Halloween is the time to let your imagination run wild and dress up for trick-or-treating, spooky parties, and social media photos. Our team of experts is here to help you pick a costume that will get you recognized! Of course, Halloween costume trends change every year, but we're very good at projecting which will be on top. Keep reading to find out the most popular Halloween costumes of 2026. So start thinking about what you want to be and get ready for a fun-filled Halloween!
Here's the short version. Witches won. Vampires got hot again. And Spider-Man swung right back to the top of every kid's wish list. But the full story is way more fun than that. This year, a Netflix girl group took over a dozen states. A toy cowboy and a space ranger came back for round five. And a Greek hero who spent ten years trying to get home is suddenly the guy everyone wants to dress as. We dug into the national numbers, our own search data and the year's biggest releases to build this cheat sheet. Keep scrolling. Your costume is in here somewhere.
What Movies and Shows Are Driving Halloween Costumes in 2026?
The most popular Halloween costumes of 2026 are witches and vampires for adults and Spider-Man for kids, This year's breakout looks come from Toy Story 5, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, KPop Demon Hunters and The Odyssey (2026), plus a big comeback for romantic vampire glam from the romantasy genre. Three hit theaters this summer. One is a Netflix movie that simply refuses to leave the spotlight.
Toy Story 5 (2026)
Shop the look: All Toy Story costumes | Woody | Buzz Lightyear | Jessie | Toddler Toy Story
Pixar's Toy Story 5 opened June 19, 2026, and the toy box is officially back in business. Woody, Buzz Lightyear and Jessie are the big three, but Rex, Slinky Dog and Bo Peep make your group look complete. It's one of the rare costume themes that works for a toddler, a grandparent and everyone in between. Complete the look: a Woody costume, his cowboy hat, a sheriff badge and boots. To infinity and the candy bowl. Want the full cast list? Our Toy Story costume guide covers every side character.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026)
Shop the look: All Spider-Man costumes | Boys' Spider-Man | Toddler Spider-Man
Peter Parker swung back into theaters on July 31, 2026, in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. That's great timing, since Spider-Man is already the No. 1 kids costume for... how many years in a row, again!? He also made the adult top five, so dads and moms can join the web. In fact, we have sizes and options for multiple Spider-verse characters in all cuts, so there is something for everyone. Complete the look: a padded-muscle suit, a mask with clear eye lenses, web-shooter gloves and a toy web blaster.
The Odyssey (2026)
Shop the look: Greek and Roman costumes | Greek warrior | Zeus | Poseidon | Goddess costumes | Cyclops
The Odyssey opened July 17, 2026, with a brilliant new Odysseus, the clever king who takes ten years to get home. Now Greek heroes, gods and goddesses are one of the season's biggest themes. Think bronze armor, flowing white gowns and a gold laurel crown. Bonus points if your buddy goes as the one-eyed Cyclops. Complete the look: a Greek warrior costume, a shield, gladiator sandals and a laurel crown. Picking a god? Our Greek Gods Costumes guide breaks down all of Olympus.
KPop Demon Hunters (2025)
Shop the look: All KPop Demon Hunters costumes
Netflix's KPop Demon Hunters came out in June 2025, and fans still can't stop singing. The girl group HUNTR/X, made of Rumi, Mira and Zoey, fights demons between concerts. Here's the proof it's still huge: KPop Demon Hunters was the top costume search in 12 states on HalloweenCostumes.com. No other character came close.
Complete the look: a stage outfit, a character wig (Rumi's long purple braid is a must), bold makeup and a toy weapon.
Also on the 2026 watch list
- Wicked: For Good (2025): Elphaba and Glinda are still a top duo. Shop Wicked Witch costumes
- The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026): Grogu is still the cutest bounty in the galaxy. Shop Star Wars costumes
- Moana (2026): Disney's live-action remake brought the wayfinder back to theaters. Shop Moana costumes
- Avengers: Doomsday (December 2026): Suit up early, before the hype hits. Shop Avengers costumes
So, the big screen set the stage, but who's actually wearing what? Let's start with the kids!
Popular Girls' Halloween Costumes in 2026
Shop the look: KPop Demon Hunters | Girls' witch costumes | Disney Princesses | Jessie | Kids' wigs
Here's why girls are going big this year. KPop Demon Hunters gives them a pop star, a warrior and a best-friend trio all in one costume. Princesses still rule too, ranking No. 3 among all kids looks. And Jessie's yodel-ready cowgirl look is basically made for a sugar rush.
Popular Boys' Halloween Costumes in 2026
Shop the look: Boys' Spider-Man | Buzz Lightyear | Transformers | Avengers
The Converting Bumblebee deserves its own shout-out. It actually shifts from robot to car mode, so your kid gets two costumes in one. And the Prestige Optimus Prime is the kind of build that makes grown-ups stop on the sidewalk. Superheroes as a group ranked No. 2 for kids all over, so caped crusaders of every kind are a safe bet.
Popular Women's Halloween Costumes in 2026
Shop the look: Women's witch costumes | Vampire costumes | Goddess costumes | Women's wigs
Witches rule women's costumes in 2026, and vampires are right behind them. National surveys count 4.8 million adults going as witches and 4.2 million as vampires. The vamp revival is the trend to watch. It's less cape and fangs, more corset, lace gloves and a dramatic red lip. Pair it with a witch friend and you've got the two most popular adult costumes of the year in one photo. Feeling royal instead? The Queen of Hearts brings the drama and the croquet mallet. Complete the look: costume, a long dark wig, vampire fangs or a pointed hat, and a bold red lip.
