Days Until Halloween 2026
Find out exactly how many days until Halloween! Our live countdown shows days, weeks, hours, and minutes until October 31, 2026. Halloween is one of the most popular cultural celebrations in the United States, and whether you're planning costumes, parties, or trick-or-treating routes, knowing exactly how much time you have helps you prepare for the spookiest night of the year.
- Halloween 2026 date: Saturday, October 31, 2026
- Day of the week: Saturday (great for parties and trick-or-treating!)
- Federal holiday: No — Halloween is a cultural observance, not an official US federal holiday
- Origin: Ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, celebrated over 2,000 years ago in Ireland
- Related: Days until Christmas · Days until Thanksgiving · Days until New Year
Halloween 2026 Countdown
Live countdown to October 31, 2026
🎃 Halloween Events 2026
Holiday Countdown Comparison
✓ Halloween Planning Timeline
Detailed Countdown Stats
Halloween 2026 Quick Facts
Here's everything you need to know about Halloween 2026 at a glance:
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Day of the week | Saturday — ideal for parties, haunted houses, and extended trick-or-treating! |
| Trick-or-treating hours | Typically 5:30 PM - 9:30 PM (check your local community for official hours) |
| Daylight Saving Time | Ends Sunday, November 1, 2026 — clocks fall back the day after Halloween |
| Sunset time (approx.) | Around 6:00 PM in most US cities on October 31 |
| Next day | Sunday, November 1 — All Saints' Day; extra hour of sleep from DST change |
Pro tip: Because Halloween 2026 falls on a Saturday, you won't have to rush home from work for trick-or-treating. You'll have the entire day to set up decorations, prepare costumes, and enjoy the festivities without worrying about school or work the next morning.
Halloween Dates 2024-2030
Halloween is always on October 31, but the day of the week changes each year:
| Year | Date | Day | Days Away |
|---|
Halloween Planning Timeline
Use this week-by-week timeline to make sure you're fully prepared for Halloween 2026:
| When | Date (2026) | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| 8 weeks before | September 5 | Choose costumes for the family, plan party theme and guest list, start browsing decoration ideas |
| 6 weeks before | September 19 | Buy decorations, book party venues or haunted house tickets, send invitations |
| 4 weeks before | October 3 | Buy Halloween candy in bulk, schedule pumpkin carving day, order any online costume pieces |
| 2 weeks before | October 17 | Test costumes for fit and comfort, finalize party plans and menu, map trick-or-treating route |
| 1 week before | October 24 | Carve pumpkins, set up outdoor decorations, prepare spooky playlist, buy last-minute supplies |
| Day of! | October 31 | Final decoration setup, charge phones and cameras for photos, put out candy bowls, enjoy Halloween! |
Halloween by the Numbers
Halloween is big business in the United States and continues to grow each year. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), Americans spend approximately $10.6 billion on Halloween annually, making it one of the largest consumer holidays behind Christmas and back-to-school shopping.
About 65% of Americans celebrate Halloween in some form, whether through trick-or-treating, hosting parties, visiting haunted attractions, or decorating their homes. The average consumer spends around $100 on costumes, candy, decorations, and greeting cards combined.
The most popular costumes for adults typically include witches, vampires, ghosts, zombies, and characters from the latest blockbuster movies and TV shows. For children, superheroes, princesses, and animals consistently top the list. The most popular Halloween candy includes Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, M&M's, Snickers, Skittles, and Kit Kats — with Americans purchasing nearly 600 million pounds of candy each Halloween season.
Pumpkin sales also surge around Halloween, with over 1.5 billion pounds of pumpkins produced in the US annually, most of which are used for jack-o'-lanterns, porch decorations, and pumpkin-based recipes during the fall season.
