Universal Orlando Resort has officially confirmed a major change for the 2026 Halloween Horror Nights (HHN) season: Frequent Fear Passes with Express will not be available for the event.
For many years, this popular add-on allowed guests who purchased multi-night tickets—such as the Rush of Fear, Frequent Fear, Frequent Fear Plus, and Ultimate Frequent Fear passes—to bundle Express access, providing one-time priority entry to haunted houses and participating attractions on every eligible event night. That option will no longer be available for the 2026 event.
Official Statement
In an official statement regarding the decision, Universal noted that the change is part of an ongoing effort to evaluate their offerings and optimize the guest experience:
“As we continue to evaluate our offerings in an effort to provide the best Halloween Horror Nights experience for all Guests, we have discontinued all Fear with Express Pass products. Other Fear pass options will go on sale soon”.
What This Means for Guests
While the bundled Express option is being removed from multi-night passes, fans of the event still have several ways to experience the 35th anniversary of Halloween Horror Nights:
- Standard Multi-Night Passes: Universal has confirmed that the standard multi-night Fear pass tiers (Rush of Fear, Frequent Fear, etc.) will still be available for purchase at a later date, just without the option to add Express.
- Single-Night Express Passes: Guests who prioritize skipping the lines can still purchase standalone Halloween Horror Nights Express Passes on a night-by-night basis. These are subject to availability and can be purchased alongside standard single-night event tickets.
- Alternative Premium Experiences: For those looking for guaranteed priority access, the R.I.P. Tour remains an available option, which includes guided VIP priority entry to haunted houses and Universal Express Unlimited access. Additionally, the limited-capacity Premium Scream Night offers shorter wait times as part of its package.
Because this change marks a significant shift in ticketing strategy, frequent visitors who rely on Express access to navigate the event are encouraged to adjust their planning. Since standalone Express Passes are known to sell out on popular nights, guests who wish to use them should look to purchase their dated Express passes as soon as they are available to ensure they can secure access for their chosen nights.
Halloween Horror Nights 35 is scheduled to run on select nights from August 28 through November 1, 2026.
Clint Gamache is the owner of ThrillGeek. He started ThrillGeek to share his love of theme/amusement parks and pop culture with the world. You can find him at Halloween Horror Nights. Also, be sure to follow him on Twitter/X, Instagram @iamcg83