Popular Men's Halloween Costumes in 2026
Shop the look: Men's vampire costumes | Men's superhero costumes | Alien Xenomorph | Men's wigs
Vampires, superheroes and Greek heroes lead men's costumes in 2026. Batman and Spider-Man both landed in the adult top five this year. Men's picks this year lean into big, bold characters from Dracula to Nosferatu. The Xenomorph is pure nightmare fuel, and it still turns heads 47 years after Alien first hit theaters in 1979. Beetlejuice works great solo, but it's even better with a Lydia by your side. And if you want to look like you just sailed home from Troy, a Greek warrior kit does the trick.
Popular Family and Group Halloween Costumes in 2026
Shop the look: Group costume ideas | Star Wars | Wizard of Oz | Robin Hood | Ghostbusters
Toy Story 5 is the easiest family win of 2026, and Star Wars is a close second. Big casts mean everyone gets a role, from the baby to the grandparents. These are the top trending group costume ideas this year.
- Toy Story: Woody, Buzz, Jessie, Rex and Bo Peep
- Star Wars: the Mandalorian, Grogu, Jedi and Sith
- Wizard of Oz: Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion
- Robin Hood: Robin, Maid Marian and the Merry Men
- Lord of the Rings: a full fellowship of hobbits, elves and wizards
- Ghostbusters: four jumpsuits and one tiny Stay Puft
Popular Animal Costumes in 2026
Shop the look: All animal costumes | Dinosaur costumes
Capybaras, sea turtles, puppies and penguins are the cutest animal costumes of 2026. Dinosaurs are mighty too: they were the top costume search in Minnesota, Oklahoma and South Dakota... but can they manage a spa with the same style as the Capy? The best news is that most of our animal costumes are Made By Us jumpsuits that are ridiculously comfortable and adorable to boot. Step inside and become your favorite critter in no time.
- Capybara: The internet's most chill animal is now a costume for adults and kids. Vibes included.
- Sea turtle: A shell you can wear, and you'll never be late, just slow and steady.
- Puppy: Floppy ears, a happy tail and zero chewed shoes. A forever favorite for little ones.
- Penguin: Already dressed in a tux. The waddle is free!
Popular Pet Halloween Costumes in 2026
Shop the look: All pet costumes
Pumpkins are the most popular pet costume of 2026. According to our 2026 surveys, 11.6% of people dressing up a pet picked a pumpkin, followed by hot dogs at 5.9% and ghosts at 2.8%. Of course, popular character costumes for pets are just as keen. From Star Wars and Disney to favorite animals, it's easy to find a look to show off your furry friend or to complement your family look. Side note: measure your pet's neck, chest, and back length before you shop because some of our pet costumes come in multiple sizes, too!
- Pumpkin
- Hot dog and food costumes
- Scary pet costumes, ghosts included
- Animals and dinosaurs
- Star Wars pet looks
Popular Halloween Décor in 2026
Shop the look: All Halloween decorations
Animatronics, giant skeletons and inflatables are the top Halloween decor picks for 2026. Your yard is a costume too, so dress it up! Now, we have a ton of different ways to help you find the perfect look, not to mention an entire host of brand new animatronics that we've released for this year. (The biggest launch in history, in fact.) Take a look at your options, here, and if you need a Halloween Decorations guide, we have a few suggestions from classic designs to Pinkoween!
How We Determine Halloween Costume Trends
Trending on TikTok in 2026
TikTok is where costume trends catch fire first, and 2026 is no different. We're tracking which looks are blowing up on the For You page, from KPop Demon Hunters dance covers to romantic vampire makeup. Want the full list? Our TikTok costume trends roundup drops October 14 with every viral look, plus where to shop each one. See what's trending on TikTok. Until then, follow along at @halloweencostumes.com for first looks.
What Each State Is Searching for Halloween 2026
KPop Demon Hunters was the top costume search in 12 states on HalloweenCostumes.com, more than any other character. Plus size searches led in 13 states, the most of any search. We pulled the No. 1 search for every state, and here's how the map shook out. A few fun ones jumped out. Minnesota, our home state, went full dinosaur. Vermont wanted to party like it's 1499 with Renaissance looks. And New Mexico followed the yellow brick road. See the full state-by-state map in our Most Searched Halloween Costumes By State post.
How We Determine Halloween Costume Trends for 2026
We build our trend list from three things: national survey data, our own shopper data and the year's pop culture calendar. Here's exactly what went into the 2026 cheat sheet.
- National survey data. The National Retail Federation's 2026 Halloween survey asked 7,889 shoppers about their plans from September 1 to 9, 2026. Prosper Insights & Analytics ran it. NRF expects record Halloween spending of $13.5 billion this year, with $4.4 billion of that going to costumes.
- Our search data. We pulled the No. 1 costume search for every state on HalloweenCostumes.com. That's how we know KPop Demon Hunters led in 12 states and plus size led in 13.
- Our order data. We track which costumes shoppers actually buy, not just browse.
- The pop culture calendar. We watch every big movie, show and game release. Toy Story 5, Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey all landed this summer, right in time for costume season.
Why trust us? We carry over 12,000 costumes, so we see what shoppers want across every size, age and fandom. And we're not the only ones who look online first. NRF says 32% of shoppers turn to online searches for costume ideas, more than any other source.
Have you picked out your Halloween costume yet? Did we help you decide? You've got the cheat sheet. Witches and vampires rule the grown-ups, Spider-Man rules the kids, and KPop Demon Hunters rules a dozen states. Now it's your turn to pick a side. We'll keep this page fresh through October as new trends pop up, so check back before the big night.
