Halloween Horror Nights 2026 live updates: Opening weekend at Universal Orlando
Halloween Horror Nights 2026 begins its opening weekend at Universal Orlando Resort, and Attractions Magazine is following the scares across two nights with live updates, photos and video from inside the event.
The first screams arrive tonight, Aug. 27, during the separately ticketed Premium Scream Night, followed by the official opening night Friday, Aug. 28. Our contributors will be inside Universal Studios Florida.
Bookmark this page and follow along for live updates from Halloween Horror Nights opening weekend as we share photos, videos and first impressions from inside Universal Studios Florida.
And prepare for this year’s fun with the full lineup and HHN 35 map.
Premium Scream Night live updates Aug. 27 in Eastern Time
11:20 p.m. — Final live update for tonight; summary
That wraps up our first look at Halloween Horror Nights 35 during Premium Scream Night. Tonight’s visit offered a taste of this year’s highlights.
- Jack the Clown and Dr. Oddfellow at the event entrance
- Art the Clown in Downtown Clowntown
- A meet-and-greet with Hamikuma
- The Fortnitemares and Downtown Clowntown scare zones
- “A Tale of Chaos & Control,” the Jack and Oddfellow puppet show
- Club Horror and the Ozzy Osbourne-themed bar
- Specialty food, including Birria Pizza Fries, Carn “Evil” Smash Tacos and Death by Cheese Stick
Updates appear in reverse chronological order, with the latest news and observations added at the top.
Note: Select food and nonalcoholic beverages are included with Premium Scream Night admission, so we are sharing quite a bit of food tonight.
11:10 p.m. — Premium Scream wait times
Wait times have fallen to just five minutes for the operating haunted houses shown on the park’s boards, including “Stranger Things 5,” “Evil Dead Burn” and “Jack & Oddfellow: Chaos & Control.” “Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness” and “Madlands: Caged Cannibals” were listed as delayed.
Several rides also had five-minute waits, including Revenge of the Mummy, Transformers: The Ride-3D and Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts.
10:55 p.m. — Jack and Oddfellow appear at the entrance
Jack the Clown and Dr. Oddfellow are now appearing in the entrance scare zone at Universal Studios Florida. The two HHN icons were not outside earlier in the evening as rain affected street entertainment, but guests can now see them presiding over the event.
Photos by Philip Hernandez
10:30 p.m. — More fuel from Funny Fare
Philip stopped for a Twisted Philly, a $12.99 Philly steak stromboli topped with spicy Italian sausage, peppers, onions and cheese sauce, along with a Lucky Ticket Lemonade made with Minute Maid Lemonade and raspberry jam.
The $10 price initially seems high for lemonade, but it is a large serving and costs about the same as other specialty mocktails at this year’s event. Both are available at the Funny Fare booth in Sting Alley.
Photos by Philip Hernandez
10:30 p.m. — More fuel from Funny Fare
Philip stopped for a Twisted Philly, a $12.99 Philly steak stromboli topped with spicy Italian sausage, peppers, onions and cheese sauce, along with a Lucky Ticket Lemonade made with Minute Maid Lemonade and raspberry jam.
The $10 price initially seems high for lemonade, but it is a large serving and costs about the same as other specialty mocktails at this year’s event. Both are available at the Funny Fare booth in Sting Alley.
10:10 p.m. — A stop at the Ozzy Osbourne bar
The Ozzy Osbourne-inspired bar in the San Francisco area of Universal Studios Florida is definitely a highlight.
The elaborately decorated bar features “Prince of Darkness” imagery and three specialty cocktails: Black Rain and Bat-Tea and Ultimate Sin-Amon.
Black Rain and Bat-Tea are also available as $10 mocktails.
Photo by Philip Hernandez
10:02 p.m. — Club Horror feels familiar
Club Horror returns with an experience similar to last year’s version. Guests who visited the street experience in the San Francisco area during Halloween Horror Nights 2025 should find much of its atmosphere familiar.
Photo by Philip Hernandez
9:47 p.m. — Puppet show explores Jack and Oddfellow’s history
“A Tale of Chaos & Control,” a roughly three-minute puppet show in Downtown Clowntown near Louie’s Pizza, explores the twisted history connecting Jack the Clown and Dr. Oddfellow. The miniature performance is worth stopping to watch while moving through the New York scare zone.
Photos by Philip Hernandez
9:23 p.m. — Carn “Evil” Smash Tacos become the night’s standout
The Carn “Evil” Smash Tacos are the best thing Philip has tried tonight. Priced at $14.99, the dish features smashed cheeseburger tacos with American cheese, shredded lettuce, pickles, secret sauce and toasted sesame seeds. His verdict: “They’re really good.”
