Universal Studios Hollywood
Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood: the mazes, the Terror Tram, and which nights are worth buying
A shorter, tighter version of the Orlando event with one thing Orlando cannot copy: the Terror Tram, which takes the backlot after dark. It is an adult horror event, it is small enough that Los Angeles fills it on Fridays and Saturdays, and the night you pick matters more than anything else you decide.
Confirmed · Checked September 2026
Verified September 26, 2026. Dates, eight houses, six scare zones, show and Terror Tram checked against Universal's 2026 opening announcement and Discover Universal lineup. Ticket access checked against Universal's General Admission, Early Access, Express and R.I.P. product terms; announcement and Express terms conflict on Hollywood Drift, while Early Access start times differ. Dining Pass eligibility is from Universal's August 24 food announcement. Universal's accessibility guidance: https://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/contentdata/ush/en/us/files/documents/universal_riders_guide.pdf . Do not infer that quiet rooms or queue accommodations are available on a particular HHN night without checking. The displayed $77–$109 General Admission band is an independent ticket-tracker snapshot, not a guaranteed checkout price. Check the 2026 edition source notes and selected ticket terms before purchase.
The pattern
- Typically starts
- early September
- Typically ends
- the first weekend of November
- Nights
- ~40 (40–42)
- Nights of the week
- Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun
- Hours
- The event begins at 19:00 on scheduled nights, subject to change. Early Access is a separate product with a start time that differs across Universal's current announcements and ticket terms; check your selected date and ticket confirmation.
What you get, and what you do not
What you get
- Eight haunted houses in 2026 — Stranger Things 5, Sinners, Hellraiser, Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness, Evil Dead Burn, Killer Klowns from Outer Space, Killceañera: Music by Slash, and Dead, Deader, Deadest — split across the Upper Lot, the Lower Lot, and built to the same standard as the Orlando event on a smaller footprint.
- The Terror Tram starring Art the Clown, which runs the Studio Tour route after dark and puts you out on the working backlot. Nothing at any other park does this, and it is the single reason to pick Hollywood over Orlando.
- Six announced scare zones — Fortnitemares, El Circo de la Muerte, Hackerz, Blood Bog, Shriek of the Banshee and Murder of Crowz — plus roaming encounters including Art the Clown and Nikki from Obsession. Universal also says Death Eaters roam the Wizarding World in the early evening.
- The Purge: Dangerous Waters, a live stunt show in the WaterWorld theater that replaces the daytime show on event nights.
- Select regular attractions operate during the event. Universal specifically names SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, Transformers: The Ride-3D, Revenge of the Mummy and The Simpsons Ride, but attraction access can vary by ticket product and night; the General Admission terms exclude SUPER NINTENDO WORLD.
- House-themed food and drinks, including Sinners items at City Snacks and Mulligan's Bar, plus event merchandise. Universal's Dining Pass offers two eligible entrées and four eligible sides, snacks, desserts or beverages at participating locations on the selected date.
What you do not
- A family event. Universal's guidance is that this is recommended for mature audiences and not for anyone under thirteen. There is no age limit at the gate and no ID check, so the call belongs to the adult buying the ticket, and the content does not soften for a younger guest.
- Unrestricted costumes. Universal permits costumes subject to its current costume policy and expressly prohibits costume masks; check the full policy before dressing for the event.
- Short queues on a weekend. Los Angeles alone fills this park on an October Friday, and the marquee mazes and the Terror Tram have all run past an hour on those dates.
- An easy walk. The park is built on a hillside and the houses are split across both levels, so a night here means several trips on the Starway escalators between them. That is a real cost in time and in legs, and it is the thing visitors from Orlando are least prepared for.
- The full daytime park. Only select attractions operate during the event, and their hours and ticket eligibility can change. In particular, do not assume a General Admission ticket includes SUPER NINTENDO WORLD or Hollywood Drift.
