You long-time frog fans know Tad as our official Frog Family videographer. While he toadally enjoys making ride videos for our YouTube channel, he really has set his sights on becoming the next Spielberg. For him, it doesn't get any better than Universal Studios Hollywood. It's a thrill for him to be "on location" inside the theme park that just so hoppens to be where "Back to the Future" was filmed. He's not the only one who's excited to visit! With the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Super Nintendo World, this theme park/working studio sure is more hopping than ever. Woohoo! Whether you have a filmmaker in your family or you're just a bunch of fun-seekers, it helps to know not only what to expect when visiting Universal Studios Hollywood, but also when to plan your trip in 2026. And, action!
Hop To
FAQs
- When is the best time to go to Universal Studios Hollywood? The best time to visit Universal Studios Hollywood takes so many factors into consideration, such as your schedule, weather, special events and of course, crowds. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to this question.
- What are the busiest times of year? Visit the Undercover Tourist Los Angeles Crowd Calendar to help you find the busiest and least crowded days to visit Universal Studios Hollywood. The holidays, school breaks, weekends and summer tend to be the busiest times to visit Universal Studios Hollywood. But peak times also bring longer park hours and more entertainment to the park, making them also a great time to visit.
- How can I avoid crowds in the park? You can purchase Universal Express to skip the lines, add on Early Access to Super Nintendo World or even spring for a VIP Experience so a tour guide can help you bypass lines and get everything done efficiently. You can save a lot of money on Universal Express and VIP Tours with Undercover Tourist. Our free, hopful Universal Studios Hollywood park plan will save you time in the park by telling you what to do when.
- Do I need one or two days to experience it all? If you visit at a non-peak time, use Universal Express and/or Early Access, or take a VIP Tour, you only need one day to do it all. If you want to save money and go at a more leisurely pace, you can visit over two days with the Undercover Tourist 2-day ticket. And for a limited time, you can get a second day FREE when you purchase a discount Buy a Day Get a 2nd Day FREE Universal Studios ticket from Undercover Tourist!
- Are there special events at Universal Studios Hollywood? There are seasonal events that are included in your park ticket, such as Grinchmas. And then there are some popular separately ticketed events that take place after hours, such as Fan Fest Nights in spring and Halloween Horror Nights in the fall. And yes, you can save on those tickets when you purchase through Undercover Tourist!
Planning When to Visit Universal Studios Hollywood in 2026
While there is no reservation system in place at Universal Studios Hollywood, tickets are date-based, effectively limiting capacity each day through the number of tickets sold.
That means it's important to purchase your tickets ahead of time so that your preferred dates aren't sold out. And one other piece of advice: During our recent trips, Express Passes have become more useful than ever in maximizing our time at the park. Much like admission, it's best to purchase your Express Passes in advance (they can sell out, and more so, the advanced online price is usually the lowest). Psst ... Undercover Tourist can save you some green on your tickets, as well as Express Pass and VIP Experience!
If you have time to make a second visit by Dec. 16, 2026, you can save up to $100 with the Buy a Day, Get a 2nd Day FREE ticket. Blackout dates do apply to the second visit:
- July: 3, 4, 25
- September: 5, 6, 12, 19, 26
- October: 3, 10, 17, 24
- November: 27, 28
For a limited time, Buy a Day, Get a 2nd Day FREE for General Admission Tickets at Universal Studios Hollywood! Valid for visits through Dec. 16, 2026
Another hopful tool for people who want to get the most out of their visit to Super Nintendo World is Early Access. You can purchase this add-on separately from your theme park admission, but you must have theme park admission to use the Early Access ticket. No matter when you visit, this ticket gets you into Super Nintendo World an hour before the park opens, allowing you to access all the challenges with short lines and Mario Kart with the shortest line of the day. Then, at park opening, you can use our Universal Studios Hollywood park plan to maximize time for the rest of the park.
Our Los Angeles Crowd Calendar is the best tool to help you get a day-by-day look at expected crowds a full year in advance. If your particular dates are not listed, jump down to the comments below and ask. We frogs will be hoppy to answer. We've got a similar post devoted to the best times to visit Disneyland if you hoppen to be planning visits to both. (Now, if only we could predict travel times on those SoCal highways!)
Other Factors to Consider When Determining the Best Time to Visit Universal Studios Hollywood
If you’re used to visiting Universal Orlando Resort rather than the Hollywood original, know that there are some differences. The best times to visit Universal Studios Hollywood in 2026 aren't necessarily the same ones at Universal Orlando.
The biggest difference is the locals. Universal Orlando has locals, but not nearly as many as those in the Los Angeles regional area. More and more of these locals are annual passholders, who think nothing of popping in for a pint of Butterbeer after the end of a long week. A lot of passholders visit on Saturdays, so that may influence you to visit during the week if you can.
