Halloween 2026 dates: September 26 to November 1
The Disney Halloween Festival 2026 runs from September 26 to November 1, 2026, at Disneyland Park. Disney announced these dates well ahead of time, back in November 2025.
The big news this year is the start date. For the first time, the season begins before October 1: it opens on September 26, a Saturday. From 2022 to 2025, Halloween always started on October 1, so this is a real break from the usual calendar.
Toward the end of the season, on October 31, the parks stay open later, until 23:00. I go over that evening in more detail a little further down.
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What’s new for Halloween 2026 and the season’s program
Halloween 2026 brings several notable new additions. Mickey and his friends have new outfits, Main Street, U.S.A. gets a new look, and The Unlucky Nugget Saloon grows bigger. Here’s the program, item by item.
- [New] Mickey and friends in Halloween outfits Mickey turns into a mystic count, Minnie a witch, Donald a vampire, and Daisy a bat lady. They all wear the same bat-shaped brooch set with a diamond. Among them, only Donald and Daisy have a Halloween meet and greet on the Disneyland Park schedule: they pose together on Main Street, U.S.A.
- [New] A new look for Main Street, U.S.A. The train station (Main Street Station) reveals four art deco stained glass windows of the Villains: Maleficent, Ursula, Hades, and Dr. Facilier. Town Square is decked out with Mickey and Minnie pumpkins. New banners cast the Villains’ silhouettes all along the avenue. Nighttime projections and new music round out the mood. The walk ends at Le Théâtre du Château, overrun with brambles and ravens.
- [New] The Unlucky Nugget Saloon, now extended upstairs In Frontierland, the saloon goes back to its haunted version, themed around the wedding that never happened for Melanie Ravenswood, the bride from Phantom Manor. New this year: the experience now reaches the upper floor, completely redesigned, with a reworked menu that includes a slice of her wedding cake.
- [New] The fun spreads beyond the saloon This year, the theme doesn’t stop at the saloon. The Last Chance Cafe right next door and the popcorn stand across the way also take on the colors of the Ravenswood family.
- The Halloween cavalcade Disneyland Park welcomes back "Mickey’s Halloween Celebration": Daisy leads four floats, and you’ll spot rarer characters such as Clarabelle Cow and Horace Horsecollar. Mickey takes center stage for the big finish. I cover it all on my cavalcade page.
- The Disney Villains About ten Villains join the party, including Maleficent, Cruella, Jafar, the Queen of Hearts, and Dr. Facilier (back in Frontierland). You’ll find them and their locations in the table below. All the details on my Villains page.
- More Halloween characters Vampire Stitch, skeleton Goofy, and ghost Chip ’n’ Dale pose for photos at the times shown in the table below. Jack and Sally (from The Nightmare Before Christmas) can be met with a free reservation, through the virtual queue in the app (how it works). My tip: book as soon as your ticket is scanned at the entrance, because the time slots go fast.
- Fall vibes across the park and the Disney hotels On Main Street, U.S.A., around forty new pumpkins and 170 new candles add to the decor. Frontierland celebrates the Day of the Dead near Casa de Coco, and the Disney hotels switch to fall colors. New decorations, lighting effects, and ghostly touches add to the mood.
- The M&M’s Mysterious Doors hunt This free treasure hunt is back this season. Ask a Cast Member for a map (while supplies last), then look for the doors hidden around the park. Then pick up your treats at the Boardwalk Candy Palace, on Main Street, U.S.A.
- Seasonal treats and souvenirs For your sweet tooth, new creations like the Brookie from Hell and the Ursula cake make their debut, along with a Halloween souvenir collection that includes the Pumpkin Mickey shoulder plush.
- October 31, the big night Disneyland Park stays open later that evening, with an M&M’s giveaway (the season’s official partner). The night wraps up at 23:00 with Disney Tales of Magic and its pyrotechnics. That day, everyone can come in costume, adults included. It’s all included in the dated ticket for that day, the most expensive of the season (the undated ticket isn’t valid that day). See my October 31 evening page.
Times for the cavalcade and meet and greets
Mickey’s Halloween Celebration comes by twice a day, at 15:25 and 17:00. There’s no Halloween-specific nighttime show on the schedule. Disney Tales of Magic closes out every day at park closing. It starts at 22:00 most nights, at 21:00 when the park closes earlier, and at 23:00 on October 31.
Curious how this year stacks up against earlier ones? The rundown of past seasons lays it all out.
