Is Halloween Horror Nights Worth It? Our HHN 35 Review

And just like that, another season of Halloween Horror Nights is in the books, and HHN 35 was worth it if your crew is 13 or older and loves a good scare! I spent the fall on repeat nights and two lights-on tours, and these are my top houses and scare zones, plus what I’d tell any family planning for next year.

By Jessica Thompson, Favorite Grampy Travels Advisor | Last Updated: November 2026 | Based on my nights at HHN 35 between August 28 and November 1, 2026, including both Behind the Screams: Unmasking the Horror tours. Event facts checked against Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights pages on November 2, 2026.

Jessica is a Universal Orlando Resort Specialist with Favorite Grampy Travels, based in Apopka, Florida, about 20 minutes from Universal. Before she planned trips, she performed at Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando, including past seasons as a Halloween Horror Nights scare actor.

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Was Halloween Horror Nights 35 Worth It?

Yes, Halloween Horror Nights 35 was worth it. Every house was solid, the performers were exceptional, and the food was a big step up from 2025.

According to Universal’s HHN 35 overview on Discover Universal, the 35th anniversary event ran on select nights from August 28 to November 1, 2026 at Universal Studios Florida. It packed in 10 haunted houses and 4 scare zones. Online single-night tickets ran $92 to $135 before tax, depending on the night, when Favorite Grampy Travels checked Universal’s ticket calendar on September 29, 2026.

Legendary icons Jack the Clown and Dr. Oddfellow were there nightly to welcome guests into the Infernal Carnival of Nightmares, the theme FOX 13 covered when Universal revealed it in March. If your crew is 13 or older and loves a good scare, I’d tell you to go. Universal doesn’t recommend the event for kids under 13, so read the kids section below before you bring a younger guest.

For every date and price from the season, see our Halloween Horror Nights 2026 guide. This post is my own take, house by house.

What Were My HHN 35 Picks at a Glance?

There’s so much to unpack from this event, so I’ll start with the short version. These are my personal picks from a full season at HHN 35, plus two prices worth knowing before next fall.

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What Are the Key Facts About Halloween Horror Nights 35?

What Were the Best Houses at HHN 35?

H.R. Bloodengutz, Hellraiser, Ozzy Osbourne, Sinners and Cybergoria were my top five houses. Universal ran 10 houses this year, and you can see the full lineup on Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights haunted houses page.

I’m counting down from number five to my favorite. Some of these I went through over and over, so these picks come from a lot of nights in line!

#5: Cybergoria

Picture wanting to live forever, by any means necessary. It sounds appealing until cyborgs start harvesting your organs! Cybergoria was among the most frightening houses of the year, and it was easily the goriest house of HHN 35.

This house is full of SIFs (stuff in face) and creative scares we haven’t seen at this event in a long time. The costumes were extremely intricate, and the whole house was bone-chillingly immersive.

Cybergoria sat in the San Francisco area, which has been home to so many great houses over the years. Last year that spot held the Jason Universe house, and Cybergoria filled those shoes and then some.

#4: Sinners

Based on Ryan Coogler’s 2025 film of the same name, this house put you right in the middle of the Jim Crow-era South. The Smoke and Stack twins are celebrating their return home by opening Club Juke!

Its set design and storytelling are truly cinematic. They used the immersive soundtrack lifted right from the film, so you feel like you’re right in the middle of the action.

The scare actors were dead ringers (no pun intended) for the film’s cast. I did this house easily a dozen times, and I saw something new every single time.

They even had a vampire flying at guests, so you felt like you were under attack right along with the club guests. Sinners went light on terror and gore, and it was one of the most breathtaking houses visually because it captured such an iconic film.

#3: Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness

Halloween Horror Nights paid a thoughtful tribute to the rock legend, who died on July 22, 2025, as ABC News 4 reported when the house was announced. The house takes notorious moments from Ozzy’s solo career and turns them into a visual walk through the music that defined a generation.

My favorite part had to be the animatronic bat, a nod to the famous 1982 concert incident. It was easily the most visually impressive part of the house, and it showed exceptional craftsmanship.

The scare actors didn’t disappoint either. We saw different versions of Ozzy across his career, from Bark at the Moon and Crazy Train to his final concert in July 2025.

Even the audio in the final room is narration captured from Ozzy himself during one of his final performances. I know HHN music houses have been hit or miss over the years, but this one was an absolute home run!

