Universal Studios Hollywood will soon kick off Halloween Horror Nights 2026, and with it myriad terrors that await. Beginning September third and running select nights through November 2, the event serves up world class haunted houses based on iconic horror movies like Hellraiser, Killer Klowns from Outer Space, and Sinners. There are also some ghastly original concept houses in store like Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness, Dead Deader Deadest, and Killciñera.

We were invited for a special sneak peek at the new food and merchandise offerings coming for this year’s event inspired  by the various houses and scare zones. After trying somethings and seeing what’s coming we have one thing to say: the only things that should be really scared are your storage space and your hunger.

The Merch

SURFER BOY PIZZA (located on the Lower Lot at Studio Cafe)

• Surfer Boy Pizza – Pepperoni – personal pepperoni pizza
• Surfer Boy Pizza – Cheese – personal cheese pizza
• Hellfire Club Spicy Italian Sandwich – spicy Italian sandwich with turkey, salami, pepperoni, provolone cheese, banana peppers, red onion, lettuce and a Calabrian chili aioli
• Steve’s Smuggled Peanut Butter Bites – chocolate-coated creamy peanut butter filling bites, with chopped peanuts and chocolate chips

Surfer Boy Pizza – Pepperoni – personal pepperoni pizza

Surfer Boy Pizza – Cheese – personal cheese pizza

Hellfire Club Spicy Italian Sandwich – spicy Italian sandwich with turkey, salami, pepperoni, provolone cheese, banana peppers, red onion, lettuce and a Calabrian chili aioli

Steve’s Smuggled Peanut Butter Bites – chocolate-coated creamy peanut butter filling bites, with chopped peanuts and chocolate chips

“SINNERS” at City Snacks (located near Universal Plaza)

• Remmick’s Burnt Ends – pork burnt ends in a black garlic whiskey BBQ sauce, served with jalapeño cornbread
• “Pick Poor Robin Clean” – chicken wings in a black garlic whiskey BBQ sauce, topped with crispy garlic chips served with jalapeño cornbread.

• Pecan and Whiskey Bread Pudding – warm brown sugar pecan bread pudding topped with a whiskey butterscotch sauce and flaky salt
• I Lied to You, I Love the Blues-berry (non-alcoholic) – ginger ale, white grape juice, lemon juice and blue curacao syrup, with fresh blueberries and a lemon wedge

“Pick Poor Robin Clean” – chicken wings in a black garlic whiskey BBQ sauce, topped with crispy garlic chips served with jalapeño cornbread.

Pale, Pale Moon Ale Shandy – Blue Moon, lemonade and simple syrup garnished with a dehydrated orange. I Lied to You, I Love the Blues-berry – blueberry vodka, ginger ale, white grape juice, lemon juice and blue curacao syrup, with fresh blueberries and a lemon wedge. Remmick’s Burnt Ends – pork burnt ends in a black garlic whiskey BBQ sauce, served with jalapeño cornbread

“SINNERS’ Club Juke” at Mulligan’s Bar (located on the Upper Lot)

• Prohibition Punch – Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select Whiskey, lemonade, honey and orange bitters with a blackberry hibiscus float and dehydrated lemon wheel
• I Lied to You, I Love the Blues-berry – blueberry vodka, ginger ale, white grape juice, lemon juice and blue curacao syrup, with fresh blueberries and a lemon wedge
• I Lied to You, I Love the Blues-berry (non-alcoholic) – ginger ale, white grape juice, lemon juice and blue curacao syrup, with fresh blueberries and a lemon wedge
• Juke Juice – blackberry moonshine, lemonade, blackberry puree, maple syrup, bitters and a black sugar rim with a dehydrated blood orange and fresh blackberries
• Pale, Pale Moon Ale Shandy – Blue Moon, lemonade and simple syrup garnished with a dehydrated orange

ZZY’S BAR (located on the Lower Lot)

• Bark at the Naan – naan taco filled with chicken tikka masala, red cabbage, diced pineapple, lime crema and cilantro
• Crazy Train Chickpea Curry Burrito – coconut chickpea curry burrito with diced tomato, pineapple chutney, red cabbage and lime crema
• The Prince of Darkness Cake – carrot cake with cream cheese mousse, coated in a black ganache, topped with chocolate mousse and a chocolate bat
• I Just Want You… & Tacos – Fritos®, black garlic BBQ brisket, red onion, coleslaw and cilantro
• Mr. Crowley’s Curse – zero proof whiskey, lemonade, blackberry syrup and blue curacao syrup
• Bark at the Moon Mule – grape vodka mule with a grape Pop Rocks rim and fresh blackberries
• Ultimate Sin-amon – cinnamon fire whiskey, apple juice, spiced brown sugar, lemon juice and beet powder with a cinnamon sugar rim and chocolate bat
• Blizzard of Ozz-arita – tequila, blue curacao, lime juice, simple syrup and Sprite with a black sugar rim and black rock candy

