The Halloween Costumes I Predict Everyone Will Be Wearing in 2026

There is a very specific moment every October when you walk into a Halloween party and realise that, despite everyone swearing they had a really niche costume this year, there are somehow six Glindas, three Barbies and at least one Wednesday Addams.

Halloween is no longer about throwing on whatever you can find five minutes before pre-drinks. It is a pop-culture mood board with a dress code.

The best costumes now sit somewhere between IYKYK and genuinely good outfits. You want people to get the reference instantly, but you also want to look hot enough that you could technically wear the whole thing on a normal Saturday night. The goal is not to look like you bought a costume. The goal is to look like the costume happened to be your outfit.

So, in the interest of getting ahead of the group chat, I have put together my predictions for the costumes that are about to be absolutely everywhere.

Some are obvious. Some are slightly unhinged. Some require a Pinterest board, three trips to Depop and an alarming amount of body glitter. And at least one can be achieved by putting on a lanyard five minutes before leaving the house.

Consider this your 2026 Halloween forecast.

Allie from Off Campus, aka J.Lo

I am calling this one now: Allie is going to be everywhere.

Off Campus feels almost scientifically designed to become a Halloween costume. Hockey players, hot college romance, parties and, most importantly, outfits that people actually want to wear.

Allie's costume is particularly perfect because she goes as Jennifer Lopez. So technically, you are dressing up as a fictional character dressing up as a celebrity. Very meta. Very 2026.

The look: a plunging green dress with a thigh-high split, strappy heels, oversized gold hoops and basically nothing else, because the dress is doing enough. You know the green dress.

For makeup, go full bronzed-glowy-pop-star. Brown lip liner, nude gloss, fluttery lashes, glossy skin and enough highlighter to be visible from across the club.

The reason I think this will be huge is simple: Off Campus has become exactly the kind of internet obsession that turns into a Halloween costume. And unlike a lot of character costumes, this one is a very good going-out outfit in its own right.

Basically, if you want people to know who you are and think you look hot, this is the one.

Hockey Player

Obviously, where there is an Allie, there must be a Dean trailing behind.

But you don't need to go as Dean, Garrett or any of the boys specifically. Hockey players in general are about to become a major Halloween personality. The hockey-romance pipeline has officially done its job.

The outfit is almost offensively easy: oversized hockey jersey, dark jeans or trousers, white trainers and a varsity jacket. Add a hockey stick if you want to make the reference painfully obvious.

Swap the trousers for booty shorts if you want to look like you have simply emerged from an extremely chaotic American college party.

And that is exactly why it works. It is one of those rare costumes that men can wear without looking like they bought it from a supermarket Halloween aisle, while also making an elite couples costume with Allie.

The internet spent the last few years turning hockey players into the new footballers of the romance world. Halloween was always going to catch up.

"Freaky Nikki" from Obsession

For the girl whose costume needs to say I'm hot and something is deeply wrong with me at exactly the same time.

Nikki from Obsession feels made for Halloween. Her wardrobe is sexy, recognisable and slightly chaotic, which is basically the holy trinity of a good modern costume.

The key pieces: red zebra-print mesh, tiny skirts, strappy heels, a red dress and an unreasonable amount of jewellery. Animal print is non-negotiable.

One important note: you cannot carry around a real brick and lob it at the man you like when he is cosied up to another girl.

The fun part is that you can start with a genuinely gorgeous going-out look and then make it increasingly disturbing throughout the night. Smudge your eyeliner. Mess up your mascara. Add a tiny bit of fake blood around your mouth.

Congratulations. You have gone from cool girl at the bar to woman who has definitely seen something she should not have.

Generic vampires are getting a little tired. People want characters with an actual aesthetic now, and Nikki gives you the perfect excuse to wear a tiny red dress while technically being in costume.

Greek Goddess from The Odyssey

The Greek goddess has technically existed as a costume since the beginning of time, but I think 2026 is the year she gets a serious fashion-girl upgrade.

Forget the £12 toga from the university fancy-dress shop. We are talking draped cream dresses, asymmetrical necklines, gold cuffs, bronze jewellery, leather details and strappy sandals. The Odyssey, but make it expensive.

Keep the beauty sun-kissed and luminous: bronzed skin, gold eyes, glowing cheeks and a nude lip. Nothing too theatrical. The whole point is to look like you just happen to be a goddess who has wandered into the party.