#2: Hellraiser

This house won house of the year, and it’s very clear why! Based on the first three Clive Barker films, it pulls you right into the Lament Configuration and the world of the Cenobites.

You could absolutely tell this house was made by and for Hellraiser fans. The best part, though, was the performers.

From the iconic Pinhead to the huge cast of characters they had to pull from, every one of them was represented. It was clear the performers were true fans of the franchise themselves.

On my lights-on tour, I got to see the set pieces up close, and the attention to detail was unreal. The house also felt incredibly long, because the maze-like layout used a small space to build a much bigger world. The path weaved you in and out of scenes, which was disorienting in the best way!

#1: H.R. Bloodengutz Presents: A Halloween Fright-Tacular!

It truly felt like this house was created for me and me alone! Fifteen years after his arrest, Larry Kurtzberg, better known as H.R. Bloodengutz, escaped from the Carey Penitentiary for an evening of the most niche Halloween films you could imagine.

I was lucky enough to experience the original house, H.R. Bloodengutz Presents: Holidays of Horror, at HHN 21 back in 2011, which FOX 35 Orlando noted when Universal announced the sequel. This new house beautifully captured its spirit. It was the first house I walked into this year and my last one at the end of the season.

It’s not particularly frightening, but it nails comedic horror. Between every room, our host welcomed us through a vintage television set into the next film.

The room that blew past my expectations was the Grayscale Graveyard. The whole scene was painted in grayscale, like old black-and-white horror films such as Night of the Living Dead, and every performer’s costume, wig and makeup was in black and white too. Universal’s Discover Universal blog says that room was one of the design team’s favorite films to build, and you could tell.

At the end, I found the most sentimental moment of all. As you exit, you get one last scare from our host plus a character from the 2011 house, and my favorite was the iconic Feaster Bunny. What a way to bring back such a memorable house!

Favorite Grampy’s Insider Tip Go back to the house you love on a second night instead of chasing all 10 in one. Jessica went through Sinners about a dozen times and spotted something new on every pass, and a repeat walk-through is where the small details show up.

Which HHN 35 Scare Zones Were the Best?

Downtown Clowntown was my favorite scare zone, and Sideshow of Decay was a close second. Universal ran 4 scare zones in 2026, and these are the two I kept walking back to, counting down again.

#2: Sideshow of Decay

Cindy Caine and her father, Dr. Albert Caine (the Caretaker, icon of HHN 13 in 2003), preside over a scare zone featuring HHN icons from the past 35 years. It was the ultimate experience for longtime HHN fans and newcomers alike.

After years of being removed or downplayed, Cindy, a former icon herself, finally got her due this year. It was fantastic to see!

One of my favorite parts was the appearance of Lady Luck from HHN 21. Again, that’s mostly sentimental for me, but her design and execution this year perfectly captured her original turn as the icon in 2011.

Another creature living in this zone was Batilda, or Batricia, a character who dates back several HHN years and holds a special place in guests’ hearts. This stilt performer is always so talented and an overall event favorite of mine. The zone was packed with performers, and while it was an eclectic mix, they all did their part to bring nightmares to life!

#1: Downtown Clowntown

If you know one thing about me, it’s that I love a scary clown. This scare zone delivered!

Downtown Clowntown combined Killer Klowns from Outer Space with Art the Clown of the Terrifier films, plus a large cast of clown characters to match. It won scare zone of the year, and it’s easy to see why. As News 6 reported in its HHN 35 guide, it was the largest scare zone the event has ever built in the park’s New York area.

It also saw the birth of several new characters, including Delancey Dan and Quacky. Both of these clowns are sure to make future appearances!

There were several nights I found myself hanging around the zone just to watch these performers work, and the teamwork I saw in their coordinated scares was unparalleled. This was also by far my daughter’s favorite scare zone, and she would like me to share that fact with you!

Can You Bring an 11-Year-Old to Halloween Horror Nights?

You can, and for my 11-year-old it was a yes. This year was my first time bringing one of my kids to HHN, and my daughter had a blast.

Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights page warns that the event may be too intense for young children and isn’t recommended for kids under 13. Still, as NBC Insider explains, kids under 13 aren’t restricted from attending. So the call is yours as the parent, and you know your kid best.