- Automatic Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift access. General Admission and the Early Access add-on exclude it. Universal's September 4 announcement names Day/Night, After 2 P.M., Universal Express and R.I.P. as including access, but a current Universal Express ticket terms page says the opposite. Check the exact product terms and confirmation for your date; R.I.P. terms specify limited access during its tour window.
- An automatic rain check. Universal says the event runs rain or shine; refund and cancellation terms depend on the product, and individual experiences remain subject to change.
What it costs
$77–$109 per person, per night as of observed 2026 online General Admission listings; recheck your selected date
- Cheapest nights
- Check remaining 2026 dates in Universal's ticket calendar
- Most expensive
- Popular October dates can cost more and sell out
- General Admission is priced by date. An independent September 2026 ticket tracker observed $77–$109 online, but this is a planning snapshot rather than a quote. Check Universal's checkout total and included taxes or fees before buying.
- The After 2 P.M. Day/Night ticket combines daytime park admission from 14:00 with that night's event and early access to select houses. Compare its current checkout total with separate daytime and event tickets.
- The Early Access add-on requires separate event admission for the same date. Universal's September 4 announcement says select houses begin at 17:30, while one current Early Access product page says 17:00, both subject to change. Use your specific ticket terms and the park app on the day.
- Universal Express and Universal Express Unlimited are dated products for shorter waits at participating houses and attractions. They are not a promise that every house or ride will be available; compare the exact terms and price for your date.
- Frequent Fear and Ultimate Fear passes cover different sets of event nights. Compare the dates you can actually attend, blockouts and current prices with buying separate nights.
- There is no hotel here that includes Express Pass the way three of the Orlando hotels do, so the Express decision is a straight cash decision.
- Annual and Season Pass members can find special pricing on select 2026 event tickets. Platinum Annual Pass includes one complimentary General Admission ticket for select nights with advance reservation; check the pass-member terms and availability.
How to actually do HHN Hollywood
The 2026 lineup, and where it sits
The 2026 lineup has four Lower Lot houses: Stranger Things 5, Killer Klowns from Outer Space, Dead, Deader, Deadest and Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness. Grouping those four into one Lower Lot visit can save repeat trips on the Starway escalators. Confirm each queue entrance in Universal's app when you arrive.
Sinners, Hellraiser, Evil Dead Burn and Killceañera: Music by Slash make up the other four houses, while the Terror Tram boards near the Studio Tour. Treat any published route as a starting plan because queues, access routes and show times can change by night.
Universal lists six scare zones in 2026: Fortnitemares, El Circo de la Muerte, Hackerz, Blood Bog, Shriek of the Banshee and Murder of Crowz. Art the Clown and Nikki from Obsession are also announced as roaming encounters; check the current map for locations.
The Purge: Dangerous Waters plays in the WaterWorld theater and replaces the daytime show. It is the one sit-down of the night and the one thing with fixed show times, so check the app for times when you arrive and plan one viewing around your Terror Tram slot rather than walking to the theater twice.
The house names and scare zones are confirmed by Universal; queue entrances and schedules in its app are the authority on your event night.
The ticket ladder, and what each rung buys
General Admission covers one selected event night. It does not include daytime admission, Early Access, Hollywood Drift or SUPER NINTENDO WORLD under the current ticket terms. It is the lowest-commitment choice if the houses and Terror Tram are the point of your visit.
The After 2 P.M. Day/Night product combines daytime admission from 14:00 and the same-night event with Early Access to select houses. The separate Early Access add-on requires a same-date event ticket; Universal's announcement says 17:30 for select houses while one product terms page says 17:00, both subject to change. Verify the ticket you actually buy.
Universal Express and Express Unlimited are date-priced ways to shorten participating queues. Hollywood Drift benefits are inconsistent across Universal's announcement and one currently published Express ticket terms page, so read the selected product's terms before paying extra for that ride.
Frequent Fear and Ultimate Fear are multi-night options. Before buying, compare the applicable 2026 dates, blockouts and current checkout totals with the individual nights you expect to attend.