Halloween Around the World
While Halloween is most associated with the United States, many countries have their own spooky traditions and celebrations:
| Country | Celebration | Date | Tradition |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA | Halloween | October 31 | Trick-or-treating, costume parties, haunted houses, jack-o'-lanterns |
| Mexico | Dia de los Muertos | November 1-2 | Honoring deceased loved ones with altars (ofrendas), marigolds, sugar skulls, and family gatherings at cemeteries |
| Ireland | Halloween (Samhain) | October 31 | Birthplace of Halloween; bonfires, traditional games like snap-apple, and colcannon with hidden coins |
| Japan | Halloween | October 31 | Massive costume parades in Shibuya (Tokyo), elaborate cosplay, themed events at amusement parks |
| United Kingdom | Halloween | October 31 | Bonfire Night (Guy Fawkes) on Nov 5 often overshadows Halloween; trick-or-treating growing in popularity |
| Canada | Halloween | October 31 | Very similar to the US with trick-or-treating, costumes, and pumpkin carving; UNICEF coin collection tradition |
Most Popular Halloween Costumes
According to the National Retail Federation, these are the consistently most popular costume categories:
| Category | Examples | Popularity |
|---|---|---|
| Witches | Classic witch, Glinda, Wicked Witch, modern witch | #1 adult costume |
| Vampires | Dracula, modern vampire, vampire queen | Timeless classic |
| Ghosts | Classic sheet ghost, scary specter, friendly ghost | Easy and iconic |
| Zombies | Walking dead, zombie bride, zombie celebrity | Popular since 2010s |
| Superheroes | Spider-Man, Batman, Wonder Woman, Marvel/DC | #1 kids category |
| Princesses | Disney princesses, fairy tale royalty | Perennial kids favorite |
| Pop Culture | Movie/TV characters, memes, viral trends | Changes yearly |
| Animals | Black cat, bat, spider, lion, dinosaur | Popular for all ages |
2026 costume trends: Expect costumes based on the year's biggest movies, viral memes, and pop culture moments. Start browsing costume ideas in September for the best selection.
Top Halloween Candy Rankings
Americans purchase nearly 600 million pounds of candy for Halloween each year. According to candy sales data, these are the most popular treats:
| Rank | Candy | Why It's Popular |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reese's Peanut Butter Cups | Perfect chocolate-peanut butter combo; #1 for 25+ years |
| 2 | M&M's | Colorful, shareable, and universally loved |
| 3 | Snickers | Satisfying full-size bar experience in fun size |
| 4 | Skittles | Top non-chocolate option; "taste the rainbow" appeal |
| 5 | Kit Kat | Crispy wafer crunch; easy to share |
| 6 | Twix | Caramel and cookie combination |
| 7 | Starburst | Fruit chews in fun variety packs |
| 8 | Candy Corn | Divisive but iconic Halloween-only treat |
Pro tip: Buy Halloween candy 2-3 weeks in advance when selection is best. Bulk bags from warehouse stores offer the best value per piece.
Trick-or-Treating Safety Tips
Keep Halloween fun and safe with these expert tips from the Safe Kids Worldwide organization:
- Visibility: Add reflective tape or glow sticks to costumes. Carry flashlights. Choose face paint over masks that obstruct vision.
- Supervision: Children under 12 should trick-or-treat with an adult. Older kids should go in groups and share their route.
- Traffic safety: Use sidewalks and crosswalks. Look both ways before crossing. Never assume drivers can see you.
- Costume safety: Ensure costumes fit properly to prevent tripping. Use flame-resistant materials. Keep swords and props short and flexible.
- Candy inspection: Wait until home to eat candy. Parents should inspect all treats. Discard unwrapped or suspicious items.
- Stay local: Stick to familiar neighborhoods with good lighting. Only visit houses with porch lights on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Halloween 2026 is on Saturday, October 31, 2026. Halloween is always celebrated on October 31 each year, regardless of the day of the week. Use our date calculator to find the exact number of days remaining until Halloween from any date.
Halloween 2026 falls on a Saturday, making it ideal for parties, trick-or-treating, and extended celebrations. You won't need to worry about work or school the next day, and you can enjoy the festivities at a relaxed pace. Check the date table above for Halloween days in other years.
The countdown above shows the exact number of days until Halloween 2026 (October 31, 2026). The number updates automatically each day. You can also see the countdown in weeks, hours, minutes, weekdays, and weekend days for more detailed planning.
No, Halloween is not a US federal holiday. It is a cultural observance, and most businesses, schools, and government offices remain open on October 31. However, many schools hold costume parades and parties. Check our US federal holidays 2026 guide for the complete list of official holidays.
Trick-or-treating typically starts between 5:30 PM and 6:00 PM and ends between 8:00 PM and 9:30 PM, depending on your community. Many neighborhoods and cities set official trick-or-treating hours. Younger children often start earlier while older kids go later. Check with your local municipality for specific times in your area.
The most popular Halloween costumes change each year based on trending movies, TV shows, and pop culture. Perennial favorites include witches, vampires, ghosts, zombies, and superheroes. For kids, princesses, animals, and action heroes are consistent top picks. Use our countdown to make sure you have enough time to plan and order your perfect costume.
Halloween originated from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, celebrated over 2,000 years ago in what is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France. Celts believed the boundary between the living and the dead blurred on October 31. Learn more about Halloween's history on History.com.