Here’s the list of Halloween characters and where to meet them. All of these meet and greets are included with your ticket. No reservation is needed, except for Jack and Sally (free reservation in the app).
| Character | Where | How and when |
|---|---|---|
| Donald and Daisy, in Halloween outfits | Main Street, U.S.A. | 8:30-10:30, then 12:00-13:30 |
| Vampire Stitch | Main Street, U.S.A. | Every 30 minutes, 8:30-13:30 |
| Ghost Chip ’n’ Dale | Adventureland | 10:45, 11:15, 11:45, and 12:15, then 15:15 and 15:45 |
| Skeleton Goofy | Frontierland | Every 30 minutes 10:45-12:45, then 15:15, 15:45, and 16:15 |
| Jack and Sally | Frontierland | By reservation only, in the Disneyland Paris app |
| Dr. Facilier | Frontierland | 9:30, 13:30, 16:00, 17:00, and 18:15 |
| Jafar | Adventureland | Every 30 minutes 9:30-10:30, then 13:00-15:00 |
| The Queen of Hearts | Fantasyland | 12:45, 13:00, 13:30, and 14:00 |
| Captain Hook | Adventureland | Every 30 minutes, 13:30-16:30 |
| Maleficent and the Evil Queen | Le Théâtre du Château | Photo spot, no times announced |
| Cruella de Vil | Near Toad Hall Restaurant | Surprise appearances, no times announced |
| Lady Tremaine and her daughters | Castle Courtyard | Surprise appearances, no times announced |
| Gaston | Near The Old Mill | Surprise appearances, no times announced |
Official Disney times, checked on September 26: the same every day through October 31, unless adjusted. Before the park opens, the time slots take place during Extra Magic Time (Disney hotels, Disneyland Pass Gold).
I introduce the Halloween Villains one at a time, who they are and which movie they come from, on my Halloween Villains page.
Where can you check today’s times?
You’ll find them in the Disneyland Paris app and on my site. For scheduled meet and greets, the page linked in the table shows that day’s time slots, live, based on Disney’s official schedule. The same goes for the Mickey’s Halloween Celebration page. Surprise appearances, on the other hand, have no announced times. Disney publishes its schedule several weeks in advance, but can still tweak it the day before or the same day.
Which days are best for Halloween 2026 if you want smaller crowds?
The start of the season is usually quieter. This year, aim for a weekday before October 17, when Toussaint (the French fall school break) begins. That break then covers the whole end of the season, through November 1.
On the flip side, crowds build during that break, and October 31 is the busiest day of the season. For that stretch, I recommend planning ahead and booking your tickets and hotel early.
To fine-tune your dates, check out my crowd guide.
Planning your visit for Halloween 2026
For the full background (which park hosts Halloween, who it’s for, what kind of atmosphere to expect), see my Disneyland Paris Halloween guide. And if you’re visiting as a family, check out my guide to Halloween with kids.
My dedicated guides, listed below, will help you go further and get everything organized. If you prefer, jump right to the costume rules or my cavalcade page.
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Read the articleFrequently asked questions
01 When is the full Halloween program announced?
Disney usually reveals the detailed program between mid-August and mid-September, so 2 to 6 weeks before the season opens. The 2026 program was announced in early September.
02 What’s new at Disneyland Paris for Halloween 2026?
Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Daisy are wearing new Halloween outfits. Main Street, U.S.A. gets a makeover, with Villains stained-glass windows at the train station and projections in the evening. In Frontierland, The Unlucky Nugget Saloon expands upstairs. The season also kicks off earlier than usual, on September 26.
03 What’s the best time to enjoy the season while avoiding crowds?
Your best bet is early in the season, on a weekday, outside French school vacation. The first two weeks are usually fairly quiet. The busiest days are October 31 for Halloween, and the stretch between Christmas and New Year’s for Christmas. The day-by-day breakdown is in my crowd guide.
04 Can you wear a costume for Halloween at Disneyland Paris?
During the season, costumes are only for kids under 12, who can come dressed up throughout the season. On October 31, everyone can wear one, adults included. The exact rules (no masks, face uncovered) are covered in dressing up for Halloween.
05 Is a special ticket or a higher price required for October 31?
There’s no "evening" ticket: you book October 31 with a dated ticket for that day. It’s the most expensive day of the season, for 1 park or 2 parks alike. The day’s prices are in my ticket guide. Park hours are extended (9:00 to 23:00 in 2026) and everyone can wear a costume. It’s also one of the busiest days for crowds.
06 What are this year’s Halloween season dates at Disneyland Paris?
The Halloween season runs from September 26 to November 1 at Disneyland Park. The pumpkin decorations are concentrated on Main Street U.S.A. and in Frontierland, with Disney villain meet and greets and a dedicated parade. On October 31, both parks extend their hours into the evening (exact times on the official calendar).
