The key facts

  • The red-and-black zebra top of Nikki, the heroine of the film Obsession, sold out with a waiting list of 27,000 people
  • Ghostface masks from Scream account for 30% of sales at the Hollywood Fancy Dress store in Bournemouth
  • The whimsical trend: gargoyles, moths, mushrooms, forest fairies and Pierrot clowns

Film and TV Set the Trends

According to BBC News, the main sources of inspiration for Halloween 2026 costumes have been the year's films and TV series. One of the most copied looks is Nikki, played by Inde Navarrette, from the indie horror Obsession: her red-and-black zebra top went viral, sold out online and, according to reports, amassed a waiting list of 27,000 people before returning to stores. Muhammad Rai of the London shop Fancy Dress Town says customers ask for a red corset and wig for this look, but the item is out of stock. Special effects makeup artist Meg from Liverpool adds that she has been asked several times to recreate that makeup.

TV Series and 1990s-2000s Nostalgia

The look of The Traitors host Claudia Winkleman — fringe, tartan, chunky knitwear and dark eyeliner — is, in the words of the author of the Instagram account Love of Huns, 'a classic we see every year', and this year it will return on the wave of the show's popularity. Trending videos also feature characters from the series Off Campus — Allie and Dean, who in the show's plot dress as J.Lo and Maverick from 'Top Gun' for Halloween, giving fans a 'meta' opportunity for a couples costume. The series Widow's Bay, which won Emmy awards, is also inspiring: 35-year-old Maria Nichol from Ely (Cambridgeshire) is making the headdress of the character Patricia with deer antlers and a taxidermy fox out of foam clay, foil and fur. Nichol also expects a surge of 1990s-2000s nostalgia: Buffy, Hilary Duff and the heroines of 'Practical Magic', whose sequel was released last month.

Gothic, Mythology and Horror Franchises

Designer Tamar Zeiger, who owns a costume rental business in London, notes the influence of gothic romance and historical motifs from the films 'Wuthering Heights', 'The Odyssey' and The Bride!, as well as corsets, lace and dramatic silhouettes on the runways, in particular at London Fashion Week. In her view, together with 'Peaky Blinders', these films have brought theatrical styles back into fashion — from lavish historical dresses and Greek mythology to 1930s glamour. Horror franchises are on the list too: Scream 7 and Scary Movie 6 were released this year. According to Ben Cook, senior manager of the Hollywood Fancy Dress store in Bournemouth, Ghostface masks from Scream account for 30% of the store's sales, and costumes from KPop Demon Hunters — winner of the 'Oscar' for best animated film — are currently the best-selling item for children. Returns of looks from the series Wednesday and Bridgerton are also expected.

Celebrities and Politicians

Zeiger predicts many recognisable figures: from Dolly Parton with her wigs and rhinestones to Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. Rai of Fancy Dress Town says that after Parton's death in August at the age of 80, demand grew for blonde wigs, cowboy vests and microphones. Love of Huns suggests a couples look of Charli XCX and Madonna after their joint remix Danceteria Afterhours, as well as Maria Carey with 'The Last Supper' — after the star became a meme by posting a selfie with Leonardo da Vinci's painting in Milan. According to the account's author, this is 'a strong option' requiring only a blonde wig and an A3 sheet with a printout of the painting. Another idea is a costume in the form of the canned cocktail Buzzballz.

The Whimsical Trend and DIY Costumes

The whimsical aesthetic, which dominated social media in 2026, is predicted to strongly influence women's costumes: gargoyles, moths, mushrooms, forest fairies and 17th-century Pierrot clowns. 23-year-old TikToker Lauren Sidebottom from Leeds is planning a weeping angel look using body art, grey tights, a cracked-skin effect, painted tears and a grey wig; in her words, girls her age want to 'look cool, different, not like everyone else'. 21-year-old Tiggy Bellinger from West Sussex shares looks of a mime, the Very Hungry Caterpillar and a ladybird, using her own or borrowed clothes to inspire others not to buy ready-made costumes from fast fashion brands. 25-year-old Sophia from Cambridge will dress as Hannah Montana in honour of the anniversary special, using a blonde wig and pink dress she already owns.

