Howl-O-Scream 2026: What’s NEW and Tips for a Spooky Date Night at SeaWorld’s Halloween Event

It may be hot in Central Florida, but September brings a major spooky event in the Orlando area.

Among the Halloween classics is Howl-O-Scream at SeaWorld Orlando and it’s a top Halloween event in Orlando and has earned its place among the top haunted houses in Orlando. 

At Howl-O-Scream, an after-hours ticketed event after SeaWorld closes to day guests, you and your sweetie can explore haunted houses and scare zones, visit themed bars, and more. Read on for our guide to all the NEW and spooky fun happening at Howl-O-Scream 2026, including NEW BARS, a BRAND NEW ICON, plus important time-saving tips.

While this scary event contains adult themes, it can be considered one of the Orlando haunted houses that are okay for older kids. There’s even a way to let the performers know you’d prefer not to be scared!

About Howl-O-Scream 2026

Howl-O-Scream runs on select nights from September 11 through October 31, 2026.

Tickets range from $45.99 for a one-night ticket to $123 for peak nights. SeaWorld annual passholders get special ticket discounts, and there’s an option for any guest to purchase a ticket that allows for daytime park admission in addition to the Halloween event for $135.

Pro-Tip: SeaWorld has lots of Howl-O-Scream ticket sales, so be sure to check their website often for screaming good deals!

The event runs from 7 p.m. through midnight. In September, Howl-O-Scream only takes place on Friday and Saturday. In October, Howl-O-Scream happens Thursdays-Sundays and the entire week of Halloween is open to attend!

Tips for Howl-O-Scream 2026

• Review the map beforehand
• Check out the descriptions to decide your must-do experiences
• Purchase a “No Boo” light-up necklace in the park for $15 if you’d like to signal to the performers you’d rather not get scared (no guarantees, but it helps)
• September is less crowded than October
• Plan extra time to enjoy the scare zones
• Take a break and hydrate
• Talk about your expectations and comfort level

Pro-Tip: Admission is NOT included with regular park admission. You will need a separate event ticket in order to attend.

NEW ICON — Pestilence!

August 19, 2026

Pestilence has waited long enough.

Once connected to Havoc, she disappeared into the shadows and transformed heartbreak into something far more dangerous—a spreading infection born in Nekrosis and now making its way through Howl-O-Scream Orlando. Discover the story behind the rot that never left, and why Havoc may finally have to face his past.

NEW Howl-O-Scream Bars

There are popular cocktails served in pouches, adding playfulness to the grown-up fun. There is an overall lack of mocktails or zero-proof alcohol options. While I craved a non-alcoholic beer or a specialty drink made sans alcohol, I ended up being relegated to sipping bottled water or Diet Coke, a disappointment as a non-drinker.

BYTE BAR

Plug in and power up at the all-new Byte Bar, where cyborg vampires are serving up a sinister new kind of nightlife. Step into the digital underworld, grab a themed cocktail and drink in the futuristic atmosphere—before something decides to take a byte out of you.

THE REWIND

Grab a themed cocktail and relive the ’90s through stacks of VHS tapes, ringing landlines, glowing arcade lights and the unmistakable screech of dial-up. Between the throwback soundtrack and the undead atmosphere, this is one rewind you’ll never forget. Just don’t expect to press “Stop.”

More NEW bars coming soon!

Don’t forget to fuel up on food too! There are multiple booths around the park, adding to a festival atmosphere. Among our favorite eats this year were the Highway Havoc Mac and Cheese Dog, Strawberry Pop Tart Ice Cream and the Intestine Cinnamon Roll.

Howl-O-Scream 2026 Haunted Houses and Scare Zones

At SeaWorld Orlando’s Howl-O-Scream, there are five thrilling haunted houses to walk through. A whopping seven scare zones add to the scary fun!

Haunted Houses

• NEW The Dark Net
• NEW The Crawl Space
• NEW I Know What You Did Last Summer: The Final Catch
• NEW Everything Must Stay

Stay tuned as more Houses are coming soon!

NEW The Dark Net

In a futuristic city pushed to the brink by an energy crisis, survival has taken a sinister turn. Desperate cyborgs have discovered a new power source: blood.

