Howl-O-Scream is SeaWorld Orlando’s after-dark Halloween event, running on select nights from Sept. 11 through Oct. 31, 2026. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. and the scares start at 7:00 p.m., with five haunted houses, six scare zones, five themed bars and live shows spread across the park.
The headline draw for 2026 is “I Know What You Did Last Summer: The Final Catch,” SeaWorld Orlando’s first movie-licensed haunted house. This is a separately ticketed evening event built for teens and adults, not a daytime family Halloween party, so here’s everything you need to know before you book a night.
Quick Answer
Howl-O-Scream 2026 runs select nights from Sept. 11 to Oct. 31 at SeaWorld Orlando, with gates open at 6:30 p.m. and the event starting at 7:00 p.m. Single-night tickets have been discounted during limited-time sales to roughly $35–$48, parking runs about $37 plus tax, and the event is not included with daytime park admission.
Full 2026 Schedule: Which Nights It Runs
Howl-O-Scream doesn’t run every night of its Sept. 11–Oct. 31 window. September dates run on weekends — Fridays and Saturdays, plus one Sunday on Sept. 27 (Sept. 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26, 27) — then October opens up to more nights as Halloween gets closer, including Oct. 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, and then nearly every night from Oct. 22 through Oct. 31 to close out the season.
Because the calendar shifts between months, always confirm the exact date you want on the official Howl-O-Scream calendar before buying tickets — SeaWorld updates it as nights sell out or get added.
Haunted Houses, Scare Zones and Bars
The five houses are I Know What You Did Last Summer: The Final Catch, Everything Must Stay, The Dark Net, The Crawl Space and the returning Rave Yard. Everything Must Stay is set in an unsold suburban home where every open house goes badly for the buyers; The Dark Net is a dystopian city where cyborgs hunt for blood; The Crawl Space sends guests through abandoned tunnels toward something huge and hungry; and The Rave Yard is an underground rave beneath a cemetery lit up with neon tombs.
The six scare zones are Dooms District, Extermination Order, Nekrosis and Just One More Chapter (all new for 2026), plus returning Trailer Park Tragedy and Woodrot Hollow. Dooms District follows apocalypse survivors, Extermination Order puts pest-control crews loose on the streets, Nekrosis is a seaside town frozen in Y2K, and Just One More Chapter is a gothic garden. Two roaming hordes also move through the park. The five bars — Byte Bar, The Rewind, Resurrection Club, The Black Sheep and Larva Lounge — are all new this year.
Tickets, Prices and Parking
Howl-O-Scream is a separate, evening-only ticket — your regular SeaWorld day admission does not get you in. The official lineup includes Single-Night tickets, an Any-Night ticket valid on any event date through Oct. 31, Pass Member discounted single nights, a Night & Day ticket that bundles daytime park access, and group rates for 15 or more. SeaWorld has also run limited-time sales (branded things like the “Sinister Sale” or “Final Frenzy Sale”) that drop single-night prices well below the listed rate, so it’s worth checking for an active promo before you buy.
For repeat visits, the Unlimited Scream Pass covers every Howl-O-Scream night at SeaWorld Orlando, with a two-park version that adds Busch Gardens Tampa Bay; a Front Line tier adds priority access through haunted houses and select rides. Parking is never bundled into the ticket price — general parking runs roughly $37 plus tax, separate from any preferred or VIP parking upgrade. Because every price above moves with the date and any active sale, treat these as general ranges and confirm the exact total at checkout on the official SeaWorld Orlando Howl-O-Scream page, which is also where tickets, passes and parking add-ons are sold.
Is Howl-O-Scream Too Scary for Kids?
SeaWorld markets Howl-O-Scream as designed for mature audiences, and the official event description warns of intense adult themes including blood, gore and violence inside the haunted houses and scare zones. Children under 18 are allowed in, but there’s no discounted child ticket — everyone pays the same adult-tier price.
If you’re bringing a teen or anyone sensitive to jump-scares, SeaWorld sells a “No-Boo” necklace guests can wear to signal scare actors to back off. It won’t make the park daytime-friendly, but it does reduce direct scares in scare zones and queue lines. For a genuinely low-fright family night, this isn’t the event to pick — look for a daytime Halloween program elsewhere instead.
Accessibility
SeaWorld states that all five haunted houses are ADA accessible. Standard and electric wheelchairs are accommodated, though ECVs/scooters are not permitted inside the houses themselves — complimentary transfer wheelchairs are stationed at each house entrance, and motorized wheelchair rentals are available on-site for the evening.
Tips for Your Visit
Arrive by 6:30 p.m. so you’re through the gates when the event opens at 7:00 p.m. — the new movie-based house is expected to draw the longest waits, so hit it early or use a Front Line upgrade if lines matter to you. Weeknights that make the calendar (when available) tend to run lighter than Friday/Saturday crowds, though that’s a general pattern, not a guarantee.
Four rides operate during the event — Ice Breaker, Mako, Pipeline and Expedition Odyssey — along with shows including Dead Air, Hellzapoppin: The Grave Danger Thrill Show, Throttle and Monster Stomp. Florida fall evenings can swing hot and stormy, so bring comfortable shoes and a light rain layer, and check the park calendar for exact showtimes on your date.
Plan Your SeaWorld Orlando Visit
- SeaWorld Orlando park guide: hours, tickets, rides and parking
- SeaWorld Orlando height requirements for every ride
- Best rides for little kids at SeaWorld Orlando
- Scariest rides at SeaWorld Orlando, ranked
- Christmas Celebration 2026 at SeaWorld Orlando
Small enough to ride with on most coasters, big enough for a phone, card and keys. Two zippers mean nothing falls out upside down.
A fan and a mist in one, rechargeable. Very popular in queue lines once the afternoon sun hits.
Build a working coaster on the kitchen table and learn why the first drop has to be the tallest. A good gift for young coaster fans.
Howl-O-Scream 2026 SeaWorld Orlando FAQs
When does Howl-O-Scream 2026 start and end?
It runs on select nights from Sept. 11 through Oct. 31, 2026. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. and the event begins at 7:00 p.m. Check the official calendar for the exact nights, since September runs on weekends (Fridays and Saturdays, plus Sunday, Sept. 27) before October adds more dates.
Is Howl-O-Scream included with regular SeaWorld admission?
No. It’s a separately ticketed evening event. A Night & Day ticket is sold if you want to combine daytime park access with the same night’s Howl-O-Scream event.
Is Howl-O-Scream too scary for kids?
SeaWorld designs it for mature audiences, with blood, gore and violence themes in the houses and scare zones. Kids under 18 can attend (at full price), and a No-Boo necklace is available to reduce direct scares, but it isn’t a family-friendly daytime event.
How much is parking for Howl-O-Scream?
General parking is a separate cost from your event ticket, running roughly $37 plus tax. Preferred and VIP parking upgrades cost more.
What’s new at Howl-O-Scream 2026?
The headliner is “I Know What You Did Last Summer: The Final Catch,” SeaWorld Orlando’s first movie-licensed haunted house. Three other houses, four of the six scare zones, and all five themed bars are also new this year.
Are the haunted houses wheelchair accessible?
SeaWorld says all five haunted houses are ADA accessible, with complimentary transfer wheelchairs at each entrance; electric wheelchairs are allowed but ECVs/scooters are not permitted inside the houses.
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