2026 Halloween costume and search trends

Data from Google’s Frightgeist platform and retail reports indicate various trends for the 2026 Halloween season across North America and beyond. In the United States, Google search data identifies the character Buddy as the most searched costume, followed by characters from ‘Sinister Mother’. Other prominent searches include Nikki from ‘Obsession’, Bowser Jr., and the duo Scooby and Shaggy. For children, popular choices include Dolly Parton, Ash Ketchum, and characters from ‘The Amazing Digital Circus’. Retailers like Spirit Halloween report high demand for Spider-Man and ‘Toy Story’ characters such as Buzz Lightyear, Woody, and Jessie, while Ghostface remains a consistent favorite. Recent data also indicates a rise in popularity for sour candies and specific nostalgic treats. Pet costume searches, including options like centipedes and baked potatoes, are also notable. In Canada, Spider-Man remains the top searched costume, followed by Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, and The Lorax. A significant trend shows pet costume searches—such as Scooby-Doo and hot dogs—occurring at nearly double the rate of children’s costume searches. In Langley, the annual “Halloweener” event at Uplands dog park featured a specialized haunted house for dogs. Globally, classic themes like witches, vampires, and the ‘Wednesday Addams’ aesthetic maintain popularity. In Spain, cities such as Lorca and Rincón de la Victoria have organized programs including theatrical performances, haunted passages, and parades, while Colmenar Viejo is hosting zombie-themed workshops and music events. León features the Hallowindie music festival. In Ecuador, the Viceministerio del Deporte is launching the Halloween Dance 2026 across five cities, including athletic races. In Mexico, artisans in San Andrés Cuexcontitlán are preparing resin figures for Día de Muertos, a related seasonal observance. In Argentina, the holiday continues to grow in popularity as it falls on a Saturday this year. As festivities approach, regional celebrations are expanding.