While the regional passholders have a large influence on crowds, it's not all doom and gloom. Many passholders have blackout times during the times most popular with tourists — mostly summer, spring break and the holidays, but also a few weekends here and there. Looking at Universal's passholder blackout calendars gives you a fairly good idea of the very busiest dates of the year. This is because these are the times when most of the passholders are not allowed to enter.
Other major contributing factors include school breaks, special events such as Halloween Horror Nights and the holidays and big openings. In 2026, Fan Fest Nights returned to Universal Studios Hollywood for a second year. From the creators of Halloween Horror Nights, this after-hours event allows fans to enter the worlds of their favorite genres at Universal Fan Fest Nights. This separately ticketed after-hours event features immersive experiences, in-park activations and themed food and beverage around favorite games, movies and more. Among the fandoms for 2026 are Scooby-Doo! x Universal Monsters, the Forbidden Dorest of the Wizarding World, One Piece, Sailor Moon, Dungeons & Dragons and colorful Yoshis in Super Nintendo World!
A new "Fast & Furious"-themed roller coaster is currently under construction and is set to open in summer 2026. When this one opens, consider it a family reunion — with lots of people wanting to ride!
Spring — February, March, April
Highlights
From March 1 to May 31, 2026, Universal Studios hosts Butterbeer Season! You can try Butterbeer-inspired treats such as a Butterbeer creampuff, and sport exclusive Butterbeer-inspired merchandise.
During select spring break weeks, you may experience Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle. The projection show sometimes returns for evenings during spring break.
Things to Consider
The fall of Easter impacts Universal crowds in the spring. Some school districts base their spring break around Easter; others do not. When Easter falls earlier in the season, in March or early April, it has the effect of making a more intense, but shorter spring break season. In 2026, Easter hoppens April 5, making it a condensed (and busier) season. Many California universities consistently have spring break at the end of March, which can affect crowds then.
The separately ticketed Fan Fest Nights bridge spring into the summer season. Fan Fest Nights take place after hours on the following 2026 dates:
- April 23, 24 & 25
- May 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 15 & 16
That means the park closes early on those nights.
Our Overall Pick: First week of March or second half of April
Least Busy
- February
- Weekdays in the second half of February (minus the days around Presidents Day)
- First week of March
- Second half of April
Busiest
- Presidents Day Weekend
- Feb. 7-16, 2026
- Spring Break
- March 7 - April 12, 2026
Summer — May, June, July
Highlights
Summer break unofficially begins with Memorial Day weekend, and crowds remain steady until back-to-school season. The Mega Movie Summer event brings new character meet-and-greets, photo ops, merch and themed foods to the park. It runs from mid-June to mid-August. While we don't have exact dates, Universal Studios Hollywood has also confirmed that the all-new Fast and Furious: Hollywood Drift coaster will open sometime in summer 2026. (And in case you missed it, Universal Studios Florida also announced the coaster will be coming to the East Coast in 2027!)
Universal has some additional celebrations for Grad Bash (after the park closes on select days in May and early June) and Fourth of July (with fireworks). You'll find Grad Bash taking place in 2026 on the following nights:
- May 20, 21, 27, 28, 29
- June 4, 5
Things to Consider
May and June are the cooler and more comfortable summer months to visit, with "May Gray" and "June Gloom" morning clouds keeping the park from heating up too much. Temperatures rise in sunny July. Park hours are long once summer hits, so you have time to get it all done.
Our Overall Pick: Weekdays in May
Least Busy
- Weekdays in May (minus days around Memorial Day), but keep an eye out for special events (such as Fan Fest Nights) that may close the park early Thursday through Sunday in the first half of May
- First half of June
Busiest
- Weekends in May (particularly Memorial Day weekend)
- Second half of June
- July
- The day that Fast & Furious opens and the following weeks
Fall — August, September, October
Highlights
Bring on your worst nightmares. Halloween Horror Nights is the biggest event of the year at Universal Studios Hollywood. Terror unleashes inside the park with elaborate haunted houses, scare zones and the Studio Tour's transformation into the Terror Tram.
Things to Consider
Something to keep in mind if you visit on weekends in September and October is Halloween Horror Nights. This separately ticketed event takes place after park hours on select nights. If you visit during the day on those days, you'll see more crowds coming in starting at 2 p.m. The parks may close earlier than usual by about 6 p.m. Hop over to our guide to Halloween Horror Nights in Hollywood to learn more.
Even though the scareactors and haunted houses are not open until Halloween Horror Nights begin, some scary props and skeletons are out during the day. Just be aware of this if you are bringing sensitive small children with you in the fall.
