(Tips) Inside Universal’s new ‘Harry Potter’ Forbidden Forest attraction at Fan Fest
A walkthrough Forbidden Forest attraction, at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Studios Hollywood, is now open for a limited time.
The walkthrough attraction is part of Universal Fan Fest Nights, happening on select dates from April 23 – May 16, 2026, at Universal Studios Hollywood near Los Angeles, Calif. Officially named ‘Forbidden Forest: Search for the Hippogriff,’ it is described as, “normally off-limits to students, a professor enlists your help to rescue a lost Hippogriff. Are you ready to help a magical creature in need? This daring, interactive adventure is only in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter during Universal Fan Fest Nights.”
It is the largest singular seasonal content addition in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter since it opened almost ten years ago.
provided by Universal
Forbidden Forest experience
Universal revealed the new Forbidden Forest experience on Jan. 15, 2026, saying:
This new, unique, walk-through experience will take guests into the depths of the Forbidden Forest in search of a lost Hippogriff. With guidance from a Hogwarts Professor, they will encounter magical creatures and familiar beasts as they face a series of obstacles which will require the guests to summon their bravery and spell-casting skills to help a Hippogriff in need.
Pixies, owls, spiders and more, along with the infamous Monster Book of Monsters, accompany guests on a daring nighttime mission.
Along the way, a series of obstacles test their courage and spellcasting skills as they work to rescue the Hippogriff. Although wizard wands are shown in a lot of the concept art, it has been confirmed the additional cost merchandise is not required to take part in this journey. Interactive wands will enhance your experience should you wish to level up the magic.
Photo by Melanie Gable
One of our contributors, Melanie Gable, attended the opening night of Universal Fan Fest Hollywood and is sharing her firsthand look at the Wizarding World’s Forbidden Forest experience.
Guests hoping to join the search for the lost Hippogriff can access the attraction by heading to Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and passing through the gates of Hogwarts, where team members direct visitors into the queue.
A few tips for making the most of your trip through the Forbidden Forest
- Head to the queue through Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey entrance, where team members will direct you to the Forbidden Forest experience.
- If available, use Express Pass to significantly reduce wait times, which reached up to 90 minutes on opening night.
- Stay close to your Hogwarts professor during the walkthrough, since many story moments and special effects happen near them.
Lines can be lengthy — reaching up to 90 minutes during our visit — but the Express Pass reduced our wait to about 15 minutes. It may be worth the standby wait for devoted Harry Potter fans, while more casual visitors may prefer to prioritize other offerings.
The Search for the Hippogriff is an approximately 12-minute interactive walkthrough featuring costumed actors, atmospheric sound and lighting effects, fog, animated props, and puppetry. Guests move through the forest in groups led by a Hogwarts professor.
We experienced the attraction twice with different professors, and both performers were fully committed to creating a magical atmosphere. Staying close to your professor is recommended, as many of the effects and story moments happen near them.
Guests encounter owls, pixies, the Monster Book of Monsters, spiders, a noble centaur, Devil’s Snare, and ultimately the Hippogriff itself, which serves as a striking finale. During our visit, many guests were trying to figure out how the effect was achieved. We had a magical time in the Forbidden Forest and would recommend the experience to Harry Potter fans of all ages.
Photo by Melanie Gable
Specialty Food
Specialty Harry Potter food offerings will also be available during Universal Fan fest Nights. Here’s a look at some of what will be available.
All food photos are by Jeff DePaoli
Forbidden Forest merchandise
Harry Potter merchandise unique to this event includes a spirit jersey, mug, pin and more specifically themed to this ‘Forbidden Forest: Search for the Hippogriff’ experience.
All merchandise photos are by Jeff DePaoli
During the inaugural Universal Fan Fest Nights season in 2025, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter hosted meet & greets with various magical creatures. Now, for 2026, you can experience a broader narrative.
Tickets and info
Universal Fan Fest Nights is an after-hours event celebrating different pop-culture fandoms. Tickets start at $74.
Other activations for Universal Fan Fest Nights 2026 include a new Scooby-Doo mash-up with Universal Monsters on the backlot, a new “One Piece” show in the Water World amphitheater, a new version of last year’s Yoshi celebration in Super Nintendo World, and the return of the walkthrough “Dungeons & Dragons: Secrets of the Waterdeep.”
Photo by Blake Taylor
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