Halloween Costume Ideas 2026: Trending Picks With Prices

What is trending for Halloween 2026

Two sources tell us what people are planning to wear this year, and both published their own lists for 2026. Spirit Halloween released its 2026 costume trend report on 1 October, and the National Retail Federation (NRF) published its costume findings on 14 October. We paired their trends with costumes we found at US costume stores on 18 October 2026, with the prices shown that day. Prices change daily and many reductions apply to some sizes only, so check the price in your size at checkout.

Spirit's report groups this year's looks into three families: the "hyped and hot" (Off Campus varsity looks, Toy Story, KPop Demon Hunters, Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Power Rangers), myth and fantasy (Greek-inspired armor and cloaks, dragon riders and rogue adventurers) and horror and gaming (slashers and viral internet horrors, Fortnite and Halo, giant inflatables and mascot heads). NRF says Spider-Man is again the top children's costume, KPop Demon Hunters stays in the children's top 10, and Batman moves up to third place for adults. NRF also found that 71% plan to buy a costume this year, and it expects costume spending of $4.4 billion.

Trending 2026 costumes and where to buy them

• KPop Demon Hunters: HalloweenCostumes.com lists 71 items, from the Girl's Classic Rumi at $39.99 to $79.99 and the Girl's Classic Mira at $34.99 to $49.99 to women's deluxe Rumi, Zoey and Mira costumes at $79.99 each, and a Boy's Classic Saja Boy at $49.99. Halloween Express has the kids' classic Rumi, Mira and Zoey from $39.99.
• Toy Story: HalloweenCostumes.com has a Men's Disney Deluxe Woody at $79.99 to $149.99 and a Women's Jessie Cowgirl at $49.99 to $69.99. Halloween Express sells an Adults Deluxe Woody jumpsuit at $64.99 and toddler Woody and Jessie costumes at $39.99. For a matching pair, see our couples and group costume guide.
• Spider-Man and superheroes: Halloween Express lists an Adults Marvel's Spider-Man Qualux costume at $76.99. At HalloweenCostumes.com, a Boy's Spider-Man 2099 suit is $49.99 to $89.99 (was $59.99) and a Kid's Captain America zentai suit is $19.99 (was $29.99). Our kids costume deals guide has more.
• Greek mythology: HalloweenCostumes.com has a Men's Zeus at $34.99 to $39.99, a Men's Poseidon at $59.99 and a Disney Hades at $79.99 to $114.99. Halloween Express lists a Women's Roman Goddess at $15.07, a cheap base for a Greek or Roman look.
• Star Wars: the Men's Qualux Mandalorian at HalloweenCostumes.com is $49.99 to $89.99, with the lower price in some sizes only; Halloween Express has its own Mandalorian Qualux at $72.99.
• Super Mario: Halloween Express sells an Adults Classic Elevated Mario at $29.99, Luigi at $41.99 and a Women's Deluxe Princess Peach at $94.99.

Spirit also names Off Campus varsity looks and Fortnite and Halo costumes among its 2026 trends. Its own website did not load for our checks, so we do not quote its prices here; our Spirit Halloween sale guide covers its codes and store dates.

Funny Halloween costume ideas

Funny costumes work best when people get the joke at a glance. NRF found that a funny or silly costume matters most to 21% of Gen X and 17% of Baby Boomers.

• Inflatables: HalloweenCostumes.com lists 230, including an adult inflatable Patrick Star at $69.99 (was $129.99), an Inflatable Moon at $39.99 (was $59.99) and a Toy Story Hamm at $79.99.
• A blimp: Spirit announced on 9 September a Goodyear Blimp inflatable costume at $79.99, sold online only and while supplies last, with a built-in battery-powered fan. We could not check its stock.
• Food and toys: a Shrimp costume at $49.99 to $59.99 and Mrs. or Mr. Potato Head at $59.99 to $89.99, both at HalloweenCostumes.com.
• Meme: Halloween Express sells the "This Is Fine" dog meme mask with sign at $44.99.

