Universal Studios Japan’s Halloween Horror Nights runs from September 11 through November 8, 2026. The 15th-anniversary event includes Street Zombies, Resident Evil, Sadako and the first R-18 attraction in the event’s history.
Updated October 2, 2026 · Event details may change
Halloween Horror Nights is not a separate after-hours park on ordinary event dates. It operates as part of the day’s USJ experience, with selected horror attractions beginning earlier and street entertainment starting in the evening.
Opening hours, attraction operations, entry procedures and ticket availability can change by date. Check the official USJ Halloween Horror Nights page before visiting.
USJ Halloween Horror Nights 2026 Dates
| Event | 2026 operating period | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| Universal Extreme Autumn | September 10–November 8 | The broader seasonal program begins one day before Horror Nights. |
| Halloween Horror Nights | September 11–November 8 | Individual attraction hours differ. |
| Street Zombies | September 11–November 8 | Generally begins at 6:00 p.m.; check the date-specific schedule. |
| Resident Evil Requiem: The Dive | September 11–December 27 | Timed-entry eTicket generally required; no admission for guests aged 14 or under. |
| Sadako’s Curse: Dark Horror Ride | September 11–January 4, 2027 | Universal Express Pass is valid; guests aged 12 or under require parental consent. |
| Lights Out: Nightmare Isolation | September 11–November 8 | Separate paid ticket, same-day waiver and age 18+ requirement. |
Main USJ Halloween Attractions in 2026
Lights Out: Nightmare Isolation
USJ describes this as the first R-18 attraction in Halloween Horror Nights history. Admission is limited to guests aged 18 or older.
A separate paid show ticket is required. Guests must complete a waiver on the day, bags must be left in the attraction lockers, and the event is conducted in Japanese.
Resident Evil Requiem: The Dive
This walkthrough horror attraction is based on Resident Evil Requiem. Guests aged 14 or under are not admitted.
A timed-entry eTicket is generally required and is obtained through the official USJ app. It may operate without timed entry on less crowded days, but travelers should not rely on that possibility.
Street Zombies and Zombie de Dance
Street Zombies generally begins at 6:00 p.m. and continues until park closing. The event is not recommended for children aged five or under, and guests aged 12 or under require parental consent.
Crowds may gather quickly around popular performance areas. Families who do not want close contact with the horror atmosphere should move before the nighttime program begins.
Sadako’s Curse: Dark Horror Ride
This dark ride uses the Space Fantasy ride system and continues beyond the main Halloween period until January 4, 2027.
Guests aged 12 or under require parental consent. Individual attraction health, height and usage requirements must also be checked.
Review each attraction directly on the official USJ website. An event appearing on the park schedule does not guarantee admission, ticket availability or suitability for every guest.
USJ Halloween Age Restrictions
| Experience | Age rule | What parents should know |
|---|---|---|
| General Halloween Horror Nights | Not recommended for age 5 or under | Guests aged 12 or under require parental consent. |
| Street Zombies | Not recommended for age 5 or under | Nighttime crowds, loud sounds and close-range performers may be intense. |
| Resident Evil Requiem | No admission for age 14 or under | This is an R-15 attraction with a strict age limit. |
| Lights Out: Nightmare Isolation | No admission for age 17 or under | R-18, waiver required and separate paid ticket required. |
| Sadako’s Curse | Age 12 or under needs parental consent | Other ride requirements also apply. |
Do You Need a Special Halloween Ticket?
A dated Studio Pass is required for park admission. From September 1, 2026, USJ requires visitors to specify their visit date when purchasing a Studio Pass.
Individual Halloween experiences may then require an additional procedure:
- Lights Out: requires a separate paid ticket and a same-day waiver.
- Resident Evil: generally requires a timed-entry eTicket obtained through the official app.
- Selected attractions: may be included in relevant Universal Express Pass products.
- Street Zombies: takes place in designated park areas and does not use an ordinary attraction queue.
- SUPER NINTENDO WORLD: may separately require an Area Timed Entry Ticket or Standby Entry Ticket.
Download the official USJ app before the visit, add the group’s park tickets where applicable and review the timed-entry process before reaching the park.
Suggested USJ Halloween One-Day Strategy
Confirm park hours, dated Studio Passes, Express Pass reservations, attraction closures and any separate Halloween tickets.
Enter early and prioritize attractions that become difficult later. Check timed-entry availability in the official app immediately.
Use any confirmed Express Pass or timed-entry reservation. Do not leave app-based arrangements until the evening.
Eat before peak dinner demand, recharge phones and confirm the evening event map and schedules.
Families avoiding horror should move away from the main Street Zombies areas or consider leaving the park.
Follow the event map rather than crossing the park repeatedly. Allow time for crowds, route restrictions and the journey back to the hotel.
Is USJ Halloween Suitable for Families?
Families wanting Halloween fun
Focus on daytime seasonal decorations, character activities, food and ordinary attractions. Finish the family’s priority rides before the nighttime horror program begins.
Families avoiding horror
Review the event map in advance, avoid Street Zombies areas after the start time and do not assume every route through the park will feel child friendly.
Teenagers interested in horror
Check every attraction separately. Resident Evil excludes guests aged 14 or under, while the R-18 attraction excludes all guests aged 17 or under.
Mixed-age groups
Decide in advance whether adults will split from younger travelers. Do not leave child supervision or meeting locations to an improvised decision inside the crowd.
For more general age-based planning, see Jatravi’s Japan attractions guide for families with children .
What International Visitors Should Prepare
- Purchase a Studio Pass for the correct date.
- Download and update the official USJ app.
- Check whether each priority attraction needs timed entry or a separate ticket.
- Bring identification if an attraction must verify age.
- Confirm that every traveler meets the attraction requirements.
- Carry a portable charger for app-based tickets and timed entry.
- Check the final train time back to the hotel.
- Review the official costume and prohibited-item rules.
- Do not purchase unofficial resale tickets without understanding the validity risk.
Plan USJ as Part of a Japan Itinerary
Tell Jatravi your travel dates, group size, children’s ages and priority attractions. We can prepare an initial Japan itinerary proposal that places USJ within a practical Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka route. Submitting the form does not require immediate payment or guarantee scarce event tickets.
Request Your Free Trip ProposalFrequently Asked Questions
When is USJ Halloween Horror Nights 2026?
The main Halloween Horror Nights event runs from September 11 through November 8, 2026. Individual attractions may have different operating periods.
What time do Street Zombies begin?
Street Zombies generally begins at 6:00 p.m. and continues until park closing, although the schedule can vary by date.
Is USJ Halloween suitable for young children?
The general horror event is not recommended for children aged five or under, and guests aged 12 or under require parental consent. Individual attractions may have stricter limits.
What is the age limit for the USJ R-18 attraction?
Lights Out: Nightmare Isolation does not admit guests aged 17 or under. It also requires a separate paid ticket and a waiver completed on the day.
Do I need the USJ app for Resident Evil?
A timed-entry eTicket is generally required for Resident Evil Requiem: The Dive, and the official app is required to obtain it.
Is Halloween Horror Nights included with a Studio Pass?
Park admission requires a Studio Pass, but some Halloween experiences require separate paid tickets, timed-entry eTickets or eligible Express Pass access.
Can Jatravi guarantee USJ Halloween tickets?
No. Jatravi can help include USJ in a custom itinerary and advise on planning, but ticket and attraction availability cannot be guaranteed.
Event dates, hours, attraction operations, ticket requirements and age restrictions can change. Information was checked against official Universal Studios Japan pages on October 2, 2026.
