Universal Fan Fest Nights 2027 starts **April 16**, a full week earlier than this year, with eight experiences. Halloween Horror Nights runs select nights from **Sept. 2** and wraps on Halloween itself.
Universal Studios Hollywood put its whole 2027 calendar out on Tuesday, and the after-hours fan event is moving up.
Universal Fan Fest Nights runs select nights from April 16 to May 16, 2027, LaughingPlace reported from Universal's new 2027 Event Guide. This year's version started April 23, so 2027 gets an extra week on the front end.
Universal's release says Fan Fest Nights "returns in April with eight immersive experiences." It didn't name them yet. That's the part fans will be refreshing for.
Halloween Horror Nights comes back on select nights from Sept. 2 to Oct. 31, 2027, and it's a separate ticket. This year's run went 42 nights, Sept. 3 to Nov. 1, per Universal. So 2027 starts a day earlier and ends on actual Halloween.
When is Universal Fan Fest Nights 2027?
Select nights from Friday, April 16, through Sunday, May 16, 2027. Universal hasn't posted the exact nights or ticket prices yet.
For comparison, the 2026 event ran 12 nights over four weekends, April 23 to May 16, Universal said in January. If 2027 follows that weekend pattern, the extra week likely means more nights. Universal hasn't confirmed that.
The 2026 lineup included Scooby-Doo Meets The Universal Monsters, a ONE PIECE live show at the WaterWorld venue, Dungeons and Dragons: Secrets of Waterdeep, a Hippogriff hunt in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and a Yoshi event in Super Nintendo World. Nothing in the 2027 guide says which of those come back.
When is Halloween Horror Nights 2027 at Universal Studios Hollywood?
Select nights from Thursday, Sept. 2, through Sunday, Oct. 31, 2027. It needs its own ticket on top of regular park admission.
No houses, IPs or prices are out yet for Hollywood. Universal Orlando's HHN team has been teasing 2027 with breakfast-food codenames, which we covered last week.
What else is on the 2027 calendar?
Here's every event in Universal's 2027 guide, per LaughingPlace:
Pass Member Bonus Benefits: February and March
Butterbeer Season: March through May
Universal Fan Fest Nights: select nights, April 16 to May 16
Pass Member Collectible Giveaway: May
Pass Member Park Takeover: June
Universal Mega Movie Summer: June through August
Fourth of July Celebration: July 4
Back to Hogwarts: August and September
Pass Member Appreciation Days: August and September
Halloween Horror Nights: select nights, Sept. 2 to Oct. 31 (separate ticket)
Pass Member Collectible Giveaway: November
Holidays at Universal: November and December
Pass Member Holiday Park Takeover: December
EVE (New Year's Eve): Dec. 31
Most of those are listed by month only. Expect exact dates closer to each event.
Do Universal Studios Hollywood passes include Fan Fest and Horror Nights?
Mostly no. Both are hard-ticket events. The exception is the new Diamond Annual Pass, which we covered Nov. 6. It costs $999.95 and comes with one Halloween Horror Nights ticket and one Fan Fest Nights ticket, plus a VIP Experience ticket and Universal Express.
Universal is also running a holiday sale with up to $50 off the Platinum, Gold, Silver and California Neighbor passes for a limited time. Restrictions apply, the release says. All those Pass Member giveaways and takeovers on the list are for passholders only.
What's happening at Universal Studios Hollywood right now?
The holidays, mostly. Universal's season runs daily from Saturday, Nov. 21, through Sunday, Jan. 3, and it's included with park admission, Universal said in October.
Grinchmas: a 65-foot tree in Universal Plaza with a nightly lighting
Illumination's Merry Minions: new this year in Minion Land
Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: the Frog Choir and a Hogwarts castle show
Super Nintendo World: Mario and Luigi snowmen at the entrance
The new Fast and Furious: Hollywood Drift coaster, which opened in September, is running too. Universal hasn't said when it will name those eight Fan Fest experiences. Until then, mid-April is a blank square on a lot of SoCal calendars.
Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.
Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Hat Tips:
Theme Park Insider (Nov. 10, 2026), confirmed Fan Fest Nights and Horror Nights dates
LaughingPlace (Nov. 10, 2026), the full 2027 event calendar with Fan Fest Nights and Halloween Horror Nights dates
Skewed 'n Reviewed (Nov. 10, 2026), text of Universal's 2027 Event Guide release, the eight experiences and the pass sale
Universal Studios Hollywood (Jan. 15, 2026), 2026 Fan Fest Nights dates and lineup
Universal Studios Hollywood (Sept. 2026), the 42-night 2026 Halloween Horror Nights run and the Hollywood Drift opening
Universal Studios Hollywood (Oct. 8, 2026), 2026 holiday season dates and experiences
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