Running for 12 select nights from April 23 to May 16, 2026, Fan Fest Nights is a separately ticketed after-hours event celebrating fandoms across sci-fi, fantasy, gaming, and anime. All in-world experiences are included with an event ticket. Food, beverages, and merchandise require separate purchases. Select theme park rides also remain open during the event.
This year’s lineup features five new experiences and one returning favorite, but Universal has said more experiences will be announced, so we’ll update this guide as new details are released.
New Experiences for Universal Fan Fest Nights 2026
Scooby-Doo Meets The Universal Monsters: Mystery on the Backlot
Guests will ride the Studio Tour tram to Universal’s famous backlot, where they’ll walk through a live-action mystery alongside Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, and Velma. The adventure takes guests through real outdoor film sets — including Little Europe’s cobblestone streets and the Court of Miracles, original filming locations for “Frankenstein” (1931) and “The Wolf Man” (1941) — as they help the gang solve a mystery involving Frankenstein, Dracula, Bride of Frankenstein, and Wolf Man.
Last year’s Fan Fest Nights featured a Back to the Future experience on the backlot, widely considered the highlight of the event. The Scooby-Doo experience takes over that same space with a new story.