Universal Studios Hollywood will debut a new interactive experience, Scooby-Doo Meets The Universal Monsters: Mystery on the Backlot, during Universal Fan Fest Nights. The attraction will run on select evenings from April 23 through May 16, 2026.
As part of the experience, guests board the Studio Tour tram and travel onto the studio’s historic backlot, where they are cast as extras in a fictional monster movie production. The storyline takes a turn when a mysterious figure known as the Phantom Director disrupts the filming by unleashing several of the classic Universal Monsters.
Guests will team up with Scooby-Doo and the Mystery Inc. crew—Fred, Daphne, Velma, and Shaggy—to investigate the situation. Using a provided “Mystery Manual,” participants follow clues throughout sections of the studio backlot while attempting to uncover the Phantom Director’s identity.
The experience takes guests through well-known outdoor sets including the cobblestone streets of Little Europe and the Court of Miracles, locations historically connected to productions such as Frankenstein (1931) and The Wolf Man (1941). Along the way, participants encounter characters from the Scooby-Doo series as well as classic Universal Monsters including Dracula, Frankenstein’s Monster, the Bride of Frankenstein, and the Wolf Man.
Photo opportunities featuring the Mystery Inc. team, the Universal Monsters, and the Mystery Machine are also part of the attraction.
Scooby-Doo Meets The Universal Monsters: Mystery on the Backlot is included as one of several experiences during Universal Fan Fest Nights, an after-hours event that celebrates popular fandoms through immersive environments, live entertainment, character encounters, themed food and merchandise.
Universal Fan Fest Nights will take place on twelve select evenings at Universal Studios Hollywood: April 23–25, May 1–3, May 7–9, and May 14–16, 2026.
