Halloween 2026 falls on Saturday, October 31, 2026 — landing on a weekend, which makes for prime party and trick-or-treating conditions. Watch the days, hours and minutes count down on our live Halloween countdown.
When is Halloween 2026?
Halloween is always on October 31, the eve of All Saints' Day. In 2026 that is a Saturday, so the celebrations — parties, parades and trick-or-treating — can spill across the whole weekend. The build-up runs through "spooky season" each October, peaking in the final week.
Why is Halloween on October 31?
The date traces back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which marked the end of the harvest and the start of winter, when the boundary between the living and the dead was believed to thin. The Christian church later placed All Saints' Day on November 1, making October 31 "All Hallows' Eve" — eventually shortened to Halloween.
Halloween traditions
- Costumes — dressing up, a custom rooted in disguising oneself from wandering spirits.
- Trick-or-treating — children going door to door for sweets.
- Jack-o'-lanterns — carved pumpkins lit from within.
- Haunted houses and horror films — the thrills of the season.
Count down to Halloween
Open the live Halloween 2026 countdown, see how many days until Thanksgiving and Christmas, or create your own countdown to your Halloween party.