About Halloween
Halloween lands on October 31 every year, and this live Halloween countdown shows exactly how many days are left until the spookiest night on the calendar — costumes, jack-o'-lanterns, haunted houses and doorbells ringing for trick-or-treat. In 2026 Halloween falls on a Saturday, the best possible night for parties and late trick-or-treating.
The holiday traces back more than 2,000 years to Samhain, the Celtic festival marking the end of harvest, when the boundary between the living and the dead was said to thin. Irish and Scottish immigrants carried the customs to North America in the 1800s, where carving turnips became carving pumpkins and "guising" became trick-or-treating. Today Americans alone spend over $12 billion a year on costumes, candy and decorations.
Spooky season now stretches well beyond one night — haunted attractions open in September, and horror movie marathons run all month. Whether you are planning a costume, decorating the porch, or just counting down to the candy, this page rolls over automatically to next Halloween the moment October 31 ends.
Upcoming dates
| 2026 | Saturday, October 31, 2026next |
| 2027 | Sunday, October 31, 2027 |
| 2028 | Tuesday, October 31, 2028 |
| 2029 | Wednesday, October 31, 2029 |
| 2030 | Thursday, October 31, 2030 |
FAQ
How many days until Halloween?
The live countdown above shows the days, hours, minutes and seconds remaining until October 31 in your timezone.
What day of the week is Halloween 2026?
Halloween 2026 falls on Saturday, October 31 — a weekend Halloween, ideal for parties and trick-or-treating.
Why is Halloween on October 31?
It is the eve of All Saints' Day (All Hallows' Day) on November 1 — "All Hallows' Eve" shortened over time to Halloween — and inherits the date of the Celtic festival Samhain.
What time does trick-or-treating start?
There is no official time, but most neighborhoods see trick-or-treaters between 5:30 and 9 PM local time on Halloween night.