Halloween Horror Nights - Universal Orlando has announced the theme, icons, and first original haunted house for the 35th anniversary of Halloween Horror Nights, running select nights Aug. 28 - Nov. 1, 2026 at Universal Studios Florida.
The event will be themed to the "Infernal Carnival of Nightmares," with Jack the Clown and Dr. Oddfellow returning as co-icons for the first time in the event's history.
The first announced house is 'Jack & Oddfellow: Chaos & Control,' an original haunted house that tells the origin story of the rivalry between the two characters from Oddfellow's perspective. According to details shared during a panel at MegaCon in Orlando, the house will feature narration from Oddfellow as guests experience Jack's backstory, including a new lore detail: the box Oddfellow used to seal Jack away was actually one of his interdimensional portals, part of a mythology the creative team calls "the Oddverse."
"As we go through the haunted house, we are going to hear the narration of Oddfellow telling us the story, the origin story of Jack from his perspective," the creative team said. "Jack goes through this carnival on this killing spree and of course a lot of you know that history. It brought the police to that place, and then, in desperation, Oddfellow had to seal him inside the box."
The panel, titled "Behind the Screams: Crafting 35 Years of Fear at Universal Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights," featured Mike Aiello, senior director of entertainment creative development; Lora Sauls, assistant director of entertainment creative development and show direction; and Charles Gray, senior show director of entertainment creative development, all at Universal Orlando Resort.
Sauls and Aiello emphasized the role of original storytelling across the event's 35-year history. "We're not just rehashing what we've done but telling brand new, original content stories every year, which is what makes Halloween Horror Nights, especially here in Orlando, so special," Sauls said. "We get to tell new stories and have new creative ideas every year."
Jack the Clown currently anchors a permanent themed area at Universal Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas and appears inside Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment at Epic Universe.
Universal confirmed the event will also include experiences inspired by "some of the biggest names in horror." Halloween Horror Nights 2026 merchandise featuring Jack the Clown and Dr. Oddfellow is available now at select retail locations and at shopUniversal.com. Tickets go on sale soon.
