Over the course of 35 years, Universal Halloween Horror Nights (HHN) has done more than just frighten guests — it’s built a fandom for the ages.
“There are stories of guests meeting each other at HHN and becoming friends and making the trip as an annual meet-up. Others met at HHN, fell in love, and now have their children working at HHN,” said Lora Sauls, Assistant Director of Creative Development and Show Direction for Entertainment Art & Design at Universal Orlando Resort.
Other fans once worked as scare actors themselves. Now, years later, they keep coming back as guests.
“Our fans are the very best. Some have been with us since the beginning,” Sauls said.
HHN, which runs through Nov. 1 on select nights at Universal Studios, is celebrating its milestone anniversary by adding a few twists and a house that pays homage to its long history.
“Our event has evolved yet again with Downtown Clowntown, one of our scare zones, being the largest scare zone we have ever created,” she said. “We’ve also brought in new technology to support our creative, and we have some of the largest scale scenic moments within our haunted houses that the event has ever seen.”
HHN takes you anywhere from a creepy television station containing plenty of Easter eggs on HHN’s history to outer space with murderous aliens. Movies like “Hellraiser” and “Sinners,” along with the long-running Netflix show “Stranger Things 5,” also get the HHN treatment.
Recreating “Sinners” took “extensive research and deep dives into the source material to determine how the story, characters and environments can best translate into an experience for HHN,” said Ramon Paradoa, Show Director for Entertainment Creative Development at Universal Orlando Resort.
Sinners is an Academy Award-winning movie about vampires who attack town residents in the Jim Crow South, with violence escalating inside a nightclub.
“For ‘Sinners’ in particular, I was already a massive fan of the property long before it came on our radar for HHN 2026. I had already seen the film three times prior to the conceptualization of the haunted house. Once we officially began working on the experience, myself and scenic designer Manuel Cordero rewatched the film with a more analytical lens to really determine what elements would translate into a scary, yet beautiful haunted house,” Paradoa said.
“Throughout the process, we partnered closely with Universal Studios Hollywood, Warner Bros, and the filmmaking team every step of the way to ensure we were staying authentic to the iconic film. The behind the scenes work to take experiences like ‘Sinners’ from concept to completion is an extensive one that requires the collaboration of a village of talented, hard-working people.”
One memorable haunted-house scene this year is hearing “Crazy Train” play on a train going off the rails inside the “Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness” haunted house. It’s hard not to fist pump to the banger while a twinge of emotion floods in, remembering the late singer at the same time.
“We curated his music catalogue and mashed up multiple tracks to support each scene. With his family’s blessing, we have woven together an original story inspired by the album covers and his lyrics,” said Charles Gray, Senior Show Director for Entertainment Creative Development at Universal Orlando Resort.
“I have seen the reactions of guests, and they are truly connected to this house and the music. New fans are also embracing the experience and his legacy.”
Behind the darkness, past the jump scares and the frightening masks, there is an undercurrent of music that intertwines the house’s themes and the carnival-themed scare zones.
“Music is the invisible foundation that supports visuals and connects the space between experiences throughout the event,” Gray said.