- Rosh Hashanah - Sept. 11-13, 2026
- Yom Kippur (when it falls on a weekday) - Sept. 20-21, 2026
- Indigenous Peoples' Day - Oct. 12, 2026
- Utah and Arizona fall breaks during the first half of October
The park is not as busy during the day in the fall, as most crowds come for Halloween Horror Nights. But watch out for the park closing at 6 p.m. for the after-hours event. That means arriving early in the morning to accomplish everything in a shorter period of time.
Also, note the weather. While other places start to cool down, things are just getting heated up in Los Angeles in August and September. Hot summer weather can extend into early October. So dress accordingly and seek out the soak zone at WaterWorld if you need to cool off. Bring swimsuits and water shoes for the tadpoles to enjoy the water play area in Super Silly Fun Land.
Our Overall Pick: The second half of August and early September (minus the days around Labor Day weekend) sees low crowds as the tadpoles hop back to school.
Least Busy
- Weekdays during the last two weeks of August
- First half of September (minus days around Labor Day)
- Tuesdays through Thursdays for the remainder of September (just keep an eye out for early closures due to Halloween Horror Nights)
Busiest
- First half of August
- Labor Day Weekend
- Sept. 5-7, 2026
- Elevated crowds from Sept. 22 to Oct. 31, 2026
Winter — November, December, January
'Tis the season to spread Who-liday cheer ... the crowds may be here, but have no fear! While yes, Universal Studios Hollywood can see its busiest weeks of the year around Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's, it's a magical sight to see Hogsmeade decked out in garland and celebrate with Who-ville citizens.
Highlights
The Holidays at Universal Studios Hollywood is the main highlight as the season typically kicks off the day after Thanksgiving. Universal is decorated with colorful lights, bows, ornaments and more. Plus, you even get the chance to meet the Grinch and his dog, Max, along with other Whos! If you are visiting New Year's Eve, you can enjoy multiple party areas with music, dancing, drinks and souvenirs. The midnight countdown rings in the new year with fireworks. Winter snowfall and confetti bursts add excitement to designated areas. The festivities are included in your theme park ticket, and the park stays open until 2 a.m. The New Year's party festivities kick off at 9 p.m.
Things to Consider
Aside from the major holidays, there are a couple of other small holidays to keep in mind:
- Veterans Day (Nov. 11 — a Wednesday in 2026)
- Grinchmas ran Nov. 24, 2025, through Jan. 4, 2026, and TBD in 2026-2027. It usually starts sometime the week of Thanksgiving and goes through the Sunday after New Years, but hop back later for confirmed dates.
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Jan. 18, 2027)
During the first half of December, weekends may have more people than during the week, but crowd levels are not as bad as during the big holiday week between Christmas and New Year's. Plus, the park also has longer hours and more evening entertainment on weekends.
Our Overall Pick: If the holiday festivities are a must for you, we'd recommend the first week or two of December, which is right before the majority of schools are out for holiday breaks. However, if visiting during the lowest crowds is the bigger priority, January is best.
Least Busy
- January
- Weekdays in January (minus the week of New Year's Day and the days around Martin Luther King Jr. Day)
- November (minus the week of Thanksgiving and the days around Veterans Day)
- First half of December. Keep in mind that you can use your second FREE day through Dec. 16, 2026.
Busiest
- The week of New Year's Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- Veterans Day
- Nov. 11, 2026
- Week of Thanksgiving
- Nov. 21-29, 2026 (although Thanksgiving crowds are significantly lighter than Christmas week crowds)
- Week of Christmas and New Year's
- Dec. 19, 2026, to Jan. 3, 2027
What If I'm Visiting During a Busy Time?
We toadally understand that many families may not have the flexibility and can only visit during these busier times. Don't worry! Ultimately, the best time to go is when you can go. The good news is that busier times also bring longer park hours and more entertainment. The most important thing you can do is set realistic expectations and use our tips and tools to manage the crowds and maximize your time. During busier times, consider purchasing Universal Express tickets and/or Early Access tickets to get a jump on the crowds. If they're not in the budget, then make sure to arrive early before the park officially opens. And be sure to check out our Universal Studios Hollywood park itinerary for our recommended 1-day plan.
So there you have it — our recommended times to visit Universal Studios Hollywood in 2026! If you can't avoid visiting during a busy time, don't sweat it! We have a ton more hopful tips and resources to help you save time waiting in line and plan a great trip.
Related: Tips to Maximize Your Time at Universal Studios Hollywood
Related: Tips for Maximizing the Universal Studios Hollywood Express Pass
Keep hopping!
