About Halloween 2026
Halloween 2026 falls on Saturday, October 31, 2026, 2 days from today. Halloween is October 31 every year. It grew out of Samhain, the Celtic festival that marked the end of the harvest, and took its name from All Hallows' Eve, the night before All Saints' Day on November 1.
Today Halloween is a night of costumes, jack-o'-lanterns, trick-or-treating and haunted houses in the US, the UK, Ireland, Canada and beyond. It is not a public holiday, so schools and offices stay open. In 2026 it falls on a Saturday, which gives a full weekend night for parties and trick-or-treat.
- Date
- Saturday, October 31, 2026
- Days left
- 2 days
- Other name
- All Hallows' Eve
- All Saints' Day
- Sunday, November 1, 2026
- Day of the Dead
- November 1, 2026 – November 2, 2026
- Public holiday
- No
Related Countdowns
Halloween opens the holiday season. Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Christmas follow within 8 weeks, and the first day of winter arrives in December.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Halloween always on October 31?
Yes, Halloween is always on October 31. The date is fixed, so only the weekday changes: Halloween 2026 is on a Saturday and Halloween 2027 is on a Sunday. When October 31 lands on a Sunday or a school night, some towns hold trick-or-treat on a nearby evening, so check your local schedule.
Does the countdown use my local time zone?
Yes, the countdown uses your local time zone. It counts to midnight at the start of October 31 where you are. The Halloween countdown 2026 for the UK hits zero 4 hours before the US East Coast, since the UK clocks go back on October 25 and the US clocks stay on daylight time until November 1.
| # | City | UTC offset | Celebration | Midnight, your time | Time left |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tokyo Japan | UTC+9 | Costume crowds in Shibuya | -- | -- |
| 2 | Dublin Ireland | UTC+0 | Home of Samhain, the Celtic festival behind Halloween | -- | -- |
| 3 | London United Kingdom | UTC+0 | Pumpkin carving and trick-or-treating | -- | -- |
| 4 | New York United States | UTC−4 | Village Halloween Parade | -- | -- |
| 5 | Mexico City Mexico | UTC−6 | Day of the Dead follows on November 1 and 2 | -- | -- |
| 6 | Los Angeles United States | UTC−7 | Trick-or-treat and theme-park Halloween nights | -- | -- |
Why does the live timer show fewer days than the calendar count?
The calendar count is 2 days in whole dates, and the live timer shows 1 day plus hours, minutes and seconds. Part of today has already passed, so the timer runs less than one full day behind the calendar until midnight.
Whole dates left, changing once a day at midnight.
Exact time left to midnight on October 31, ticking every second.
Does the countdown update without refreshing?
Yes. The timer ticks every second and the day count moves at your local midnight, with no refresh needed. Leave the page open on a TV or tablet as a Halloween countdown clock for a party, and it keeps running all evening.
What happens when Halloween arrives?
On October 31 the countdown shows that Halloween has arrived. On November 1 it switches to Halloween 2027, Sunday, October 31, 2027. The same link works every year.
How Many Days Until Halloween 2026?
There are 2 days until Halloween 2026, counting from today, Thursday, October 29, 2026. Halloween 2026 falls on Saturday, October 31, 2026. That is 2 days, about 48 hours, with 1 weekend left.
How Many Sleeps Until Halloween?
There are 2 sleeps until Halloween. Sleeps match the days left, and the last sleep is the night of October 30.
Your Halloween Planning Checklist
Your Halloween planning checklist has 6 stops, from the first door of a Halloween advent calendar on October 1 to the costume reveal on October 31. Tick off what is done and use the days left for the rest.
- October 1
Day 1 of OctoberHalloween advent calendar 2026Spooky season pre-registrationOctober spookiness meter - October 10
3 weeks outPre-Halloween costume planningWitchy wardrobe countdownPumpkin patch countdown - October 17
2 weeks outHalloween decor countdownHaunted house countdown clockHaunted hayride countdown - October 24
1 week outHalloween party prep countdownSpooky playlist countdownHalloween movie marathon countdown - October 29
2 days outCandy inventory countdownTrick-or-treat route planningGhoulish games countdown - October 31
Halloween nightCostume reveal countdownCountdown to candy nightMonster mash countdownGhostly gathering countdown
Spirit Halloween, HalloweenCostumes.com, Party City, Michaels, Target, Walmart, Amazon, Etsy and Oriental Trading Company stock costumes, decorations and party supplies through October.
Disney and toy brands sell Halloween countdown calendars and boxes. For a DIY Halloween countdown calendar, fill 31 paper bags with treats, or press Ctrl+P (Cmd+P on a Mac) to print this page.
Theme parks run Halloween nights, such as Halloween Horror Nights, on select evenings in September and October, and games like Pokémon GO and Adopt Me! hold limited-time Halloween events.
Add reflective tape to costumes, carry a flashlight, walk on sidewalks and check candy before eating it.