The R.I.P. Tour is a guided premium product with house access, a gourmet dinner and limited Hollywood Drift access according to its current ticket terms. Tour itinerary and access windows can change; arrive at the time on your confirmation.
Pass members should check their official purchase page: Universal advertises special pricing on select HHN tickets, and the Platinum Annual Pass includes one complimentary General Admission ticket on select nights with advance reservation.
The Lower Lot first, then everything else
The Lower Lot has four of the eight houses. Check their live waits in Universal's app as the event begins and consider clearing them together if the lines are favorable.
The Starway escalators connect the Upper and Lower Lots, so repeated crossings cost time. Keep nearby houses, rides and food together where that works with current queues.
If one Lower Lot house has an unusually long wait, compare it with the other three rather than committing to a fixed route. Its line can change over the evening.
Allow time for the hillside layout and accessibility needs. Universal's current event map and team members can help with the route on your night.
The Terror Tram, and when to do it
The Terror Tram boards near the Studio Tour on the Upper Lot. Check its current wait and last boarding time in the app; it takes longer than a single house once you include the tram ride and walk-through.
Reserve a distinct block of your evening for it rather than treating it as one more house in a tight itinerary.
The walk-through is outdoors, so dress for the weather. Universal says the event runs rain or shine, though individual experiences are subject to change or cancellation.
If you only get one thing done on a busy Saturday, make it this rather than a maze. The houses have Orlando equivalents and better versions of themselves elsewhere in the season; the backlot after dark does not exist anywhere else.
Which night to buy
Choose from Universal's actual 2026 event-night calendar, then compare current ticket prices for the nights you can attend. The September dates already past are no longer booking options.
Popular October nights can have higher prices and longer queues. If seeing all eight houses matters, compare the full cost of Express with a second event night and with the time you have available.
Halloween is an event night in 2026, but do not assume it is the most expensive or most crowded without checking the live ticket calendar and availability.
The season runs September 3–November 1 on 42 select nights. The published list includes Wednesdays later in September and October, but the date range is not a nightly schedule.
The event food, and what it costs
Universal's 2026 food announcement lists Sinners items at City Snacks near Universal Plaza, themed drinks at Mulligan's Bar, and additional menus in both the Upper and Lower Lots. The selection includes vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.
Food and drink prices are individual purchases and can change. Check the menu board on your visit rather than relying on a static price list, especially if you are comparing food spending with a ticket upgrade.
The event Dining Pass covers two eligible entrées and four eligible sides, snacks, desserts or beverages at participating locations. It must be redeemed on your selected date; look for its logo on menu boards and compare the pass price with the items you actually want.
Who should not be there, and why we say it plainly
Universal advises the event is for mature audiences and against attendance for children under thirteen, and does not enforce an age limit. Both parts of that are true at once: the advice is meant seriously, and nothing at the turnstile acts on it.
The content is continuous rather than occasional. Each house is several minutes of low light, dense fog, sustained strobe lighting, loud sudden noise, and performers who move toward you and follow you out, and the scare zones do the same thing outdoors where there is no queue to leave.
There is no advertised gentle version of a house or guaranteed scare-free route across the event. Guests who need mobility or queue accommodations should review Universal Studios Hollywood's official accessibility guidance and speak with park staff about their individual needs before attending. Do not assume those accommodations change the sensory intensity inside a house.
If you are in Los Angeles with young children and want a Halloween day at this park, plan it around the regular season instead. This event replaces the park rather than adding to it, and it does not soften in its first hour.
The verdict
Go for the Terror Tram, go on an early-run weeknight, and buy Express Pass if the only date you can get is in October. It is a real horror event and it is not for children.
Worth it if
- You like horror rather than Halloween. This is a gore and jump-scare event for its whole length, and the two are not the same taste.
- The Terror Tram appeals. It is the one thing at this event with no equivalent anywhere else, and it is the reason to pick Hollywood over the Orlando version if you can only do one.
- You can go on a weeknight in the first two weeks of the run, where the cheapest tickets and the shortest queues sit together.
- You will buy Express Pass for an October weekend rather than hoping. Without it, a peak Saturday here gets you about half the event.