Scary Halloween costume ideas

• Ghostface: the Adult Ghost Face costume set at HalloweenCostumes.com is $49.99 (was $59.99); the Adult Scream Ghost Face costume is $34.99 to $39.99.
• Jason Voorhees: the licensed Men's Friday the 13th Jason Classic costume is $29.99 in M, L and XL and $59.99 in Plus (was $39.99) at HalloweenCostumes.com. It includes the shirt with attached jacket and the mask; pants and weapon are sold separately.
• Pennywise: the Men's IT Movie Pennywise is $69.99 to $114.99 (was $79.99).
• Wednesday: the Women's Wednesday Nevermore costume is $29.99 (was $49.99).
• Classic monsters: a Hocus Pocus Billy Butcherson costume at $79.99 to $89.99 (was $99.99) and a Women's Royal Vampire at $39.99 (was $49.99).

A mask or makeup often does more for a scary look than the costume itself: see our masks and props guide and our Halloween makeup deals. For Catwoman, Joker and other character costumes, our cosplay costume guide lists what is in stock.

Creative Halloween costume ideas

NRF found that 16% of people value a niche or unique costume most, rising to 21% among Gen Z. A creative costume is usually an unexpected subject done well rather than an expensive one:

• An Adult Big Game Grass costume at $79.99.
• Carl from Up at $79.99 (was $89.99).
• A Men's Anubis at $29.99 to $49.99 (was $49.99), an Egyptian take on the mythology trend.
• Mr. Monopoly at $59.99.

If you would rather make something, our DIY costume supplies guide prices felt, fleece and foam at craft and fabric shops.

Cute Halloween costume ideas

• A Women's Toy Story Alien dress at $49.99 to $69.99 or a Bo Peep costume dress at $79.99, both at HalloweenCostumes.com.
• An Infant Deluxe Woody at $49.99 for a baby's first Halloween.
• A Kid's Chicken Nugget at $24.99 to $44.99 (was $39.99) or a Women's Pinata dress at $34.99 to $39.99.

NRF says 23% of people plan to dress their pets this year; our pet costume guide covers sizes and prices, and our adult costume guide compares prices by store.

Easy costume ideas when time is short

A recognizable mask or a cape set turns everyday clothes into a costume and avoids the size question:

• An Adult Scream Ghost Face mask at $12.99 or a Jason Universe adult mask at $12.99, both at HalloweenCostumes.com; the Jason mask and machete kit is $49.99.
• Kids' Marvel cape and mask sets at Halloween Express at $12.99, including Spider-Man, Captain America and Hulk.

Our last-minute costume guide has more quick options and the latest order dates.

Order in time, and characters that sell out

Halloween is on Saturday 31 October. HalloweenCostumes.com's US delivery table on 18 October showed that an order placed on 18 or 19 October with Standard shipping arrives by 27 October. Standard still reaches you by 30 October for orders placed by 22 October, and its fastest service, Premium, for orders up to 29 October. Halloween Express publishes no Halloween order-by chart; its Standard shipping arrives 3 to 5 business days after the order ships. Party City offers store pickup at its franchise stores, which our Party City sale guide explains.

Popular characters sell out first. On 18 October every licensed adult Catwoman costume was out of stock at HalloweenCostumes.com and FUN.com, FUN.com had no complete Joker costume left, and five of the eight light-up masks at HalloweenCostumes.com were out of stock. If your first choice is gone, the separate pieces (a bodysuit, a mask, gloves) are often still available.

For every Halloween offer we track, see our Halloween sale page and the Halloween deals hub. More costume guides are in Costumes and Party.

How we checked

We read Spirit Halloween's press releases of 1 October 2026 (costume trend report) and 9 September 2026 (blimp costume), and NRF's costume trends article of 14 October 2026. On 18 October 2026 we read the trend, theme and product pages of HalloweenCostumes.com, Halloween Express and FUN.com, and HalloweenCostumes.com's US delivery table from a US connection. Prices are as shown that day, ranges are prices by size, and "was" prices are the store's own. We have not tried these costumes on. This guide is written by the SavingArena Editorial Team.

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