And, crucially, unlike half the costumes on this list, you can wear the dress again. Which, let's be honest, matters.

Jessie from Toy Story, With a Taylor Swift Twist

Jessie has always been a solid Halloween option, but this year she has a new best friend: Taylor Swift.

With Taylor's connection to Toy Story 5 and her ongoing Western and cowgirl aesthetic, Jessie-meets-Taylor feels almost inevitable.

Start with the classic Jessie pieces: white Western shirt, yellow cuffs, red detailing, cow-print chaps or trousers, a giant belt buckle and cowboy boots.

Then add the Taylor treatment. Sparkly boots. Rhinestones. Friendship bracelets. Maybe a microphone. A strong red lip works perfectly because it ties both aesthetics together.

It is nostalgic, instantly recognisable and, crucially, actually cute.

Zara Larsson

I am predicting a Zara Larsson Halloween renaissance.

Not because everyone is suddenly going to dress as Zara, but because her current aesthetic is basically a ready-made 2026 pop-star costume.

Think tiny skirts, bikini tops, colourful crop tops, mesh, glitter, fluffy accessories, sparkly heels and aggressively Y2K styling. The goal is to look like you have just stepped out of a 2004 music video.

And this one is absolutely for the makeup girls. Bright blush. Colourful eyeshadow. Glossy lips. Body glitter. Rhinestones. Highlighter. Subtlety has officially left the building.

The best thing is that you don't need to recreate one exact look. Pull together whatever you already own and make it your own Zara-inspired pop princess moment.

Honestly, I would start checking Depop now.

Sabrina Carpenter, Pick Your Era

Sabrina Carpenter has basically been preparing us for Halloween for years, and the beauty of her is that there is no single Sabrina costume. You can pick an era.

Want classic Sabrina? Go for the hyper-feminine pop-star look: tiny dresses, huge lashes, glossy lips, big hair and plenty of pink.

Want Short n' Sweet? Think baby blue, retro styling, hot pants, corsets, little dresses and the kind of blowout that makes you look like you have just walked out of a 1960s beauty salon.

Want Manchild? This is where things get much more interesting. The era is now being put to bed, so Halloween feels like the perfect time to get one last use out of it. Think slightly ridiculous Americana styling, baby-doll silhouettes, Western references, exaggerated femininity and the general feeling that Sabrina has wandered into a very expensive version of a roadside diner.

You could also go for the Tears look: pastel tailoring, retro lingerie, fringe, sparkles and that very specific Sabrina glamour.

The key is not dressing exactly like her. It is choosing one very specific Sabrina reference and committing to it.

And honestly, if you turn up as Sabrina and someone asks which era, that is how you know you've done it properly.

Practical Magic Witches

If you want to be a witch but absolutely refuse to look like you bought a witch costume, this is your answer.

The Practical Magic girls are having another moment, and their wardrobes are exactly what fashion girls want from Halloween. Long black lace dresses. Velvet. Sheer sleeves. Oversized cardigans. Boots. Long coats. Romantic florals.

Basically: witch, but make it Pinterest.

The makeup should feel slightly undone rather than theatrical. Smoky eyes, berry lips and flushed cheeks.

The appeal is that Practical Magic has the perfect combination of nostalgia and fashion relevance. It feels romantic, vintage and slightly gothic, which is where Halloween fashion is heading anyway.

Effie Trinket, The Hunger Games

A slightly weird-girl costume that I love.

For anyone who has been waiting all year for an excuse to use three different shades of glitter on their face.

Effie is arguably the ultimate Halloween character because her entire wardrobe is already completely unhinged. Pastel corsets. Structured dresses. Ruffles. Gloves. Enormous sleeves. Ridiculous accessories.

Then go absolutely wild with the beauty. Bright blush. Glitter. Rhinestones. False lashes. Pastel lipstick. Face gems.

Whatever is sitting in your makeup drawer that you've been too scared to use? This is its moment.

Maximalist beauty is back, and Effie is the patron saint of doing too much. The rule is simple: if you could reasonably wear it to a normal dinner, it is not dramatic enough.

Ellen from Nosferatu

For the girls who are actually here for Halloween.

