying to scare you. You might run into anything from a cultist straight out of Resident Evil wielding an axe to a demoness with giant wings. These areas feature actors in full makeup, immersive sound effects, and even scents to enhance the atmosphere. It’s awesome, and a great way to laugh with your friends while soaking in the best of Halloween.
…and more!
HHN also features new live shows, food items, and exclusive merchandise. The show in 2024 was Nightmare Fuel: Nocturnal Circus, featuring acrobats, lots of fire, electronica, and heavy metal. It’s a great way to pass the time and enjoy something unique while at Universal.
Halloween Horror Nights FAQ
When does Halloween Horror Nights take place?
Halloween Horror Nights usually runs from late August to the first days of November.
What are the hours for Halloween Horror Nights?
Halloween Horror Nights typically runs from 6:30pm to 2:00am.
Is Halloween Horror Nights included in my standard theme park ticket?
No, Halloween Horror Nights is a separately ticketed event.
How much is Halloween Horror Nights?
The price depends on the night of your visit, typically ranging from $89 to $139.
Does the price of the Halloween Horror Nights Express Pass include the entry ticket?
No, it doesn’t. The Express Pass is an add-on to your standard Halloween Horror Nights ticket and must be purchased separately.
Can I wear costumes to Halloween Horror Nights?
No, guests are not allowed to wear costumes during Halloween Horror Nights.
Is Halloween Horror Nights fun for children?
It depends. The event can be fun for teenagers and guests ages 14 and up, but the haunted houses can be very realistic and intense. Halloween Horror Nights is not recommended for children under 13.
