Halloween 2026: The Ultimate Guide to Spooky Events, Concerts, and Live Experiences

Halloween weekend is almost here—and in 2026, October 31 falls on a Saturday. That gives you a full day to ease into the festivities, from family-friendly fall celebrations to haunted houses, live music, and late-night costume parties.

New York City is a natural place to start, with the Village Halloween Parade bringing its giant puppets and costumed crowds to Sixth Avenue. For a bigger scare, Halloween Horror Nights is running select nights at Universal Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood through November 1. Here’s a guide to confirmed events, ticket details, and how to plan a night that suits your idea of spooky.

Broadway gets a little bloodcurdling

The Rocky Horror Show
Saturday, October 31 | 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. | Studio 54

Source: Roundabout Theater Company

Richard O’Brien’s cult musical is tailor-made for Halloween: a strange mansion, an eccentric host, and a rock score that turns the theater into a party. The official site lists a limited digital ticket lottery, with tickets starting at $30 when available.

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Paranormal Activity: A New Story Live on Broadway
Saturday, October 31 | 2 p.m. and 9 p.m. | August Wilson Theatre

For a night of theatrical suspense, this new story inspired by the horror film franchise brings supernatural chills to Broadway. The production recommends the show for ages 15 and up. The official ticket page lists seats starting at $52, with $40 rush and lottery options subject to availability.

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The Lost Boys
Saturday, October 31 | 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. | Palace Theatre

Source: People.com

The vampire story gets a rock-fueled musical treatment, following a family’s move to a California town with a dangerous secret. The official ticket page lists a limited $45 rush option and a $45 digital lottery; seats may be partial view and both offers depend on availability.

Savvy Seats take: Halloween shows can have different performance times from a typical Saturday schedule. Check the exact date and curtain time before planning dinner, the parade, or another event around your ticket.

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The Village Halloween Parade takes over Sixth Avenue

Saturday, October 31 | 7 p.m. | Greenwich Village, Manhattan

Source: Loving New York

NYC’s 53rd annual Village Halloween Parade is the weekend’s signature spectacle. The 2026 theme is “Body & Soul,” and the parade will feature the Firehorse puppet leading thousands of costumed participants along Sixth Avenue, from the Canal Street area to West 15th Street.

Watching from the route is free, and costumed spectators are welcome to march. Optional paid access is available for people who want to skip the general lineup or watch from a designated area. The parade’s ticket page currently lists a $125 march option, $250 for VIP standing, and $450 for VIP seating. Ticket details and availability can change, so check the official information before making plans.

Savvy Seats take: You don’t need a paid ticket to enjoy the parade. If you’re watching for free, arrive early and consider a spot away from the most crowded stretch between Bleecker and 14th streets. Check transit changes before setting out, too.

Choose your scare: NYC haunted houses

Blood Manor

Saturday, October 31 | Opens at 6 p.m. | Tribeca, Manhattan

Source: amNewYork

Blood Manor brings a theatrical haunted-house experience to 359 Broadway. It’s open on Halloween night, but guests should check the attraction’s calendar and ticket listing for the available entry times. Buying ahead is a good idea for a timed-entry event, especially on Halloween itself.

Haunted Mansion BK

Saturday, October 31 | 4–11 p.m. | Brooklyn

Source: Visit Brooklyn

At La Casita Brooklyn, Haunted Mansion BK mixes live actors, special effects, interactive clues, and an escape-room element. Tickets are listed at $30 for an approximately one-hour experience. All-ages sessions run from 4 to 8 p.m.; sessions from 8 to 11 p.m. are for guests 18 and older. Guests under 16 must attend the earlier session with an adult, and the attraction isn’t recommended for children under 10.

Savvy Seats take: Check the time and age rules before booking. A haunted-house ticket is tied to a specific date and entry time, so leave room for travel and aim to arrive early.

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal

Source: Undercover Tourist

Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights offers a full evening of haunted houses, scare zones, themed food, and live entertainment. Both Orlando and Hollywood have select event nights scheduled through November 1.

The event is separately ticketed. Universal also offers paid upgrades such as Express access and R.I.P. Tours; the exact options and prices depend on the location and date. Halloween Horror Nights is intense and isn’t recommended for children under 13.

Savvy Seats take: Treat this like a full outing. Check whether your ticket covers only the Halloween event or also daytime park admission, then compare the cost of any upgrades with how many attractions you realistically want to fit into the night.

Trade jump scares for candlelight and strings

A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics at Vessel

Saturday, October 31 | 9 p.m. | Hudson Yards, Manhattan

Source: Time Out

For a more atmospheric night, the Highline String Quartet will perform Halloween favorites and haunting classical works at Vessel as part of a one-night-only Candlelight concert. The 60-minute performance begins at 9 p.m.; doors open 45 minutes beforehand, and late entry isn’t allowed. The event listing gives a ticket price of $70, including access to Vessel.

The program brings together spooky selections from classical music, film, television, and pop culture. It’s a good fit if your ideal Halloween soundtrack leans toward eerie strings rather than a wall of screams.

The Vampire Ball

Friday, October 30 and Saturday, October 31 | 9 p.m.–5 a.m. | Industry City, Brooklyn

Source: vampireballnyc

The Village Halloween Parade’s official after-hours party turns Industry City into a two-night music and arts festival, with multiple stages and a gothic, costume-heavy atmosphere. It’s for guests 21 and older and requires a separate ticket.

Savvy Seats take: These events offer very different moods, so pick based on the night you want: a seated concert, an all-night dance party, or a full haunted attraction. Check the start and end times before trying to combine events across boroughs.

Halloween plans for families

Boo at the Zoo

Saturday, October 31 | Bronx Zoo

Source: Blooloop

Boo at the Zoo brings Halloween activities into a full day at the Bronx Zoo, including animal-themed entertainment, a costume parade, a dance party, games, and seasonal displays. The event is included with zoo admission and free for members, but admission tickets must be reserved in advance. The zoo notes that dates can sell out.

Halloween Harvest Festival at Socrates Sculpture Park

Saturday, October 31 | Noon–6 p.m. | Astoria, Queens

Source: Mommy Poppins

This family-friendly festival includes creative workshops, a community resource fair, a food market, and a dog costume contest. Check the event registration details before going.

Spooky City at the Museum of the City of New York

Saturday, October 31 | Starts at 11 a.m. | Upper East Side, Manhattan

Source: Museum of the City of New York

The museum’s family festival includes gallery mysteries, scavenger hunts, artmaking, storytelling, live dance and drumming, and a costume contest. The program is included with museum admission, and registration is available. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Make a plan before the night gets busy

Halloween’s biggest events have different ticket rules: some are free to watch, some require separate admission, and others use timed entry. Before you go, confirm the date, start time, age requirements, and what your ticket includes. For city events, check transit and travel times; costume crowds and street closures can make even a short trip take longer.

Ready to make a night of it? Explore live-event options with Savvy Seats, compare ticket details, and choose the Halloween experience that fits your plans—from a spooky concert to a full evening of scares.