Are you ready for the ultimate Halloween experience? Universal Studios Hollywood's Halloween Horror Nights has become one of the most popular fright-filled fall events in Los Angeles. Halloween Horror Nights is a ticketed, after-hours event featuring the park’s regular attractions, scare zones, live entertainment and haunted houses based on Universal's original content. If you're a first-timer this year — and maybe a nervous one at that — do not fear! The frogs are here! We've got all the tips and tricks to make your visit unfrogettable. You can purchase discount tickets to Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights through Undercover Tourist. Get ready for a night of thrills and chills!
In 2026, Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood takes place on select nights from Sept. 3 to Nov. 1, and promises its guests a terrifying, but thrilling, adventure. And they sure do deliver on that promise! Let's hop in.
A First Timer’s Ultimate Guide to Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood
Dress Comfortably
Because of this event's grand scale and popularity, there are often heavy crowds — and therefore, long lines — throughout the HHN season at Universal Studios Hollywood. As much as you may want to dress in your Halloween best, stick to comfortable clothes and shoes that fit the spooky theme. If you're hopping from attraction to attraction and waiting in long lines, your flippers are bound to get a little tired. It can also get very cold on October nights — we recommend wearing pants and a long sleeve or sweater (or both). This is especially important if you're planning to experience Jurassic World — The Ride, as you WILL get wet (and you may get soaked). But make sure to double check your weather app, as some nights in September stay hot the whole time.
General Admission & After 2 PM
Tickets Available Now!Buy Early Event Access Tickets
Early Event Access is an add-on to any Halloween Horror Night ticket. These limited-capacity add-on tickets start at only $20 and will sell out quickly. Guests who purchase Early Event Access can experience select houses (about four houses) an hour and a half to two hours earlier than everyone else.
If you purchased your discount Halloween Horror Nights ticket through Undercover Tourist, you can still buy your pre-dated Early Event Access tickets through Universal Studios Hollywood’s website. This add-on option is a spooktacular way to save some green and still appreciate the event attractions to the fullest. Early Event Access houses/gates open at 5:30 p.m. And we've seen houses open at 5 p.m. and guests being let in even earlier than that. Keep in mind that guests with this special add-on do not have daytime access to the rest of the park.
We think the After 2 p.m. ticket is even more worth it in 2026. Some queues open as early as 3 hours before the event officially begins. And every single house was open by 6:30 p.m. on both of our visits so far. Last year, we had four houses and the Terror Tram done before 8:30 p.m. and we didn't even have Express!
You can read all our best tips in our guide to slaying Early Entry.
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
Arrive Early
One of the best ways to maximize your time at HHN is to start early. By arriving when the event first opens, you'll have more time to explore all of the attractions, haunted houses and scare zones without having to navigate very large crowds or extremely long lines right away. Remember that you will still have to park your car, walk from the lot to the entrance and pass through the security checkpoint before even reaching the turnstile on the day of your visit, so getting there early will allow you to make the most of your time at the park. If you're inside the park by the time the event starts, you might even get to see the ghastly spectacle that is the Opening Scaremony!
Never Go Alone!
While this tip may seem like a no-brainer, following it really makes all the difference during this horror experience. Even if you're totally comfortable with the thought of getting scared at every corner, you will still want to be able to enjoy the impressive set pieces and details in every attraction. Bringing a companion along with you will distribute the scares and allow you to get through the night in one piece!
Prioritize Must-See Attractions and Houses
Leaping lily pads! Halloween Horror Nights are always brimming with new haunted attractions. And each year the lineup only gets longer and scarier! In addition to the park’s regular rides (some of which are open throughout the night), there are typically eight houses, five scare zones and spine-chilling entertainment to get around to. If you're using a general admission ticket or visiting on a weekend, the reality is that you might not get to see absolutely everything this eerie night has in store. We usually make a list (or park plan) of the attractions we are sure we don't want to miss in advance. We recommend you do the same. If specific haunted attractions or rides catch your eye, hit those first.
Keep in mind that Secret Life Of Pets, Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, Kung Fu Panda, the Studio Tour and Water World are typically closed for Halloween Horror Nights. Plan around these probable closures. The Water World area is the site of the stunt and water spectacular specifically for HHN, The Purge: Dangerous Waters.
