Save with Orlando InformerSave with Orlando InformerX

Halloween Horror NightsHalloween Horror Nights
Save up to $60 now!

Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights 26 REVEALED

|

Universal Orlando officials have blown the lid off Halloween Horror Nights 26, sharing the details of this year’s original content that includes three original houses, five original scare zones, and two shows!

Before we dive into the details of the horror, a forewarning: Now that the majority of the details of HHN 26 are revealed and August is going by quickly, on-site hotels will begin to sell out. If you’re looking to attend this year’s festivities and stay on-site at Universal, now would be the time to book. Plus, you can take advantage of advance pricing for tickets, which will likely increase in the coming weeks. If you need help planning your trip, take a look at our Insider’s Guide to Halloween Horror Nights. Want one-on-one help booking your Halloween Horror Nights visit? Contact Orlando Informer Travel.

Now on to the horror that awaits…

Original Houses at Halloween Horror Nights 26

Lunatics Playground 3D: You Won’t Stand a Chance

Ready to come face-to-face with Chance herself? Here’s your chance. This house displays Chance’s two states of mind: the sinister 3D theatre side and the reality of her incarceration. It will be located near the Men in Black ride, where the Insidious house was last year. This will be this year’s 3D house and it picks up right where last year’s Carnage Returns show ended. Eventually you’ll see Chance break out of the insane asylum she’s in, which leads directly to her scare zone.

Lunatics Playground 3D: You Won't Stand a Chance at Universal Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights 26
Lunatics Playground 3D: You Won’t Stand a Chance at Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights 26
CostumeSketches_HHN26_Original
Costume designs for Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights 26 (L to R: Tomb of the Ancients, Lunatics Playground, Ghost Town)

Ghost Town: The Curse of Lightning Gulch

It’s time to return to Ghost Town. First featured at Halloween Horror Nights in 2004, this original storyline is making a return for Halloween Horror Nights 26. Lightning Gulch is a wild west, gold rush settlement that disappeared in the midst of a thunderstorm. Now, with thunder and lightning surrounding you, you’re revisiting the cursed town and doomed souls that still inhabit it. You’ll see authentic storefronts and even a dilapidated piano bar.

Ghost Town will be located towards the front of the park, near the Revenge of the Mummy attraction.

Ghost Town: The Curse of Lightning Gulch at Universal Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights 26
Ghost Town: The Curse of Lightning Gulch at Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights 26
Ghost Town: The Curse of Lightning Gulch at Universal Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights 26
Ghost Town: The Curse of Lightning Gulch at Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights 26

Tomb of the Ancients

This house has easily been the most teased, as we reported last week. You’ll navigate claustrophobic-inducing sets that feature elements from South American, Asian, and Egyptian cultures. These creatures are from the pits of hell, like Amut which has the face of a crocodile but the mane and front paws of a lion.

Tomb of the Ancients will be located in the back of the park, near the E.T. ride.

AH2T0870
Ghost Town: The Curse of Lightning Gulch at Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights 26
AH2T0909
Ghost Town: The Curse of Lightning Gulch at Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights 26

The original houses at Halloween Horror Nights 26 join the already announce lineup of houses that include Texas Chain Saw MassacreThe ExorcistThe Walking DeadHalloween II, and KrampusOne house has yet to be announced.

Original Scare Zones at Halloween Horror Nights 26

A Chance In Hell

Just as Chance’s house picks up where last year left off, this zone picks up where this year’s house ends. Chance will break out of incarceration and the chaos that assumes will be found in this zone. Characters in this zone will be Chance’s fellow inmates and will have attempted to imitate her however possible.

A Chance In Hell will be located in Avenue of the Stars, near the entrance to the park.

A Chance In Hell Scare Zone at Universal Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights 26
A Chance In Hell Scare Zone at Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights 26

Dead Man’s Wharf

In this original story, a fishing vessel named Annabel Lee was lost at sea. As a memorial, the wharf was left untouched for many years. However, at Halloween Horror Nights 26, this zone will come alive with the fishermen’s spirits that are angry at the town who left them. If the name Annabel Lee sounds familiar, it should. It’s a nod to Edgar Allan Poe’s final complete poem, Annabel Lee.

For the moon never beams, without bringing me dreams
   Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And the stars never rise, but I feel the bright eyes
   Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side
   Of my darling—my darling—my life and my bride,
   In her sepulchre there by the sea—

   In her tomb by the sounding sea.

Excerpt from Annabel Lee by Edgar Allan Poe

Dead Man’s Wharf will be located in the San Francisco backlot.
A Chance In Hell Scare Zone at Universal Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights 26
A Chance In Hell Scare Zone at Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights 26

Vamp 1955

It’s high school homecoming! Set in 1955, this zone will feature vampires galore. Designers for the zone have shared that the area will have “really cool 1950s music.”

Vamp 1955 will be located in the Hollywood backlot.

Banshee’s Lair

As typically is the case with the zone located in Central Park, Banshee’s Lair is themed after a forest “where evil spirits and horrific creatures” roam. The zone is being dubbed a corrupted grave, very similar to Grown Evil (2011) and Evil’s Roots (2016). According to designers, the zone has “that traditional Halloween feel with a Celtic influence.”

Banshee’s Lair will be located in Central Park, in between Hollywood and KidZone.

Survive or Die

The atmosphere of Earth is ruined. The catastrophe has created three groups of survivors. One group has obtained a machine that gives them clean air. The other two groups are looking to obtain the machine. This zone sounds like a mixture of concepts of past zones, including The Purge, Saws n’ Steam, and Apocalypse: City of Cannibals.

Survive or Die will be located in the New York backlot.

Live Shows at Halloween Horror Nights 26

Academy of Villains: House of Fear

Academy of Villains, a “theatrical dance company known for story-telling, incredibly intense choreography, and jaw-dropping stunts”, will be performing nightly in this stage show. Michael Aiello, Director of Creative Development for Entertainment at Universal Orlando, revealed on Twitter that this show will not feature Chance and will only have “slight textures of the overall theme.”

The dance group were semi-finalists on Season 7 of America’s Got Talent and have placed in every competition they have ever entered.

Bill & Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure

The perennial fan-favorite duo, Bill & Ted, are back once again at Halloween Horror Nights 26. This show loosely based on the Bill & Ted movies will parody the popular culture of the past year.

There you have it, Halloween Horror Nights 26… What house and zone are you most excited for? Sound off in the comments below. Be sure to check out our complete guide to HHN. Need one-on-one help planning and booking your trip? Contact Orlando Informer Travel for help planning and booking at no additional cost to you.

More pictures from today’s Halloween Horror Nights announcement

AH2T0281
Ghost Town: The Curse of Lightning Gulch at Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights 26
AH2T0976
Ghost Town: The Curse of Lightning Gulch at Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights 26
AH2T0912
Tomb of the Ancients at Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights 26
GhostTown_cropped
Ghost Town: The Curse of Lightning Gulch at Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights 26
Ghost Town: The Curse of Lightning Gulch at Universal Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights 26
Ghost Town: The Curse of Lightning Gulch at Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights 26
Tomb of the Ancients at Universal Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights 26
Tomb of the Ancients at Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights 26
Previous

Halloween comes to the Wizarding World Japan, more events on the horizon

Episode 58

Next
About Taylor Strickland

Taylor Strickland is the owner of Orlando Informer, the internationally awarded independent resource for guests visiting Orlando. In this position, he leads the website's overall direction and day-to-day operations, working with a team of writers, editors, developers, and producers.