A two-way composite shows on the left Inde Navarrette in Obsession looking to left of frame aghast with blood on her face, and on the right Matt Damon and Zendaya in the Odyssey looking serious wearing ancient Greek garb.Image source, Alamy/Universal
Promo shot for The Traitors with Claudia Winkleman wearing all black apart from red fingerless gloves Image source, BBC/Studio Lambert/Euan Cherry/PA Wire
Image caption,

By order of the Traitors, channel your inner Claudia

A two-way composite image shows on the left Allie dancing while dressed in a green dress and curly hair, and on the right Dean smiling towards camera while at the party dressed in a fighter pilot's outfit with Top Gun badges on.Image source, Liane Hentscher/Prime
Image caption,

Released at the beginning of the summer, ice hockey romance drama Off Campus sees characters Allie and Dean attend a Halloween party dressed as J-Lo and Top Gun's Maverick

Inde Navarrette in Obsession looking to left of frame aghast with blood on her face, with her black-and-red zebra print dress just in view from an indoor scene from the film.Image source, Focus Features via Alamy
Image caption,

Inde Navarrette's character, Nikki, in Obsession is providing huge costume inspiration

A woman posing for the camera, with her hand up by her temple. She is wearing prosthetics on her forehead, dark eyes and bright red lips and a publicity still from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, series 1.Image source, @megamorphosisfx / 20th Century Fox via Alamy
Image caption,

Meg (left), from Liverpool, took inspiration from Buffy the Vampire Slayer during a previous spooky season

NICOLE KIDMAN as Gillian Owens and SANDRA BULLOCK as Sally Owens in “Practical Magic 2,” Image source, Warner Bros
Image caption,

Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman cast a spell in Practical Magic 2

Jessie Buckley in The Bridge! Margot Robbie in Wuthering HeightsImage source, Warner Bros
Image caption,

Gothic horror: Jessie Buckley in The Bride! and Margot Robbie in Wuthering Heights

Matt Damon and Zendaya in the Odyssey both look towards camera while wearing ancient Greece-style robes against a stark marshy background and a grey sky.Image source, Universal Studios
Image caption,

Look to ancient Greek epic The Odyssey for costume opportunities

Scream 7 and Scary Movie 6Image source, Paramount Pictures
Image caption,

Ready to scream? Horror franchises Scream 7 and Scary Movie 6 will likely provide inspiration

Dolly Parton on stage at Glastonbury. She is wearing a rhinestone-encrusted all-white outfit and holds a matching rhinestone-encrusted guitar Image source, Getty
Image caption,

Demand for Dolly Parton-style stage outfits are in demand from those wanting to pay tribute to the music icon

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin shake hands and smile after Putin lands in the US Image source, Getty
Image caption,

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin could prove to be popular outfit choices

Split pic of Madonna on the left and Charli XCX performing on stage Image source, Getty
Image caption,

Pop icons Charli XCX and Madonna could make a good duo costume

Two photos side by side of the same young woman with brown hair in two different costumes. On the left she's dressed as a mime with a black and white striped top, black mini skirt, beret and black boots. On the right she is a ladybird with black tights, black boots and pipe cleaner attenae. Image source, @styledbyTiggy
Image caption,

Tiggy says while many trending costumes are easy to buy online, she wants to encourage people to look in their wardrobes and explore charity shops

Two photos side by side of the same woman dressed in Halloween costumes. In the left she is dressed as Lady Liberty from the Statue of Liberty, with her skin covered in paint, and is posing in a bathroom mirror. On the right she's wearing a short blonde wig and dressed completely in violet and the room has been coloured with blue light. She has blue face paint across her nose and cheeks.Image source, @ello.fia/Instagram
Image caption,

Sophia dressed as Lady Liberty last year, and previously dressed up as Violet Beauregarde from the film Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - which she says cost just the price of the wig

Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams seen in a still from Heated Rivalry facing each other, head and shoulders, in a steamy shower scenePicture of Belmont Cameli and Ella Bright on the set of Off CampusCaitlin and Katy sit on a purple sofa smiling while holding light blue BuzzBall canned cocktail drinks.