Crazy Train Chickpea Curry Burrito – coconut chickpea curry burrito with diced tomato, pineapple chutney, red cabbage and lime crema

The Prince of Darkness Cake – carrot cake with cream cheese mousse, coated in a black ganache, topped with chocolate mousse and a chocolate bat

I Just Want You… & Tacos – Fritos®, black garlic BBQ brisket, red onion, coleslaw and cilantro

• Mr. Crowley’s Curse – zero proof whiskey, lemonade, blackberry syrup and blue curacao syrup

Ultimate Sin-amon – cinnamon fire whiskey, apple juice, spiced brown sugar, lemon juice and beet powder with a cinnamon sugar rim and chocolate bat

• Bark at the Moon Mule – grape vodka mule with a grape Pop Rocks rim and fresh blackberries
• Blizzard of Ozz-arita – tequila, blue curacao, lime juice, simple syrup and Sprite with a black sugar rim and black rock candy

CLOWN CAFE (located on the Lower Lot)

• Death by Cheese Stick – giant fried mozzarella stick coasted in crushed Ruffles® and served with spicy marinara
• Bloodbath Brisket Fries – French fries topped with brisket, BBQ sauce, jalapeño ranch, crispy onion and green onions
• Clown Cafe Cauliflower Bites – spicy fired cauliflower topped with a Flamin Hot® Cheeto sauce and Fritos® chips
• Gut Wound – chocolate raspberry croissant pull-apart
• Root in Evil – vodka, root beer schnapps cherry syrup and Sprite topped with a black licorice straw and maraschino cherries
• Art’s Killer Cold Brew – bourbon, amaro, cold brew coffee, vanilla syrup and sweet cream cold foam with a chocolate Art the Clown hat
• Christmas Tree Glasses Sandwich Cookie – green sugar cookie sandwich filled with raspberry jam, pistachio buttercream and chopped pistachios

Death by Cheese Stick – giant fried mozzarella stick coasted in crushed Ruffles® and served with spicy marinara

Gut Wound – chocolate raspberry croissant pull-apart

• Art’s Killer Cold Brew – bourbon, amaro, cold brew coffee, vanilla syrup and sweet cream cold foam with a chocolate Art the Clown hat

Root in Evil (Left) – vodka, root beer schnapps cherry syrup and Sprite topped with a black licorice straw and maraschino cherries.  ART THE CLOWN’S TINSEL BAR – Frosty Night (Center) – rum, blue curacao, lime juice, simple syrup and Sprite with a Christmas sprinkle marshmallow rim and a cherry. Silent Night Slasher (Right) – vodka, lime juice, green apple syrup and ginger beer with a strawberry puree float and gummy Christmas trees

Christmas Tree Glasses Sandwich Cookie – green sugar cookie sandwich filled with raspberry jam, pistachio buttercream and chopped pistachios

ART THE CLOWN’S TINSEL BAR (located near Animation Studio Store)

• Silent Night Slasher – vodka, lime juice, green apple syrup and ginger beer with a strawberry puree float and gummy Christmas trees
• Art’s Killer Cold Brew – bourbon, amaro, cold brew coffee, vanilla syrup and sweet cream cold foam with a chocolate Art the Clown hat
• Mistletoe Massacre – tequila, Aperol, blackberry syrup, lime juice and agave with a black sugar rim & strawberry-drizzled sweet cream cold foam
• Frosty Night – rum, blue curacao, lime juice, simple syrup and Sprite with a Christmas sprinkle marshmallow rim and a cherry

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS (located in Universal Plaza)

• Beef Birria Tacos – beef birria tacos with cilantro and onion
• Salsa Verde Walking Taco – salsa verde Tostitos® chips topped with birria, white queso and red onion
• Esquites – corn sliced off the cobb topped with grated cotija cheese, cilantro and Tajin
• Pineapple Spears – fresh pineapple spears with Tajin and chamoy
• The Drowned Bride – citrus vodka, blue curacao, lemonade and vanilla with lemon popping boba pearls
• La Siguanaba Spicy Margarita – spicy watermelon habanero margarita with a chamoy, Tajin rim and a tamarind straw
• El Cadejo Mangorita – tequila, triple sec, mango nectar, lime juice and agave topped with a chili-covered mango
• Muerte Michelada – Modelo Especial or Modelo Negra, michelada mix with a chamoy and Tajin rim
• Frozen Margarita – choice of lime, strawberry or mango
• Pepino Margarita – tequila, triple sec, lime juice, agave and sparkling cucumber soda with a chamoy and Ttajin rim and fresh cucumbers
• Pina Margarita – tequila, mezcal, lime juice, agave and pineapple juice topped with a chamoy-drizzled pineapple wedge

