USA TODAY's senior travel reporter Eve Chen got turned into a scareactor at Universal Orlando Resort's Halloween Horror Nights.
- Universal Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights will feature the return of iconic characters Jack the Clown and Dr. Oddfellow.
- The two rivals will unite for the first time to present a unified "Infernal Carnival of Nightmares" theme.
- A new haunted house, "Jack & Oddfellow: Chaos & Control," will explore the characters' backstories and epic battle.
If you're afraid of clowns, this may be the year to skip Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando Resort. Conversely, that may be reason to go, particularly if you're a longtime fan.
This year marks 35 years of the Florida event, and its creators are leaning by bringing back two of their most beloved icons: Jack the Clown and his nemesis, ringmaster Dr. Oddfellow, who first debuted in 2000.
"For the first time, these two rivals - they've literally killed each other in the past - are coming together and presenting a unified carnival theme that our legacy and all of the new content that we'll be presenting this year are all under," Mike Aiello, Universal Orlando Resort's senior director of Entertainment Creative Development and a mastermind of HHN, told USA TODAY.
"When you come through our front gate this year, we're bringing you into this Infernal Carnival of Nightmares." And it's no coincidence those first initials spell out I.C.O.N.
Jack the Clown vs. Dr. Oddfellow
Jack the Clown is perhaps the most iconic original character from Orlando's HHN. According to event lore, Aiello said Jack was a clown that found his way into Dr. Oddfellow's carnival.
"He would draw people into the tent, and he would do awful things to them," he said, describing Jack as very visceral, pure chaos, and "complete terror and complete fun at the same time."
Oddfellow, on the other hand, was cerebral and controlled, preferring to use supernatural powers and messing with people's minds. He didn't like the attention Jack was drawing to his carnival, so Aiello said the ringmaster killed Jack and shoved him in a box.
Of course, being Halloween Horror Nights, Jack didn't stay dead. He sprung out of the box and killed Oddfellow - who also didn't stay dead.
Over the years, both characters have evolved and remained enemies. Until now.
What houses are going to be at HHN?
The first haunted house announced for Halloween Horror Night 2026 is "Jack & Oddfellow: Chaos & Control."
Like a prelude for the larger event, the original house will explain the characters' backstories and their decades-long battle.
"The haunted house is going to be wild because ... basically you're going into the box. You're experiencing what Jack experienced when he got killed and shoved in there, and essentially you're going into a realm that we call the Oddverse. And it's in this realm that Jack and Oddfellow have this immense, epic battle," Aiello said.
Longtime fans will get to see the kinds of moments they've been asking for a long time, but they may be surprised that the house culminates in Jack and Oddfellow joining forces to create even more collective terror, in their own unique ways.
"So you've got a cerebral end of the spectrum and you've got a visceral end - two great ideologies there in how they can affect a guest," Aiello said. "And that is a lot of the content that we'll be presenting this year, is under that infernal banner."
Without going into details that can't be shared yet, he hinted there may be other breaks from the past this year.
Additional house and scare zone themes will be announced in coming months.
How long do Horror Nights last?
Universal Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights will be held on select nights from Aug. 28 through Nov. 1. Exact dates and hours have not yet been announced.
How much does it cost to go to Halloween Horror Nights?
This year's ticket prices haven't yet been revealed.
The past two years, single-night HHN tickets started at $82.99 at Universal Orlando.
Can you still ride rides at Universal during Halloween Horror Nights?
Yes. Select attractions remain open during the event at Universal Studios Florida. They typically have shorter waits than on regular park days.
What does Universal Halloween Horror Nights include?
Halloween Horror Nights is a separately ticketed event, not included with standard admission.
Guests get access to a variety of immersive haunted houses and open-air scare zones, as well as event-exclusive entertainment and select rides. Themed food, beverage and merchandise offerings are also available for purchase throughout the park.
Is Halloween Horror Nights kid-friendly?
In capital letters, HHN's website warns, "EVENT MAY BE TOO INTENSE FOR YOUNG CHILDREN AND IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 13."
Is Universal Halloween Horror Nights actually scary?
Scary is subjective, but for many people, HHN is terrifying. That's part of what brings fans back year after year.
Last year, for the first time, more timid guests had the option of buying a light-up Deathly Afraid lanyard for a more toned-down experience. It's not yet clear if those will be offered again this year.
Can the actors touch you at Halloween Horror Nights?
Scareactors are not supposed to touch guests, just like guests aren't supposed to touch them. It's possible a scare actor may brush by or bump into a guest by accident, but it wouldn't be intentional.