- You are already in Los Angeles for something else. This is a one-park event on a single evening and it does not need a trip built around it.
Skip it if
- Anyone in your group is under about thirteen. The gate will not stop you and that is not the same as the event being appropriate.
- Anyone in your group is pregnant, has a heart condition, or reacts badly to strobe lighting. Mazes run sustained strobes, heavy fog, and loud sudden noise, and there is no toned-down route through them.
- Stairs and long escalator rides are a problem for anyone with you. The split between the Upper and Lower Lots is unavoidable at this event, and the crowd on the Starway at ten in the evening is dense.
- You want ride count. The event is built around houses, the Terror Tram and scares; only select regular attractions operate, and a daytime visit is a better fit for a ride-focused plan.
- Your only date is an October Saturday and Express Pass is out of budget. That combination reliably produces an expensive night with four houses in it.
Year by year
Past editions may lack an exact date list in our archive. For upcoming editions, check the operator calendar when dates are not yet recorded here.
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2026
AnnouncedSeptember 3 – November 1, 2026 (select nights)
- Eight haunted houses plus the Terror Tram: Stranger Things 5, Sinners, Hellraiser, Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness, Evil Dead Burn, Killer Klowns from Outer Space, Killceañera: Music by Slash, and Dead, Deader, Deadest, with the Terror Tram starring Art the Clown
- Six scare zones — Fortnitemares, El Circo de la Muerte, Hackerz, Blood Bog, Shriek of the Banshee and Murder of Crowz — plus roaming encounters and The Purge: Dangerous Waters stunt show in the WaterWorld theater
- 42 event nights: Thursday–Sundays in September, adding Wednesdays from late September and running near-nightly through the last week of October
- Costumes are permitted subject to Universal's current policy; costume masks are prohibited
- Hollywood Drift access depends on the ticket product. Universal's event announcement and current Express terms conflict, so verify the selected ticket before purchase
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2025
PastExact dates not recorded here.
- The event ran on 40 select nights from September 4 through November 2, 2025.
- Eight houses ran alongside Terror Tram: Enter the Blumhouse, The Purge: Dangerous Waters and Chainsaw Man: The Chaos.
- The 2025 lineup mixed licensed horror properties with original houses.
Frequently asked questions
What are the 2026 dates and hours?
Universal lists 42 select nights from September 3 through November 1, 2026; use its published date list rather than assuming every night in the range is included. The event begins at 19:00, subject to change. Universal's September 4 announcement says Early Access to select houses starts at 17:30, while one currently published Early Access product page says 17:00 and Terror Tram at 18:15, all subject to change. Check the selected ticket terms and Universal app before arriving.
Is Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood suitable for children?
No. Universal's published guidance is that the event is recommended for mature audiences and not for anyone under thirteen, and it does not enforce an age limit, so the decision rests with the adult buying the ticket. The houses use strobes, fog and sudden scares, and outdoor scare zones can be encountered while moving around the park. Check the event map and Universal's accessibility guidance when planning for a guest who needs accommodations.
What is the Terror Tram, and is it worth it?
It is the Studio Tour route after dark — in 2026 themed to Art the Clown doing a bloody Christmas — part ridden and part walked, with the backlot dressed and staffed for the event. It is the one thing at this event with no equivalent at any other theme park, including the Orlando version, and it is the strongest argument for picking Hollywood. Allow roughly a third of your evening for it once you count the queue, the ride out, and the walk.
Do I need a separate ticket?
Yes, in both directions. The park closes to daytime guests in the early evening and reopens as a ticketed event, so a day ticket does not admit you to the event and an event ticket does not admit you during the day. Day/Night tickets cover both on one date; otherwise you are buying both, which makes for a long day on a hillside park that ends after midnight.
I have daytime admission and an event ticket. Where do I convert?
If you hold valid daytime and same-night event admission, ask a Universal team member where to complete event check-in and receive any required wristband. Check-in locations and opening times can change; bring your tickets and photo ID.
