Obsessed about Art: A Creative Glance Into Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights 2026
Midsummer Scream rode the waves onto Long Beach, California bringing a peak into the exciting haunt season this year. After the high of panels such as Knott’s Scary Farm, Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor, and Fright Fest, Halloween Horror Nights closed the action packed weekend with their panel satiating the curiosity of its fans.
The panel opened with a peer into Midsummer Scream 2027 with the announcement of the upcoming dates and updated location at the Anaheim Convention Center. Midsummer Scream will return August 6th- August 8th 2027 in Anaheim, CA. To close out the farewell of Midsummer Scream, Santa Claus came out and unveiled Seasons Screamings will make its return in 2027 and will be running December 4th-December 5th at the Long Beach Convention Center. Stay tuned for ticket sales for both Midsummer Screams and Seasons Screamings or it may slip right past you!
Art Is Here To Spread Christmas Fear!
The Creative Director of Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood, John Murdy opened up the announcements with the announcement of Terror Tram starring Art the Clown. Following the success of Terrifier from Halloween Horror Nights 2025, Art returns to bring Christmas cheer with his twisted version of the holiday that he adores. The tram this season will take you into the back lot with a disgruntled Art after being informed it is not Christmas yet. However, that doesn’t matter. Art has already decked the halls with streams of intestines. The tram will reunite fan favorite characters such as Sienna, Vicky, and the Little Pale Girl for the perfect holiday get-together! Art will also bring a new slew of holiday minions such as demented nutcrackers, dolls, and elves.
Metal Meets Christmas Classics with brand new songs reiterated by Ice Nine Kills
John Murdy welcomed Spencer Charnas, frontman of Ice Nine Kills to announce the score of the terror tram will feature vocals from Charnas to twist Christmas Classics such as Joy to the World and Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy into metal tracks redirecting the joy of Christmas to agonizing riffs to complement Art’s twisted idea of holiday cheer.
Don’t Stand in the Path of Revenge in Killceañera
A new haunted house was announced to close off the house announcements with Killceañera featuring a ripping score by Slash. This house approaches the idea of quinceañera’s with a twist. The house will take us into the story of Lola. A girl becoming of age but surrounded in misery following the deaths of her parents years before her quinceañera. After years of bullying and hardship, Lola turns her quinceañera from a celebration of empowerment to one of rage and uses this celebration to kill everyone who has wronged her. There is sure to be more victims than the amount of candles meant to celebrate her in this new story inspired by Latin-American culture.
Not One Area Untouched
To close off the Halloween Horror Nights’ panel, all of the scarezones were revealed with the first being El Circo De La Muerte featured outside of the exit of Killceañera. The zone will feature sideshow freaks inspired by Latin-American sideshows. It will feature the uncanny, the bizarre, and the odd with characters such as the Chicken Geek, The Ringmaster and more.
The surprise zones continue with Blood Bog, a mini-zone featured outside the Studio Tour/ Terror Tram entrance which will plunge us into a swamp environment with large deformed creatures such as the Spider Pirate.
Next to Fortnitemares, Universal Blvd. will feature Hackers, a new chainsaw troop with industrial and digital inspired characters to complement the digital landscape of Fortnite.
Murder of Crowz will also return this season with updated designs to some of the feathered fiends. In addition, the fan favorite 4-legged stilt walkers from 2019 return with the Banshee from the mini-zone with Shriek of The Banshee! Our furry friend Hamikuma will also return for photo opportunities on Universal Blvd as well.
Lastly, Art will be roaming the park to terrorize guests once more and nowhere is safe from him…
Be Careful What You Wish For…
As one final surprise, John Murdy announced Obsession will make a cameo this season with Nikki becoming a character for this season! While her nature of whether she may roam similar to Art is unknown, it's clear we should be careful what we wish for or we may become her next obsession.
With the surprise of Obsession, now all we can do is wait and see how these amazing concepts and properties translate into Halloween Horror Nights 2026.
Halloween Horror Nights tickets are now on sale which now includes the Orlando favorite Unmasking the Horror tour which will feature Killceañera and Sinners. The event runs select nights from September 3rd - November 1st