Descend into the decaying underbelly of the city, where cybernetic predators stalk the darkness, machines feed on machines and humans are getting caught in the crossfire. Among the neon-lit ruins, black oil drips alongside fresh blood—and once they’re hungry enough, these creatures can’t always tell the difference.

NEW The Crawl Space

Hidden beneath the city lies a forgotten network of tunnels abandoned after a catastrophic containment failure. When curiosity leads you through a broken fence and into the darkness, you’ll discover the truth wasn’t buried—it was left to grow. Every twisting corridor pulls you deeper underground…and closer to something that’s become far larger, far hungrier, and far too close to escape. Some places are sealed for a reason.

NEW I Know What You Did Last Summer: The Final Catch

The secret is out, SeaWorld Howl-O-Scream has it’s first ever IP house! Step inside the world of I Know What You Did Last Summer in an all-new haunted house where the Fisherman stalks your every move.

NEW Everything Must Stay

For six years, one suburban home has sat unsold while every open house ends the same way: terrified buyers fleeing from things they can’t explain. Tonight, those unseen forces awaken, and you’ll find yourself trapped inside for the worst showing imaginable

Scare Zones

• NEW Extermination Order
• NEW Nekrosis
• NEW Just One More Chapter
• RETURNING Trailer Park Tragedy
• RETURNING Woodrot Hollow

Stay tuned for more scare zones coming soon!

One of the best things about SeaWorld Orlando’s Howl-O-Scream is the use of aquatic themes that fit the park. Each scare zone plays off of the area it is located – elevating the fun and spookiness.

There are scare zones throughout the park, where guests walk through spooky scenes and actors who like to jump-scare. There will be six in total with NEW zones like Extermination Order, Nekrosis and Just One More Chapter!

In addition to scare zones, there are roaming haunts. You never know where your next scare awaits.

SeaWorld Howl-O-Scream Shows 

• Monster Stomp (Odyssey indoor theater near Mako)
• Throttle (Outdoor stage near Sharks and Mako)

No spooky Halloween event would be complete without a chilling stage show, and at Howl-O-Scream, the returning Monster Stomp is sure to give guests their dose of creepy entertainment. Jack the Ripper stars in this scary don’t-miss musical.

Throttle revs into Howl-O-Scream 2026 with an explosive adults-only show. This dance performance takes the energy off the rails with edgy moves, fire-fueled chaos, and plenty of risqué fun—including cheeky performances that definitely push the boundaries.

Rides

In addition to the spooky activities that are exclusive to Howl-O-Scream, some SeaWorld Orlando attractions — like Pipeline surf coaster — are open for guests to ride. Experiencing these thrilling rides in the dark only adds to the spook factor, and the wait times when we visited were less than five minutes throughout the entire event.

Pro-Tip: Availability is subject to change and weather permitting. On the night we visited Howl-O-Scream, for example, it was raining at the start time for the event, so guests weren’t being allowed into most sections of the park pending an improvement in the weather. We stood around for about an hour waiting for the weather advisory to lift — something that can’t be helped in Central Florida’s rainy season — but a good thing to be aware of, nonetheless.

Front Line Fear Upgrades

If you’d prefer to avoid long lines, there are two options to skip wait times at Hall-O-Scream. For $69, guests can purchase a Front Line Fear pass, which allows one-time priority access at select haunted houses (excludes I Know What You Did Last Summer: The Final Catch).

The $89 Front Line Fear Extreme pass allows for one-time priority access at select haunted houses (excludes I Know What You Did Last Summer: The Final Catch) and the park’s major thrill rides. The extreme pass also gives guests reserved seating for the Monster Stomp show.

NEW THIS YEAR is the Front Like Fear ULTIMATE pass for $99. This pass gives you priority access to the haunted houses and major thrill rides, exclusive one-time priority access to I Know What You Did Last Summer: The Final Catch, and reserved seating at the Monster Stomp show.

While pricey, these types of upgrades can be a great way to help your scary date night run more smoothly. After all, you’ll want to have time to visit those spooky-themed bars.

Featured image by Terri Peters