Not a sexy cat. Not a Playboy bunny. No devil horns in sight. I mean a haunted Victorian woman who has seen the face of death.

Ellen's look is all about a long Edwardian white nightgown, lace, high necklines, flowing fabric and a dark shawl or robe.

This is where you can really have fun with the makeup. Pale skin. Hollowed-out eyes. Grey contour. Dark red around the eyes. Deep berry lip.

The horror-girl renaissance has officially moved beyond generic vampires and zombies. People want recognisable characters with an entire aesthetic attached.

And Ellen gives you the chance to look genuinely beautiful while also looking like you haven't slept since 1897.

F1 Girl

F1 costumes have officially evolved beyond throwing on a team shirt and calling it a day. This year, I think we are getting the fashion version.

Racing jacket. Leather trousers. Cropped racing top. Mechanic-style jumpsuit. Racing boots. Driver-inspired styling. Then add a cap, sunglasses and a paddock pass.

Beauty-wise, you have two routes. Clean, sporty and bronzed. Or full F1 girlfriend: big lashes, glossy skin, perfect hair and a tiny outfit that would absolutely not be approved by the FIA.

Formula 1 has officially crossed over from sport into fashion and lifestyle culture. You no longer need to know what DRS means to understand the aesthetic.

For couples, driver and girlfriend are the obvious winners.

K-Pop Demon Hunters

The younger siblings have spoken, and apparently they are all going as K-Pop Demon Hunters.

This is going to be one of the biggest kids’ costumes of the year, particularly because it works so well as a group. Rumi, Mira and Zoey all have completely different looks, so siblings and friendship groups can pick their favourite.

Rumi is all yellow, purple and sporty pop-star energy. Mira brings the yellow skirt and embellished details, while Zoey has the blue, colourful streetwear moment.

And then there is the makeup. Glitter. Rhinestones. Colourful eyeshadow. Anything that makes you feel like you have just been recruited into a K-pop girl group.

The reason this is such a strong Halloween costume is that it is not just a cartoon. It is music, fashion, fandom and characters all in one.

Basically, expect the school playground to look like a K-pop girl-group audition.

Spider-Man, But Make It Fashion

Spider-Man is back. But this year I am much less interested in the actual superhero suit and much more interested in the hot-girl interpretation.

Yes, you could wear the classic red-and-blue suit. But I fully expect to see red corsets, blue mini skirts, web-print tights, tiny red dresses, thigh-high boots and spider jewellery everywhere.

Think less Comic-Con, more Spider-Man after three tequila sodas.

You don't need to go crazy with the makeup either. A red lip, graphic red eyeliner or a tiny spider-web detail around the eyes is enough to make the reference obvious without looking like you have been attacked by a face-painting station.

And that is the beauty of Spider-Man: you can make it whatever you want. Sexy. Y2K. Camp. Full superhero. Minimalist fashion girl.

Also, Spider-Man and MJ remain one of the simplest couples costumes.

Miranda Priestly, The Devil Wears Prada

For your mum. Or for you, if your personality is fundamentally I have somewhere more important to be.

Miranda Priestly is the ultimate fashion-girl Halloween costume because the entire point is that you should not look like you are wearing a costume.

Statement coat. Oversized sunglasses. Pointed heels. Structured handbag. Immaculate outfit underneath. The more expensive you can make it look, the better.

Keep the beauty polished rather than dramatic: flawless skin, neutral eyes, sculpted cheeks and a chic nude or berry lip.

Then comes the most important accessory. Attitude.

Miranda is back in the cultural conversation for exactly the reason she never really left it. She is no longer just a character; she is shorthand for anyone who has ever worked in fashion, media or an office where someone has said "quick favour" at 5.55pm.

Perfect for mums. Perfect for fashion editors. Perfect for anyone who wants to spend Halloween silently judging everyone's outfits.

The Traitors, Specifically, The Hood

This is the costume for anyone who wants to look dramatic without actually doing very much. The hood is the giveaway.

Black hooded cape. Dark clothes. Dramatic scarf. Boots. Done.

You could probably construct the whole thing from your wardrobe in seven minutes. Or go as Claudia Winkleman herself: black outfit, enormous fringe, dark eye makeup and, obviously, the hood.

The Traitors is one of those shows that completely takes over everyone's group chat for weeks, so it makes perfect Halloween material.