Super Nintendo World is open to all guests from 7 to 10 p.m. It's a great place to hide out if you need a break!
Jurassic World and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey may close early.
Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift is closed to most guests during HHN. It is only open to guests with the following select tickets during the event:
- After 2 p.m. Day/Night Combo
- Universal Express/Unlimited Universal Express tickets
- R.I.P. Tours
Consider the Rules
There are many reasons to consider the rules of the event. Familiarizing yourself with what you can (or cannot) bring or do will guarantee you don't experience any setbacks during your adrenaline-packed night. Check out the guidelines and regulations for HHN at Universal Studios Hollywood before your visit. It’ll help you determine what you can wear, what you can bring to the park and what to expect during this event.
Being aware of the rules in advance can also help ease any nerves (especially for those who startle easily or get anxious in uncertain situations). Don’t froget — the scare actors should not be touched, and they are not allowed to touch you either! Knowing that ahead of time can bring a first-timer some much-needed relief.
Frogtunately, guests can pose with certain scare actors at designated locations in the park! These spots include Universal Plaza, with Norman Bates at his house, and (if they return) with a scare actor by the Hollywood sign on the Terror Tram and a photo op at the end of the tram.
Indulge in Spooky Snacks
Haunted houses and scare zones aren’t the only treats of this event. Each year, there is a unique lineup of HHN menus for most restaurants in the park, including special cocktails and food offerings. Many tempting eats and beverages available in previous years are themed around specific haunted houses. We highly recommend taking an adrenaline break if you're a first-timer at Halloween Horror Nights and trying some fun themed foods!
In 2026, you'll find foods inspired by the houses and more! You can read through all of this year's offerings in our Guide to Sips and Snacks at Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood. We will update for 2026 as the event approaches.
Indulge in many offerings, including specialty beverages, at Dia De Los Muertos Plaza! The Little Cocina pop up bar in Universal Plaza is a great place to get some food and a drink and relax and let your nerves calm down mid-visit. This year, you can also grab a drink at the themed bar in the Lower Lot. You may also find a bar towards the entrance of the park.
Hop on the Terror Tram
The popular Studio Tour transforms into a haunted attraction at night. The Terror Tram provides you with the opportunity to enjoy some decent scares, experience film sets up close and enjoy a short ride on the tram (to rest the flippers, of course). For this attraction, part of the studio backlot is transformed into a horror maze filled with costumes, set pieces and scare actors. You might even get a spooky tour guide narrating along the way — that is until you're forced to get off and walk!
Last year, guests could hop aboard the returning Terror Tram... Enter The Blumhouse. Evade new scenes, movies and evil at every corner as you weave through the studio backlot! You'll see familiar characters along your way from movies. If you're a first-timer at Halloween Horror Nights and are feeling nervous about going through a Haunted House, The Terror Tram is a great place to start! It is all outside. So you're not stuck in a confined place. Plus, it's pretty well lit as well.
There are a few photo ops that are only available on the Terror Tram! Take a picture with Norman Bates in front of the real house from the movie! Or catch M3GAN in front of the iconic Hollywood sign. After disembarking the tram, you'll find a photo op with the Grabber from Black Phone 2.
Catch Spine-Shivering Entertainment
Prepare yourself for some spooky live entertainment! There is typically a myriad of entertainment options during Halloween Horror Nights, offering edgy (but not scary) Halloween-themed shows and experiences.
Catch "The Purge: Dangerous Waters" in the Upper Lot. This is a pretty intense stunt show with violent themes. But so fun to watch while you're in the Halloween mind-set! This year, you can see "Chainsaw Man," an original anime short, at the DreamWorks theater. This all-new interactive show follows the Chainsaw Man characters as they battle evil Halloween Horror Nights demons.
Play it Cool!
The rule of thumb for any horror-focused event is to conceal your fear, but it especially applies to this one. If you're a first-timer at Halloween Horror Nights and you startle easily or simply want to enjoy seeing others terrified, try to act as nonchalantly as possible at the event. Scare actors tend to target guests who look the most nervous. Putting on a brave face might just get them to back off a bit and allow you to enjoy your night.
Are you a first-timer at Halloween Horror Nights? What are your tips for a first-timer at Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights in Hollywood? Let us know in the comments below!
Related: How to Maximize Time at Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood
Related: Your Screamin' Guide to Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood
Keep hopping!
