I’ve all the time been an admirer of Halloween Horror Nights from afar, however final yr I took the plunge and visited each Common parks to expertise every occasion for myself. For sure, I got here away wanting to make this an annual ritual. For HHN 2026, Common invited us again to its Hollywood park to see the brand new homes and experiences which can be on supply. It’s an eclectic lineup of some apparent picks and notable surprises, with a gaming twist to carry all of it collectively. Halloween Horror Nights is an occasion in contrast to some other and should you’re a fan of the spooky season like me – particularly should you love haunted homes – this yr’s iteration is a must-visit and it begins with the homes.
Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness
In honor of the late rocker, Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness captures the spirit of the Black Sabbath frontman in a method that I didn’t count on. Clearly, Osbourne‘s music permeates each aspect of the haunted home, however the enjoyable tributes to his iconic legacy are additionally sprinkled all through. Particularly, the home leans closely on “Loopy Practice” to take you on a journey right into a supernatural realm the place variations of Ozzy slowly rework from the recognizable bespectacled Brit to one thing monstrous.
No spoilers, however my favourite second in the home is a reference to one in every of Ozzy Osbourne‘s most famed moments on stage and the way the home flips the script and does one thing with it that had me smiling and laughing. The home is much less about scares and extra about paying tribute in a horror-fied method, and I believe it achieves that purpose with aplomb. From a strictly results and technical perspective, I additionally contemplate this the strongest home of the bunch and it ended up being my favourite by the top of the evening.
Sinners
Sinners was the plain IP alternative for this yr’s Halloween Horror Nights. I believe that this home captures the story of the fil, whereby a bunch of vampires attempt to invade a juke joint, and it highlights particular moments from the movie with a way of scope and scale that you simply don’t usually see at Halloween Horror Nights. I additionally appreciated the best way that the maze’s queue retains you entertained and really delivered to life one of many extra iconic sequences from the film. I do assume that one or two particular sections of the home do a whole lot of the heavy lifting for an expertise that has you principally strolling by way of just a few themed environments. However general, I really feel prefer it nails the movie’s vibe and that will probably be sufficient for most individuals.
Hellraiser
When you had assumed that the Hellraiser home can be probably the most ugly and violent, you’d be proper. From scare actors sporting fits that look as if they’ve been skinned alive to some really horrific decorations, this home is full of moments that can make your abdomen flip. As anticipated, Pinhead permeates most of the home’s key moments, nevertheless it does not skimp on the Hellraiser references both. I believe that Hellraiser typifies what a traditional IP-inspired home needs to be. It captures the spirit of the movie franchise, provides its most well-known icon a lot of alternatives to unnerve you, and fills the HHN grossness quota.
Evil Lifeless Burn
The Evil Lifeless Burn home has a gag on the very starting that I believe steals the present. The remainder of the home is concentrated extra on constructing a temper and a vibe than outright scares, however I do assume that there are just a few sections that had been visually fascinating and had some good scare moments. Evil Lifeless is a no brainer IP to work with, however I do want that there was extra creativity on show. That stated, yearly there may be normally a home that seeks to recreate these violent moments the place the villains get their comeuppance, and Evil Lifeless Burn fills that function completely. It’s a showcase for results work, greater than anything
Lifeless, Deader, Deadest
Lifeless, Deader, Deadest is an exploration of all aspects of what it’s to be lifeless. From cremation to refrigeration, this can be a journey a corpse can undergo, and there simply so occurs to be some creepy funeral house employees and coroners to present you slightly scare or two. I appreciated the story that this specific home informed, and I loved witnessing the best way every room related to the subsequent. It’s a easy home, however an efficient one.
Killer Klowns from Outer Area
Probably the most enjoyable home of the bunch is Killer Klowns from Outer Area. Extra colourful than some other home this yr, Killer Klowns is surprisingly playful, with some genuinely good smells in an occasion that normally has just a few that can make you plug your nostrils. Even because the clowns come out of their “boo holes” and make you soar, they then begin guffawing, which is infectious in and of itself. The home will get to be extra whimsical within the sights that you simply see, and I believe that the HHN creatives went all out by way of manufacturing. It’s not usually that you simply come out of a home with a smile in your face, however Killer Klowns from Outer Area delivered that for me.
Stranger Issues 5
Stranger Issues has an extended legacy with Halloween Horror Nights, so it solely is sensible that, with the ultimate season having aired late final yr, the long-lasting Netflix sequence would get one final sendoff at Common Studios. That being stated, it does really feel just like the creatives at HHN have mined all that’s attainable within the Stranger Issues universe. Within the first half of the home,, there are a whole lot of acquainted gags and setups, however the second half does discover some inventive methods to faucet into these moments Season 5, the place Vecna’s universe blends with the true world. That is one other home that does a fantastic job of providing you with scope and scale in such a small area. It simply feels slightly rushed by the top. However you can make the argument that that was true of the ultimate season of Stranger Issues as nicely.
KILLceañera: Music by SLASH
KILLceañera: Music by SLASH) is the occasion’s Latin American-inspired home and it additionally suits the invoice as the home with music carried out by Slash, which has been an annual custom since 2018. I used to be a giant fan of the Latin America folklore gauntlet that was Monstruos 3 from final yr‘s occasion, however I do really feel like KILLceañera shouldn’t be as sturdy by way of massive, WOW results that home had final yr. I believe the imagery is cool, and the best way that the home performs on this concept of a celebration gone awry results in some inventive design parts. And Slash’s music helps give the entire expertise a pleasant circulate. However after final yr, I had excessive hopes for the Latin American-inspired home, however this one was slightly little bit of a letdown.
