The fan-favorite original characters will be returning to “wreak havoc together” at this year’s Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando Resort.
Jack The Clown and Dr. Oddfellow Return for HHN 2026
HorrorNightsORL/X
In an announcement made during MEGACON’s Saturday morning panel, “Behind the Screams: Crafting 35 Years of Fear at Universal Halloween Horror Nights,” a team of directors for Universal creative development revealed that the original characters Jack The Clown and Dr. Oddfellow will be returning for Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights 2026.
A post shared simultaneously from the official Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights X account shared a video teaser of the characters’ return:
the forces of horror are BACK 🎪
Jack The Clown and Dr. Oddfellow return to wreak havoc together at this year’s Halloween Horror Nights. u ready? #HHN35 pic.twitter.com/inlWUve5rE
— Halloween Horror Nights (@HorrorNightsORL) March 21, 2026
Jack The Clown and Dr. Oddfellow are two of the best-known original characters in Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights mythology.
Jack Schmidt, better known as Jack the Clown, debuted as the event’s first original in-house icon in 2000 and has since become one of the defining faces of HHN. Jack was a circus clown in Dr. Oddfellow’s traveling show who secretly abducted and murdered children; after his crimes threatened the carnival, Oddfellow killed Jack, but the latter returned as a sadistic, undead clown figure who delights in turning murder into performance.
Jack The Clown and Dr. Oddfellow are returning together for this year’s event, positioning them as a paired offering rather than isolated characters. Based on their history, that suggests Universal is leaning heavily into original HHN lore and the long-running rivalry and shared carnival mythology between the two.
Halloween Horror Nights Panel
The announcement was made during MEGACON Orlando’s panel “Behind the Screams: Crafting 35 Years of Fear at Universal Halloween Horror Nights.” Besides the news about Jack and Oddfellow, the panel discussion featured insights into the popular Halloween event from Universal team members: Mike Aiello, Senior Director of Entertainment Creative Development, Universal Orlando Resort; Lora Sauls, Assistant Director of Entertainment Creative Development & Show Direction, Universal Orlando Resort; and Charles Gray, Senior Show Director of Entertainment Creative Development, Universal Orlando Resort.
HorrorNightsORL/X
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