While a first HHN can be nerve-racking for many families, Universal made it easy for us. The Deathly Afraid necklace let my daughter experience the scare zones for the first time free of anxiety and overstimulation.

The light-up necklace cost $20 in 2026 at the Five & Dime and the Halloween Horror Nights Tribute Store. The Universal Studios Store in CityWalk sold it too, so you could have one on before you ever walked into the event. It signals scare actors in the streets and scare zones that you’d like fewer scares, but it doesn’t work inside the haunted houses, so plan those with your child in mind.

Where Can You Meet HamiKuma at Halloween Horror Nights?

My daughter’s other favorite part of the event was the character meet-and-greet with HamiKuma. He’s the scary-cute bear made famous at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, where he first appeared in 2021.

In 2026, Universal brought HamiKuma to Orlando for his first official HHN meet-and-greet, inside the Five & Dime store, as Universal’s opening-night press release announced. If your kids love him the way mine does, put that stop on your list early.

Favorite Grampy’s Insider Tip Buy the $20 Deathly Afraid necklace at the Universal Studios Store in CityWalk on your way in, so your child walks into the event already wearing it. It covers the streets and scare zones only, so for a child under 13, pick the houses ahead of time the way Jessica did, starting with the less frightening ones.

What Was the Best Food at HHN 35?

The food at HHN 35 was a significant step up from last year. My standouts were the Death by Cheesestick ($12.99) and the Carn “Evil” Smash Tacos ($14.99), which are smashed cheeseburger tacos.

One bit of planning made our night with my daughter so much easier: we picked out the snacks and treats she wanted to try before we ever got to the park. When your child is hungry, the last thing they want is to wander around looking for food that sounds good.

We researched the menus online and plotted exactly where those food stands were, based on what she was excited about. Her favorite was the Death by Cheesestick, an extra-large mozzarella stick with spicy marinara sauce, and mine was the smash tacos. I’ll be thinking about those for a good long while!

When next year’s menu comes out, plan from Universal’s own list first. This year’s Discover Universal roundup of top HHN 2026 food and merch is the kind of official list I mean.

Is the Behind the Screams: Unmasking the Horror Tour Worth It?

Yes, and it’s the add-on I’d recommend most. This was my first year doing the Behind the Screams: Unmasking the Horror tours, and they completely changed my experience in the best way.

The tours are daytime, lights-on walks through select houses with a VIP tour guide and no scare actors. According to Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights tickets page, park and event admission isn’t included or required, and pricing varies by date and tour. In 2026, the three-house tour started at $99.99 per person, and the six-house tour with lunch cost about twice that.

What Was the Six-House Tour Like?

I did the six-house tour first. Our VIP tour guide took us through Stranger Things 5, Sinners, Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness, MADLANDS: Caged Cannibals, Jack and Oddfellow: Chaos and Control, and Evil Dead Burn with the lights on.

We got to see details up close and hear exclusive behind-the-scenes background on how every one of those houses was created. The six-house tour also included a catered lunch at Café La Bamba, with a wide menu and lots of seasonal offerings.

What Was the Three-House Tour Like?

My husband and I did the three-house tour a few weeks later, also led by a VIP tour guide. It covered Hellraiser, INVASION: Alien Abduction, and H.R. Bloodengutz Presents: A Halloween Fright-Tacular!

This tour doesn’t include the catered lunch, but it was no less of an experience. We were also allowed to take photos in the houses, which was a bucket list item for me!

If you’re a little squeamish or sensitive to jump scares, I’d definitely recommend this experience. It’s a way to see the artistry up close without the overwhelming sensory experience and scare actors.

Between the two, I’d book the six-house tour if you’re a superfan who wants lunch and the most houses. I’d pick the three-house tour if you’re squeamish or want to keep the cost near $100.

Favorite Grampy’s Insider Tip Because the Unmasking tours run in the daytime and don’t need an HHN or park ticket, you can book one on a day you aren’t going to the event at all. That makes it a smart pick for the family member who’d rather see the artistry Jessica loves without a night in the dark.

Is the Director the Icon for HHN 2027?

Universal hasn’t announced it, but the hints on closing night were hard to miss! November 1 was the last night of HHN 35, and Universal wasn’t done with us yet, because it used that night to tease next year’s icon.