Photo by Philip Hernandez
8:50 p.m. — Finally trying Death by Cheesestick
After encountering a line of approximately 30 to 40 people earlier tonight, Philip finally got the Death by Cheesestick. The giant hand-breaded mozzarella stick comes with spicy marinara and is served at the Death Tank booth in the New York area of Universal Studios Florida.
Its regular HHN price is $12.99, though it is included among the select food offerings during Premium Scream Night. Philip sought some air conditioning and seating inside Minion Cafe.
Photos by Philip Hernandez
8:28 p.m. — Art the Clown takes the stage in Downtown ClownTown
Art the Clown takes the stage in the Downtown ClownTown scare zone for an approximately five-minute skit.
7:59 p.m. — Birria Pizza Fries join the feast
Philip grabbed the Birria Pizza Fries, topped with birria beef, mozzarella cheese, onions and cilantro. Select food and nonalcoholic beverages are included with Premium Scream Night admission, so we may have quite a bit of food tonight for our live updates.
Photo by Philip Hernandez
7:50 p.m. — Fortnitemares comes alive at dusk
Philip stopped by the Fortnitemares scare zone just before sunset, where the Battle Bus, Fortnite-inspired sets and costumed characters were beginning to glow against the darkening sky. The zone is located in the Hollywood section of Universal Studios Florida.
7:43 p.m. — HamiKuma greets guests
HamiKuma is meeting guests during Premium Scream Night, bringing the fan-favorite Halloween Horror Nights character from Universal Studios Japan to this year’s event in Orlando.
7:15 p.m. — “Death by Cheesestick” draws a long line
Approximately 30 to 40 guests are waiting to order Death by Cheesestick, a giant hand-breaded mozzarella stick served with spicy marinara sauce. The popular item costs $12.99.
7:07 p.m. — Time to fuel up
It’s time for a quick food break with two of this year’s gruesome-looking menu items. The Pizza Skull is a skull-shaped pizza filled with pepperoni and cheese, while the Meat Grinder Red Velvet features red velvet cake, cream cheese icing, raspberry sauce and puffed-rice “maggots.” The items cost $9.99 and $8.99, respectively.
Photo by Philip Hernandez, Haunted Attractions Network
6:50 p.m. — “Chaos and Control” posts 10-minute wait
“Jack and Oddfellow: Chaos and Control” is posting a 10-minute wait shortly after the start of Premium Scream Night.
6:45 p.m. — Rain begins; ponchos distributed
Rain is falling at Universal Studios Florida as Premium Scream Night gets underway. Ponchos are being handed out to guests inside the event.
Photo by Philip Hernandez, Haunted Attractions Network
6:07 p.m. — Jack and Oddfellow featured on event credentials
This year’s Halloween Horror Nights credentials feature a split design with Jack the Clown forming the left half of a face and Dr. Oddfellow forming the right. Behind them, a circus tent is divided into red on Jack’s side and purple on Oddfellow’s side.
Photo by Philip Hernandez, Haunted Attractions Network
5:56 p.m. — Gates open for Premium Scream Night
The gates to Universal Studios Florida are now open, and guests are entering the park for Halloween Horror Nights Premium Scream Night. The limited-capacity event is scheduled to continue until 2 a.m.
8:15 a.m. EDT — Halloween Horror Nights medallion appears at park entrance
The Halloween Horror Nights 35 medallion has appeared in scrim form over the entrance to Universal Studios Florida as preparations continue for tonight’s Premium Scream Night. Crews were still working around the entrance Thursday morning ahead of the event’s 6:30 p.m. start.
Photo by @MagicCityMayhem Mikey
We’ll be back tomorrow for the official opening night of Halloween Horror Nights 35, when we’ll explore the haunted houses and share more photos, videos and details from throughout the event.
We also received an early look at some scare zones during a preview earlier this week.
First look at Halloween Horror Nights 2026 videos
The videos below take guests inside this year’s Halloween Horror Nights Tribute Store and offer glimpses of Art the Clown dressed as Santa in Downtown ClownTown, Chance appearing onstage in the same scare zone and the video game-inspired Fortnitemares scare zone.
(Video) Fortnitemares Scare Zone at Halloween Horror Nights 2026
(Video) Art the Clown Returns For Halloween Horror Nights 35, Orlando
(Video) Chance Show Moment in Downtown Clowntown Scare Zone
(Video) Halloween Horror Nights 35 Tribute Store Walkthrough
Check back throughout tonight and Friday as we continue updating this report from Halloween Horror Nights opening weekend.
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