STUDIO SCOOPS FEATURING HELLO KITTY CHUCKY (located on the Lower Lot)

• Hello Kitty Chucky Strawberry Cheesecake Sundae – strawberry swirled vanilla soft-serve, strawberry topping and cheesecake pieces with a chocolate bow

KILLER SNACKS (located near Hellraiser and Evil Dead Burn)

• Skin & Chips Nachos – spicy pork rinds topped with Tostitos® nacho cheese sauce and Jack Links beef jerky
• Open the Box – sinisterly sour donut bites filled with a blue raspberry filling

Skin & Chips Nachos – spicy pork rinds topped with Tostitos® nacho cheese sauce and Jack Links beef jerky

Open the Box – sinisterly sour donut bites filled with a blue raspberry filling

EVIL DEAD BURN (located at Mummy Eats on the Lower Lot)

• Severed & Smoked Chicken – smoked chicken quarter with a Sichuan chili crisp

Severed & Smoked Chicken – smoked chicken quarter with a Sichuan chili crisp

TOWER SNACKS FEATURING FORTNITEMARES (located near Universal Plaza)

• Slurp Juice – Mountain Berry Powerade, Sprite, pineapple juice, blue curacao syrup and edible glitter
• Zero Point Pretzel – soft pretzel dipped in dark chocolate and topped with purple sugar
• The Final Peel – green vanilla whoopie pie filled with banana caramel buttercream, salted toffee sauce and salted caramel crisp pearls
• Battle Bus Dog – giant 22″ all-beef hot dog with Tostitos® nacho cheese sauce, coleslaw, Sriracha aioli, banana peppers and crushed Hot Cheetos

Slurp Juice – Mountain Berry Powerade, Sprite, pineapple juice, blue curacao syrup and edible glitter
Zero Point Pretzel – soft pretzel dipped in dark chocolate and topped with purple sugar

The Final Peel – green vanilla whoopie pie filled with banana caramel buttercream, salted toffee sauce and salted caramel crisp pearls

Battle Bus Dog – giant 22″ all-beef hot dog with Tostitos® nacho cheese sauce, coleslaw, Sriracha aioli, banana peppers and crushed Hot Cheetos

TREEHOUSE OF HORROR (located on the Upper Lot, in select Springfield restaurants)

• Sloppy D’oh – ground beef in a tangy tomato chili sauce, topped with Fritos®
• Worst.Brat.Ever! – bratwurst in a pretzel roll topped with Duff cheese sauce and sauerkraut
• Road Scrapin’s – French fries topped with white country gravy, cheese, fried chicken, and crispy onions
• Pumpkin Spice Cold Boo – cold brew topped with pumpkin spice pink vanilla cold foam and a donut hole
• Mmm…Forbidden Pumpkin Donut – vanilla donut with a pumpkin spice icing topped with sprinkles and a printed candy note

Sloppy D’oh – ground beef in a tangy tomato chili sauce, topped with Fritos®

Worst.Brat.Ever! – bratwurst in a pretzel roll topped with Duff cheese sauce and sauerkraut

Road Scrapin’s – French fries topped with white country gravy, cheese, fried chicken, and crispy onions

Pumpkin Spice Cold Boo – cold brew topped with pumpkin spice pink vanilla cold foam and a donut hole

Mmm…Forbidden Pumpkin Donut – vanilla donut with a pumpkin spice icing topped with sprinkles and a printed candy note

Available at Various Locations

• Chocolate Raspberry Bloody Cookie – soft chocolate cookie filled with raspberry jam, topped with chocolate “blood” splatter

Not gonna lie, this has to be the strongest food line-up yet for Halloween Horror Nights. Whoever came up with the names for some of these bites is a genius, with particular kudos for the Treehouse of Horror foods. But it’s all about the taste and there was nothing that we tried that we didn’t like. That has never happened.

While the dessert items were consistently good, I personally prefer savory over sweet and spicy over mild. The Clown Cafe Cauliflower Bites bites were a hit for me as was the Hellfire Club Spicy Italian Sandwich, and the  For me though, the hands down winner was the Severed & Smoked Chicken. Looking at it you think it would burn your mouth like the infamous Guatemalan Insanity Pepper, but no.  The light coating of Sichuan chili’s gives the chicken a savory flavor that isn’t hot, but warm with flavor. It reminded me of a slightly spicy mole sauce. I know what I will be getting again when Halloween Horror Nights opens on September 3rd.

Universal Studio Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights runs select nights from Thursday, September 3 through Sunday, November 1. Event tickets for both theme parks are on sale now. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.HalloweenHorrorNights.com.