SeaWorld Orlando has introduced a new character to its Halloween lineup. Howl-O-Scream visitors will be able to encounter Pestilence, who, according to the theme park’s website, is connected with decay, corruption, mayhem and Havok, an icon from previous years.
Pestilence was unveiled to members of the media Thursday night ahead of the event’s Sept. 11 launch.
Her storyline involves a romantic breakup and a return, according to a Howl-O-Scream news release. She also carries a “venom whip.” Pestilence is connected with Nekorsis, a seaside town “frozen in the final minutes of 1999.” That aligns with one of the fright fest’s scare zones.
SeaWorld has unveiled five new haunted houses for 2026, including the Crawl Space (tunnels abandoned after containment failure), the Dark Net (futuristic city powered by blood), Everything Must Stay (suburban house that won’t sell … for some reason), Raveyard (“eternal undead party”) and I Know What You Did Last Summer: The Final Catch (Fisherman stalks a town).
Characters perform on stage during Scream & Sweat, an exclusive media preview of Howl-O-Scream Orlando 2026 inspired by the over-the-top workout infomercials of the ’90s, at Sea World on Thursday, August 20, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Attendees take photos during Scream & Sweat, an exclusive media preview of Howl-O-Scream Orlando 2026 inspired by the over-the-top workout infomercials of the ’90s, at Sea World on Thursday, August 20, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
The character Pestilence cracks her ‘venom whip’ during Scream & Sweat, a media preview of Howl-O-Scream that was inspired by the over-the-top workout infomercials of the ’90s. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Jack The Ripper kills a woman during Scream & Sweat, an exclusive media preview of Howl-O-Scream Orlando 2026 inspired by the over-the-top workout infomercials of the ’90s, at Sea World on Thursday, August 20, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Attendees pose for photos during Scream & Sweat, an exclusive media preview of Howl-O-Scream Orlando 2026 inspired by the over-the-top workout infomercials of the ’90s, at Sea World on Thursday, August 20, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Characters perform during Scream & Sweat, an exclusive media preview of Howl-O-Scream Orlando 2026 inspired by the over-the-top workout infomercials of the ’90s, at Sea World on Thursday, August 20, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Attendees pose for photos during Scream & Sweat, an exclusive media preview of Howl-O-Scream Orlando 2026 inspired by the over-the-top workout infomercials of the ’90s, at Sea World on Thursday, August 20, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Characters perform on stage during Scream & Sweat, an exclusive media preview of Howl-O-Scream Orlando 2026 inspired by the over-the-top workout infomercials of the ’90s, at Sea World on Thursday, August 20, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
The character “Pestilence” cracks the whip during Scream & Sweat, an exclusive media preview of Howl-O-Scream Orlando 2026 inspired by the over-the-top workout infomercials of the ’90s, at Sea World on Thursday, August 20, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
The Fisherman kills a pizza delivery boy during Scream & Sweat, an exclusive media preview of Howl-O-Scream Orlando 2026 inspired by the over-the-top workout infomercials of the ’90s, at Sea World on Thursday, August 20, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
A character interacts with spectators during Scream & Sweat, an exclusive media preview of Howl-O-Scream Orlando 2026 inspired by the over-the-top workout infomercials of the ’90s, at Sea World on Thursday, August 20, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Havok and Pestilence are pictured together during Scream & Sweat, an exclusive media preview of Howl-O-Scream Orlando 2026 inspired by the over-the-top workout infomercials of the ’90s, at Sea World on Thursday, August 20, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Characters perform on stage during Scream & Sweat, an exclusive media preview of Howl-O-Scream Orlando 2026 inspired by the over-the-top workout infomercials of the ’90s, at Sea World on Thursday, August 20, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Attendees take photos during Scream & Sweat, an exclusive media preview of Howl-O-Scream Orlando 2026 inspired by the over-the-top workout infomercials of the ’90s, at Sea World on Thursday, August 20, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
A pretzel moment is photographed during Scream & Sweat, an exclusive media preview of Howl-O-Scream Orlando 2026 inspired by the over-the-top workout infomercials of the ’90s, at Sea World on Thursday, August 20, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Raggedy Ann performs during Scream & Sweat, an exclusive media preview of Howl-O-Scream Orlando 2026 inspired by the over-the-top workout infomercials of the ’90s, at Sea World on Thursday, August 20, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
From left: The Fisherman, Havok, Pestilence, and Jack The Ripper pose during Scream & Sweat, an exclusive media preview of Howl-O-Scream Orlando 2026 inspired by the over-the-top workout infomercials of the ’90s, at Sea World on Thursday, August 20, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Jack The Ripper performs during Scream & Sweat, an exclusive media preview of Howl-O-Scream Orlando 2026 inspired by the over-the-top workout infomercials of the ’90s, at Sea World on Thursday, August 20, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
The stage is filled with performers during Scream & Sweat, an exclusive media preview of Howl-O-Scream Orlando 2026 inspired by the over-the-top workout infomercials of the ’90s, at Sea World on Thursday, August 20, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Characters perform on stage during Scream & Sweat, an exclusive media preview of Howl-O-Scream Orlando 2026 inspired by the over-the-top workout infomercials of the ’90s, at Sea World on Thursday, August 20, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Sea World in Orlando is pictured on Thursday, August 20, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
The character “Pestilence” cracks the whip during Scream & Sweat, an exclusive media preview of Howl-O-Scream Orlando 2026 inspired by the over-the-top workout infomercials of the ’90s, at Sea World on Thursday, August 20, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
The character “Pestilence” hisses at members of the media during Scream & Sweat, an exclusive media preview of Howl-O-Scream Orlando 2026 inspired by the over-the-top workout infomercials of the ’90s, at Sea World on Thursday, August 20, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Many of the frightening characters appear on stage during Scream & Sweat, an exclusive media preview of Howl-O-Scream Orlando 2026 inspired by the over-the-top workout infomercials of the ’90s, at Sea World on Thursday, August 20, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
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Characters perform on stage during Scream & Sweat, an exclusive media preview of Howl-O-Scream Orlando 2026 inspired by the over-the-top workout infomercials of the ’90s, at Sea World on Thursday, August 20, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
The event will feature six scare zones, two roaming hordes, live shows and five new themed bars, SeaWorld says.
Howl-O-Scream is an after-hours, separately ticketed event held on 26 select nights between Sept. 11 and Oct. 31. Tickets — single-night, unlimited passes and combo deals with the Howl-O-Scream at sister park Busch Gardens Tampa Bay — are now on sale. The theme park continues its Spooktacular, a milder daytime event with trick-or-treating, that’s included with regular admission starting Aug. 29.
SeaWorld: ‘Hotel Transylvania’ checking into Halloween Spooktacular
For more information, go to seaworldorlando.com.
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