Fright Fest is the after-dark Halloween event at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington. In 2026 it runs from September 11 through November 1 on select evenings, so check the park calendar for the exact nights you want. Haunted houses are scheduled to open at 6:00 pm, and the park also keeps rides open into the night. New this year are a Día de los Muertos scare zone, a premium scare zone called Doc Varnum’s Hybrid Hell Pit and a live show called Wake the Dead. No new haunted houses were announced for 2026.
Fright Fest suits teens and adults who want scare actors and horror movie mazes. The park says it is not recommended for guests under 13, and guests 17 and younger need a chaperone who is at least 21. Families with younger kids have a daytime option called Tricks and Treats on weekends. Park admission covers the scare zones, shows and night rides, while the haunted houses need a separate Haunted Attractions Pass or a bundle.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Six Flags Over Texas, Arlington, Texas
- Dates: September 11 to November 1, 2026
- Event nights: Select nights (check the park calendar)
- Haunted houses: 5
- Scare zones: 6
- New for 2026: Día de los Muertos scare zone, Doc Varnum’s Hybrid Hell Pit and the Wake the Dead show
- Ticket: Scare zones and shows included with admission; haunted houses need a separate Haunted Attractions Pass
What’s new for 2026
The park added three things for 2026. Doc Varnum’s Hybrid Hell Pit is a sideshow-style scare zone in the Texas Arena, with swamp fog and gator hybrid creatures. It is a premium experience that requires a Haunted Attractions Pass. Día de los Muertos debuts in the Mexico section of the park and blends the celebration with supernatural decay. Wake the Dead is an interactive murder mystery show staged in the Southern Palace Theatre.
No new haunted houses were announced. The five houses from recent years return, so the new material is in the scare zones and the live entertainment.
Haunted houses and scare zones
The five haunted houses are The Strangers: No Escape and The Conjuring Universe, both in the Gotham City area, SAW: Legacy of Terror in the Texas section, EverSmile Industries at the Majestic Theatre and Terror at the Polynesian Palm near the Crazy Horse Saloon. The first three are based on horror films. EverSmile Industries is set in an atomic age factory, and Polynesian Palm takes place in an abandoned resort haunted by a cursed plant.
The six scare zones are The Last Harvest at the front gate, Forsaken Fairgrounds in Gotham City, Outlaw’s Revenge and Plague in the Texas section, plus the new Día de los Muertos and Doc Varnum’s Hybrid Hell Pit. Live shows include The Awakening at the front gate, The Spectral Sisters, Amor Eterno: Día de los Muertos and Wake the Dead. The Awakening ritual starts at 7:00 pm.
Daytime and family activities
Tricks and Treats runs on weekends from September 12 through November 1 during the day. It includes a trick-or-treat trail, a costume contest, a hay maze, pumpkin and mask painting, a Skelebration Dance Party, a Looney Tunes Spooktacular and a magic show. It is the better fit for younger children, since the evening event is not recommended for guests under 13.
Oktoberfest also runs on weekends from September 12 through November 1, with German food, beer and live music from the Gutentag! band. Check the park calendar to see which daytime events run on your date.
Tickets, passes and Fast Lane
Park admission covers the scare zones, live shows and night rides. The haunted houses and Doc Varnum’s Hybrid Hell Pit need a Haunted Attractions Pass. The official site lists bundles of park admission plus haunted mazes starting at $69, a single-night Haunted Attractions Pass starting at $30 and an All-Season Pass for the mazes starting at $75. Processing fees of up to $9.99 and taxes apply.
Admission pricing varies with expected crowds, so compare dates before you buy. A third-party park guide reports that a Haunted Attractions Express Pass, priced at $69 to $89, lets you skip most of the haunted house lines. Confirm that price and what it includes on the official Six Flags site before you buy. Buy tickets and passes through the official Six Flags Over Texas website or app.
Tips for your visit
Fright Fest is one of the busiest stretches of the year, and the park recommends arriving well before sundown to avoid long entry lines. Haunted houses open at 6:00 pm, so plan to head to the most popular ones early in the evening, when the lines are shortest.
Bags and personal items are screened before entry, so pack light. Texas weather can swing from hot in September to cool in late October, so check the forecast and dress in layers for the later dates. Bring ID if your group includes teens, because the chaperone rule for guests 17 and younger is enforced. For parking rates and the exact operating nights, check the official park calendar before you go.
Explore more: every theme park Halloween event for 2026, by state.
Fright Fest 2026 at Six Flags Over Texas FAQs
When does Fright Fest 2026 start and end?
Fright Fest 2026 at Six Flags Over Texas runs from September 11 through November 1, 2026, on select evenings. Check the park calendar for the specific nights.
Is Fright Fest included with park admission?
Partly. Park admission covers the scare zones, live shows and night rides. The haunted houses and Doc Varnum’s Hybrid Hell Pit require a separate Haunted Attractions Pass, or a bundle that includes park admission and the mazes.
Is Fright Fest too scary for kids?
The park does not recommend Fright Fest for guests under 13, and guests 17 and younger need a chaperone who is at least 21. Younger children are better suited to the daytime Tricks and Treats event on weekends.
Get More from Fright Fest 2026 at Six Flags Over Texas
Log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate Fright Fest 2026 at Six Flags Over Texas, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.
Want the day’s theme park news in your inbox? Subscribe to ThrillZing Daily — free.
Photo: Jeremy Thompson / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.