Universal Orlando Resort offers a full year of festivals and seasonal events, including the extremely popular Halloween Horror Nights. This year, the resort released the entire 2026 schedule early — and that’s good news for advisors and clients.
According to Jennifer Novotny, owner of Upon a Star Travel, having access to that calendar enables advisors to reach out to clients interested in specific events or times of year, which, in turn, allows clients to plan and budget accordingly.
“These days families are juggling so much — sports, activities, school, work, pets — so being able to plan is so important,” she added. “And with everything that’s new at Universal, it’s important for clients to plan in advance so they can ensure the experience they want.”
Here’s what’s on the 2026 calendar at Universal Orlando Resort.
Seasonal Events
Universal Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval (Feb. 7 – April 4)
The popular annual Universal Mardi Gras food festival includes a parade that features authentic floats created in partnership with Kern Studios, the designers of Mardi Gras floats in New Orleans. The bookable Mardi Gras Float Ride and Dine Experience includes a three-course meal and coveted bead-throwing spots on a Mardi Gras parade float (the height requirement for float riders is 48 inches).
Clients can book coveted bead-throwing spots on a Universal Mardi Gras parade float.
Credit: 2026 Universal Orlando Resort
On select nights during the event, clients can enjoy performances from some of the top names in music. This year, that includes Shaggy, Barenaked Ladies, NSync’s Joey Fatone and Backstreet Boy AJ McLean. The latter two will perform together on Feb. 21.
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Halloween Horror Nights (Aug. 28 – Nov. 1)
Dubbed “the world’s premier Halloween event,” Halloween Horror Nights (HHN) will mark its 35th anniversary in 2026, unleashing an all-new collection of terrifying haunted houses inspired by iconic horror franchises, as well as original stories. Immersive scare zones, live entertainment, and themed food and beverages are also part of the experience.
“It’s fun for our team to dive into [horror] films, streaming shows and franchises to check all those boxes of places you want to go, environments you want to visit and moments you want to see,” said Lora Sauls, assistant director of entertainment, creative development and show direction for HHN. “[We] put those all together as a love letter to that franchise or film.”
Each year, Halloween Horror Nights unleashes a new collection of haunted houses and immersive scare zones inspired by iconic horror franchises.
Credit: 2026 Samantha Davis-Friedman
Novotny says booking early means she can secure HHN tickets and guided RIP Tours as soon as they’re released, whereas clients who wait until those events are announced have to work their stay around what they can get, rather than securing their first choice.
Advisors should also note that HHN takes place only at Universal Studios Florida, so scaredy cats can safely visit the other two theme parks during the event.
Holidays at Universal Orlando Resort (November 14 – January 3)
Universal Orlando Resort features the one-two holiday punch of Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Grinchmas. There’s also Universal’s Holiday Parade to look forward to; it features character-filled floats and larger-than-life balloons, just like in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade.
Clients who want to have breakfast with the Grinch should secure their spots early.
Credit: 2026 Donna DeGiacomo
Novotny says her clients particularly love the Who-Holiday Spectacular (a live musical retelling of the Dr. Seuss story) and the character breakfast with the Grinch. She notes that the Grinch breakfast often books up as soon as it’s released, so knowing now that clients want to dine with “the mean one” makes it possible to secure their spots early.
Wizarding World Events
The first Harry Potter movie marks its 25th anniversary in 2026, and Universal Orlando is celebrating with special limited-time events in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade in Islands of Adventure and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley in Universal Studios Florida.
RELATED: How to Celebrate Harry Potter-Themed Holidays at Universal Theme Parks and Beyond
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The first special event is Butterbeer Season (March 1 – May 31). During this annual celebration of Harry Potter’s favorite wizarding drink, clients can expect limited-edition treats and new themed merchandise. Next is Back to Hogwarts (Aug. 1 – Sept. 1); according to the Harry Potter stories, students traditionally return to Hogwarts on Sept. 1, but Universal Orlando is celebrating the milestone for an entire month, during which park guests can stock up on new school supplies in house colors for Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw. Fall will bring Dark Arts; on select nights, Death Eaters will roam the streets of Diagon Alley, and the “Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle” light-and-projection shows will illuminate the castle with images of dark magic.
This fall, Death Eaters will return to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley in Universal Studios Florida.
Credit: 2026 Universal Orlando ResortCelebrations at Universal CityWalk
Seasonal fun extends beyond the gates, including Mardi Gras and St. Patrick’s Day celebrations at Pat O’Brien’s and the annual transformations of the Red Coconut Club; the latter turns into the Cursed Coconut Club for Mardi Gras, the Dead Coconut Club for Halloween and the Green & Red Coconut Club for the holidays.
Sports fans won’t want to miss special viewings of the Super Bowl and Kentucky Derby at NBC Sports Grill & Brew. In addition, CityWalk will host special activities and viewing parties for the Winter Olympics and FIFA World Cup.