If you wandered through Jack and Oddfellow: Chaos and Control on November 1, you would have seen a nod to the Director, a very famous HHN icon. There were hints of the Director throughout the rest of the event too, on the last night only.

The Director, Paulo Ravinski, was the icon of HHN 13 back in 2003.

Does this mean he’s our icon for next year? Maybe. You best believe that I’ll be on the lookout!

How Should Families Plan for HHN 2027?

Start planning now, even before Universal announces anything. For HHN 35, tickets went on sale March 26, 2026, about five months before opening night. Our HHN 2026 guide found that September Wednesdays and Thursdays paired the shortest house waits with the lowest ticket prices, so those midweek nights are where I’d point a budget-minded family first.

Ozzy Osbourne drew the longest line, averaging about 81 minutes over the first two weeks. Pick your nights with the Universal Orlando crowd calendar, and budget for event-night parking at Universal Orlando, since it isn’t free on HHN nights.

To fit in more houses on a busy night, read our guide to whether Universal Express Pass is worth it. For a family member who uses an accessibility accommodation, my colleague Holly Neth wrote up how the digital AAP works at Halloween Horror Nights from her own HHN 35 nights.

What Do Families Ask About Halloween Horror Nights?

Does the Deathly Afraid Necklace Work Inside the Haunted Houses?

No, it doesn’t. The Deathly Afraid necklace works in the streets and scare zones, which is where it helped my daughter most on her first night. Inside the haunted houses, the scare actors don’t change a thing, so you’ll want to choose those carefully with a younger guest.

In 2026 the necklace cost $20 at the Five & Dime, the Halloween Horror Nights Tribute Store and the Universal Studios Store in CityWalk, and it lit up red to signal that you’d like fewer scares. For my 11-year-old, it turned the scare zones from overwhelming into fun, and Downtown Clowntown ended up being her favorite part of the night.

Do You Need an HHN Ticket for the Unmasking the Horror Tour?

No. Universal says park and Halloween Horror Nights admission aren’t included and aren’t required for the Behind the Screams: Unmasking the Horror tours. You can take one on its own, during the day, with no HHN ticket at all.

In 2026 the three-house tour started at $99.99 per person and the six-house tour with lunch cost about twice that, with prices varying by date. I took both, a few weeks apart, and I’d book either one again. If you also want the houses with scare actors, you’ll need a separate event ticket for that night.

Which HHN 35 House Was Best for First-Timers Who Don’t Love Gore?

For a first-timer who doesn’t love gore, I’d start with H.R. Bloodengutz Presents: A Halloween Fright-Tacular! or Sinners. Bloodengutz played its scares for laughs, and Sinners went light on blood while giving you some of the most stunning sets of the year.

I’d save Cybergoria for later in the night, because it was the goriest house of HHN 35 and full of SIFs. Hellraiser was intense too, so I’d hold it until your group has warmed up.

When Will Universal Announce Halloween Horror Nights 2027?

Universal hasn’t announced HHN 2027 dates, houses or an icon yet. For HHN 35, tickets went on sale March 26, 2026, about five months before the event opened on August 28, so I’d expect the first real news in early 2027.

Until then, I’ll be watching for more hints about the Director, and we’ll add the 2027 details to our Halloween Horror Nights coverage as soon as Universal announces them. If you already know you want to go next fall, it helps to have your preferred nights in mind before tickets go on sale.

How Can I Help You Plan Halloween Horror Nights 2027?

I live about 20 minutes from Universal, I’ve worked HHN as a scare actor, and I’m at the event every fall, so this is my favorite trip to plan. A Favorite Grampy Travels advisor can book your Halloween Horror Nights tickets and hotel and help you decide between Express and an Unmasking tour. We can even map out the snacks and houses for your crew.

Planning carries a fee based on the trip you have in mind, and your advisor quotes it during the complimentary 15-minute consultation, so you know before anything is booked.

Ready to start? Request your complimentary consultation, or meet our advisors and pick the one who fits your family.

Jessica Thompson Concierge Travel Advisor (IC)

Jessica Thompson is a Concierge Travel Advisor with Favorite Grampy Travels, specializing in Universal Orlando Resort, Halloween Horror Nights, and theme park dining. A former performer at Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando, including seasons as a Halloween Horror Nights scare actor, she holds the Universal Orlando Resort Specialist certification and plans Universal trips from Apopka, Florida.

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