Plus, a group of Traitors contestants with one Claudia is genuinely an excellent group costume.

The "I Barely Tried" Severance Costume

For the girl who remembered Halloween was happening while she was already getting ready to go out. Honestly? Respect.

Severance is the ultimate low-effort costume because the wardrobe is deliberately boring. Navy trousers. Shirt. Cardigan. Sensible shoes. Lanyard. ID badge. Done.

The more corporate and joyless you look, the more accurate it is.

And if anyone asks where you work, simply say: "I don’t remember." Perfect.

Emma, Bride from The Drama

For the girl who wants her Halloween costume to look expensive enough to be a wedding dress but niche enough that people have to think for approximately two seconds.

Emma's bridal look from The Drama is the dream Halloween silhouette: square neckline, enormous full skirt, veil and classic bridal details.

Keep the beauty soft and romantic. Glowing skin, pink blush, natural lashes and glossy lips.

Then add the orange puffer jacket. Suddenly, everyone who has seen the film knows exactly who you are.

And honestly, Emma is basically incapable of wearing anything that does not immediately become a reference.

Lucy from Fallout

Lucy is the costume for anyone who wants to look cute at the beginning of the night and progressively more terrifying by midnight.

The basic look is the iconic blue Vault jumpsuit, belt, chunky boots and Pip-Boy. But I would absolutely go for the post-Wasteland version. Distress the jumpsuit. Add dirt. Fake blood. Scuffs.

Suddenly you've gone from wholesome Vault girl to I have just survived something I cannot discuss.

The best part is the transformation. Start cute. End feral.

I think this might be the one that never really got its moment a couple of years ago, particularly with the renewed interest in Fallout and the very specific appeal of looking like you have escaped a nuclear apocalypse while still somehow having perfect hair.

Alysa Liu's Olympic Skating Costume

This is my slightly more niche prediction, but those are usually the ones I trust most.

Alysa Liu's Olympic look has exactly the ingredients fashion girls love: tiny, sparkly, dramatic and just obscure enough to feel cool.

Think gold sequinned skating dress, illusion mesh, rhinestones and enough sparkle to be visible from the other side of the dance floor. Add body shimmer and glitter around the eyes and you have the full competition-costume effect.

Olympic moments have a habit of becoming fashion references, and this one has everything a Halloween look needs: glamour, nostalgia, sparkle and a slightly unexpected reference.

Also, imagine the TikToks.

Dolly Parton

And then, for the woman who has spent the last few years watching everyone else dress as pop stars, fictional characters and increasingly obscure internet references: Dolly.

Dolly Parton is one of those rare costumes where you can make the reference obvious without actually wearing a costume.

Think enormous blonde hair, dramatic lashes, a tiny fitted dress, rhinestones, platform heels and enough sparkle to make a disco ball feel underdressed. The bigger the hair, the better.

You could go full country Dolly with denim, fringe, boots and a rhinestone belt, or lean into the glamorous version with a white or pastel mini dress, sequins and plenty of jewellery.

And obviously, the makeup is part of it. Big lashes. Pink blush. Glossy lips. Highlighter. More mascara than is strictly necessary.

Basically, if you look in the mirror and think, "This is slightly too much," add another layer.

The reason I think Dolly could be a sleeper hit is that she is instantly recognisable, genuinely iconic and does not require you to recreate one specific outfit. You can make it as camp or as glamorous as you like.

Plus, unlike some celebrity costumes, nobody is going to ask you to explain who she is.

So, What Am I Actually Betting On?

If I had to put money on the costumes that will completely take over Instagram Stories on 31 October, my predictions are:

K-Pop Demon Hunters for the kids.

Allie/J.Lo from Off Campus and her hockey player for the couples.

Zara Larsson for the girls who planned ahead.

Miranda Priestly for the women who want to keep it chic.

Dolly Parton for the girls who want something iconic, glamorous and slightly camp.

But honestly, the biggest Halloween trend of 2026 isn't a specific character. It is being specific.

Nobody wants to be a cowgirl. They want to be Jessie as imagined by Taylor Swift.

That is where Halloween has gone: away from the generic and towards the hyper-specific.

The best costumes this year will be the ones where someone spots you across the room and immediately goes:

"WAIT. I KNOW WHO YOU ARE."

And, honestly, isn't that the whole point?