Fortnitemares is the Premium Scare Zone
Within the areas between the maze entrances and simply strolling across the park, Common creates Scare Zones with ornamental parts and a few scare actors strolling round. This yr the large scare zone is Fortnitemares, a partnership with the massively standard Epic Video games title. There’s a devoted meals area with some distinctive gadgets themed round Fortnite and a large battle bus, however the true promoting level are the assorted characters strolling across the park’s primary thoroughfare. You may see most of the standard skins from the Fortnite Halloween occasion, in addition to some recognizable icons just like the cranium trooper.
On a mean day, that is sometimes the place you might be simply getting into the park and making your plan of assault, however then a scare actor with a chainsaw sneaks up behind you and establishes that nowhere in HHN is protected. Solely this yr, these scare actors are dressed like a Fortnite pores and skin. Even when the chainsaws aren’t revving, and a scare actor isn’t attempting to sneak up on you, the area is electrical. You want a minimum of just a few journeys by way of to see all of the skins, and likelihood is it’s best to spot one or two actors doing a signature Fortnite dance. Fortnitemares actually might have supported a full home, however I believe utilizing this area to create moments for individuals to take pictures and report movies helps dissipate the crowds higher than scare zones have in years previous.
Tasty Bites of HHN Meals
Talking of meals, there have been loads of choices themed across the homes, or that simply tapped into the Halloween or fall vibe. There’s all the time a strolling taco, a large sizzling canine, and issues of that nature. In addition to final yr’s cookies that appear to be Artwork the Clown’s flower glasses, a banana dessert that was formed like Fortnite icon Peely, and likewise a single black churro meant to appear to be the One Want Willow from Obsession. Halloween Horror Nights goes late into the evening, so normally you both need a snack or a drink and there are all the time a whole lot of gadgets for to fill these cravings, and non-alcoholic choices as nicely. There may be an Ozzy Osbourne-themed bar if you wish to get a drink and a boozy social area for Artwork the Clown followers. I normally attempt to pattern as a lot of the meals as I can, however I used to be very centered on getting by way of the mazes this yr and solely tried the Peely banana dessert, which I believed was actually tasty.
The Demise Eaters Return to the Wizarding World
When you enterprise into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, the Demise Eaters are again wandering across the Hogsmeade area interacting with friends and likewise placing on a brief present with some smoke results. You can even see the Darkish Mark emblazoned on Hogwarts fortress, and though it’s not essentially a part of Halloween Horror Nights, you possibly can experience each Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and Flight of the Hippogriff, that are open throughout a portion of the evening.
What Rides Are Open Throughout HHN?
The truth is, a lot of the standard rides at Common Studios Hollywood are open both all through the occasion or throughout a portion of it. Ater September 16, Quick and Livid Hollywood Drift will probably be open at Common Studios Hollywood, nevertheless it’s unclear if will probably be obtainable to common friends. Since some rides shut down partway by way of the Halloween Horror Nights occasion, it’s attainable that Hollywood Drift would do the identical. Or it’s attainable that it’s going to not be obtainable to friends outdoors of the R.I.P. excursions, which is the present requirement to experience it throughout Halloween Horror Nights proper now.
Artwork the Clown Takes Over the Terror Tram…And HHN
Artwork the Clown was a large hit finally yr’s Halloween Horror Nights, so it makes good sense that he has taken over the Terror Tram expertise. Prior to now, the tram despatched you on a visit by way of the world of Blumhouse, however this yr, it’s nearly like a super-long Terrifier home. Quite a few Artwork or Artwork-adjacent characters are performing all types of heinously violent acts. There’s a part themed after the 12 days of Christmas that has a violent twist, and there may be additionally a photograph alternative to take an image with Artwork in entrance of HHN’s bloody Hollywood signal.
I believe that HHN has discovered a real mascot for its occasion, and I can’t think about Artwork the Clown going away anytime quickly, even with no new Terrifier movie. I believe will probably be commonplace to see Artwork wandering across the theme park for years to come back, as a result of he’s simply such an ideal icon for the expertise. He might be each scary and make you snort.
Additionally, if you’re only a Common Studios Hollywood Fan, the Terror Tram provides you the distinctive expertise of strolling alongside the Bates motel, previous the Psycho home, and thru the crashed airplane scene from Struggle of the Worlds. When you’re prepared to courageous all of the Artwork the Clowns wandering round, it’s a cool, distinctive expertise to do at evening.
Obsession Teases the Way forward for Halloween Horror Nights?
Artwork isn’t the one scare actor wandering across the park — quite a few totally different spooky persons are sneaking within the darkness, wandering round with chainsaws, or strolling round on stilts. The most recent version is Freaky Nikki from Obsession, who walks across the park with a brick in her hand. She’s good for snapping a selfie or a fast interplay, however I don’t assume that she is massive of a presence as Artwork, who can freely roam across the park, each disarming and engaging friends. Each time I noticed Nikki, she was normally surrounded by lots of people, which is a testomony to the recognition of Obsession, but in addition makes it more durable for her to enterprise across the park so freely.
I believe the small Obsession reference is only a style of what’s to come back for Halloween Horror Nights in 2027. If ever there was a yr the place Common inventive had a slam dunk lineup, it will be subsequent yr with Obsession and Backrooms breaking all types of information. These appear to be no-brainer selections for homes, and I wouldn’t be shocked if Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil is added to the lineup. Whereas it’s a part of Common Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas proper now, I believe a devoted home is within the playing cards. Outdoors of that, although, there are fairly just a few candidates for 2027, however I believe Common likes to shock its friends with a mix of anticipated IP selections and out-of-left-field picks. For now, Common Studios Hollywood friends have a full HHN season to stay up for, and a stable choice of homes to check their mettle in.