Can I leave and come back during the event?
Yes — get a hand stamp on the way out the exit gate for same-night reentry. That is the mechanism, so do not lose the stamp.
How many houses can I do in one night?
There are eight houses plus the Terror Tram, but the number you can complete depends on the date, arrival time, live waits, operating changes and whether your ticket includes Early Access or Express. Prioritize your favorites and check Universal's app throughout the night rather than planning around a guaranteed house count.
Which rides are open during the event, and when do they close?
Universal's opening announcement names SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, Transformers: The Ride-3D, Revenge of the Mummy and The Simpsons Ride among select attractions that may operate. The General Admission ticket terms exclude SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, and attraction hours or access can differ by ticket product and date. Check the ticket terms and Universal app for your night.
Which tickets include Express access?
The Universal Express ticket includes event admission and one express use at participating haunted houses, rides and attractions; Express Unlimited is another available product. Availability and exclusions vary. Universal's current Express product terms exclude Hollywood Drift even though its September 4 announcement lists Express as including that coaster, so confirm the selected ticket's terms before purchase.
Can I ride Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift at HHN?
General Admission and the Early Access add-on exclude Hollywood Drift. Universal's September 4 event announcement says Day/Night, After 2 P.M. Day/Night, Universal Express and R.I.P. Tour include it, but one current Universal Express ticket terms page explicitly excludes it and the current store excludes it from a 1-Day plus HHN product. R.I.P. Tour terms specify limited access from 19:00 to 23:30, subject to itinerary and change. Check your exact checkout terms and confirmation; do not buy a ticket on the assumption that the announcement overrides product terms.
Can I wear a costume?
Yes, costumes are permitted if they comply with Universal's current costume policy. Universal explicitly prohibits costume masks. Review the full policy before your visit, as the park can apply additional restrictions at the gate and on attractions.
Can I bring food or drinks in?
Universal's event ticket terms prohibit outside food and beverages. The 2026 event has themed dining, and the Dining Pass includes two eligible entrées plus four eligible sides, snacks, desserts or beverages at participating locations on the selected date. Check the menu boards and pass terms for eligibility.
Do pass members get anything?
Universal advertises special pricing on select HHN tickets for Annual and Season Pass members. Platinum Annual Pass includes one complimentary event ticket on select nights with advance reservation. Check the pass-member purchase page for your date, product and availability.
Is Express Pass worth buying here?
On an October weekend, yes, and it is closer to essential here than in Orlando because the park is small enough that queues have nowhere to spread. On an early-run weeknight, no. There is no hotel at this resort that includes Express Pass, so unlike Orlando there is no accommodation-based route around the decision.
How does it compare to the Orlando event?
Orlando has more houses, a longer run, and more room to absorb a crowd. Hollywood has the Terror Tram and a park you can cross in ten minutes, and it is the easier of the two to fit into a trip that is not about theme parks. If you want the maximum number of houses, go to Orlando. If you want the backlot at night, only one of them has it.
What about event merchandise?
Sold during the day and during the event, with some of the 2026 line already on sale before the season — Universal's event store is the source. Nobody commits to how long any item lasts, and the reliable pattern is that whatever is left after November 1 gets discounted hard within weeks, so buy what you actually want during your night rather than betting on the clearance rack.
What does the event food cost in 2026?
Universal has published a 2026 menu featuring house-themed food and drinks, including Sinners items at City Snacks and Mulligan's Bar. Prices can change, so check the current menu board. The Dining Pass covers two eligible entrées and four eligible sides, snacks, desserts or beverages at participating locations on the selected date; compare it with what you plan to order.
When does HHN Hollywood end in 2026?
The 42-night 2026 run is scheduled through Sunday, November 1. Use Universal's published date list rather than assuming every night in the closing week is included, and buy specific-date tickets accordingly.
The permanent version of all this
Height requirements, ride mechanics, accessibility detail, and permanent dining live on our evergreen guide, our year-round sister site. They do not change with the season, so we do not repeat them here.