SeaWorld San Diego has set its 2026 Howl-O-Scream season for select nights from September 11 through October 31. The separately ticketed event will return with six haunted houses, multiple new scare experiences, nighttime rides and current admission offers that start at $32.99 per person for a four-ticket purchase.
The new visitor decision is broader than a returning Halloween calendar row. SeaWorld has now exposed the season dates, the six-house lineup, its first named new house, current ticket products and operating rules that affect entry, bags, costumes, rides and daytime guests.
- Event dates: Select nights from September 11 through October 31, 2026.
- Nighttime schedule: The event starts at 7 p.m., with ticketed entry beginning at 6 p.m.
- Haunted houses: SeaWorld lists six houses, including the new Area 64: MOTHERSHIP.
- Starting offers: Current prices begin at $32.99 each for a minimum purchase of four any-night tickets.
- Separate admission: Day tickets, Annual Passes and Fun Cards do not include event entry.
What SeaWorld has announced for 2026
The official Howl-O-Scream event page confirms a September 11 start and October 31 finale. SeaWorld describes the event as a nighttime Halloween experience with haunted houses, scare zones, live entertainment, themed bars, hidden speakeasies and access to selected coasters after dark.
The official attraction lineup says the 2026 edition will have six haunted houses. It names Area 64: MOTHERSHIP as an all-new house and says another unnamed new house will be revealed in the coming weeks, leaving one part of the lineup intentionally incomplete as of July 15.
Area 64: MOTHERSHIP is positioned as a prequel to Area 64: Alien Outbreak. SeaWorld says its central show scene includes an 80-foot alien mothership facade, a specific scale detail that distinguishes the new house from a routine return of last year’s maze lineup.
The returning houses currently listed are Nightmare Experiment Sweet DreamzZz, Death Water Bayou Awakening, Simon’s Slaughterhouse and the 3D maze Circus of the Damned. Simon’s Slaughterhouse is also scheduled to receive new sensory effects, while SeaWorld has not yet published the identity of the sixth house.
Ticket options change the cost decision
SeaWorld’s current sale lists a four-pack of any-night tickets from $32.99 per person, with a minimum purchase of four. Single-night date-specific admission starts at $33.99, while an any-night ticket is shown at $53.99 and an unlimited event pass at $101.99 before taxes and service fees.
Those prices are live offers rather than permanent guarantees. SeaWorld says products, prices, hours and services may change or be canceled, and the lower four-pack price only applies when at least four tickets are bought in the same transaction.
The practical comparison is flexibility against group size. A four-person party that can use one event night may find the bundle most economical, while a solo visitor choosing a specific date should compare the current single-night calendar price with the any-night premium before buying.
The unlimited pass covers repeated admission on eligible 2026 event nights but does not include daytime park entry, parking, tours or dining. Visitors should calculate the number of nights they will realistically attend instead of treating the headline discount as an automatic value.
Six houses are only part of the lineup
The official attractions page also lists returning scare zones including Red Moon Revelry, All Hallow’s Harvest, Carnival of Chaos, Deadly Toys and Graveyard. Three additional scare-zone entries are marked as all-new but remain unnamed, so the final route will continue to develop before September.
Monster Stomp is listed to return at Nautilus Amphitheater, and the event will again place smaller vignettes around the park. SeaWorld currently names Summon the Spirits, Misfortune and Dark Magic while leaving additional new entertainment rows under wraps.
Arctic Rescue, Electric Eel and Emperor are scheduled to operate during Howl-O-Scream, weather permitting. These rides are not substitutes for a daytime park visit, because the event ticket covers the evening event window and its operating lineup rather than general daytime admission.
The event page also advertises six themed bars and five hidden speakeasies. Food and drink are separate purchases, so visitors comparing ticket tiers should keep the admission price distinct from parking, service fees, upgrades and in-park spending.
Entry rules require advance planning
SeaWorld says event guests may enter through the dedicated Howl-O-Scream entrance beginning at 6 p.m. The event starts at 7 p.m., and people already inside the daytime park may have to exit and pass through a separate security screening before reentering for the night.
The official event FAQ says bags larger than 8 by 5 inches, including purses and backpacks, are not permitted. Medically necessary items may be screened in a clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bag no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches.
Costumes are not allowed for guests, and animal viewing areas will be closed during the nighttime event. SeaWorld permits photography and video inside haunted houses without flash, but visitors should follow any instructions given by event staff at each location.
SeaWorld describes Howl-O-Scream as intended for adults and says it contains intense content. Guests under 18 may enter, but there is no child discount and the park does not offer a refund simply because the experience is too frightening.
Decision matrix for a 2026 visit
| Visitor situation | What the current terms say | Best move |
|---|---|---|
| Party of four or more | The any-night four-pack begins at $32.99 each with a four-ticket minimum. | Compare the bundle total after fees with date-specific tickets. |
| One planned event night | Single-night tickets are date-specific and currently start at $33.99. | Choose the exact date only after confirming the group’s schedule. |
| Multiple event nights | The unlimited pass is listed at $101.99 and excludes daytime admission. | Divide the full price by the number of nights likely to be used. |
| Daytime park guest | Day admission does not include Howl-O-Scream, and reentry screening applies. | Hold both admissions and allow time to exit and reenter. |
| Guest carrying a bag | Most bags larger than 8 by 5 inches are prohibited. | Leave nonessential bags behind and review the medical exception early. |
How to build the evening plan
Start with the ticket date, then verify the event calendar again closer to the visit. SeaWorld has announced the season window, but individual night availability, prices, operating hours and the final attraction lineup can still change before September.
Arrive with the bag rule already solved and plan for the dedicated 6 p.m. entry. A daytime visitor should not expect to remain inside continuously, while a night-only visitor should allow enough time for parking, security and ticket scanning before the 7 p.m. start.
Use SeaWorld’s map and final house list to choose a first priority rather than trying to complete every offering in published order. The unnamed house, new scare zones and new vignettes may materially change the best route once SeaWorld releases their locations.
Visitors combining the event with a daytime trip can check Deep Arrival’s SeaWorld San Diego park hours page before finalizing the split day. The official event calendar remains the authority for the selected night and any operational change.
Howl-O-Scream now has enough 2026 detail for visitors to compare dates and ticket products, but not every attraction has been revealed. Buy only after checking the full price and selected night, then plan around separate admission, the 6 p.m. entry, the small-bag rule and the possibility that the final maze map will change.
What to watch before September 11
The next major update should be the identity of the still unnamed new haunted house. SeaWorld has also left three new scare zones and additional entertainment rows unnamed, so the current six-house count is firmer than the complete creative lineup.
Travelers should also watch ticket prices and date availability. The San Diego Tourism Authority event listing independently confirms the September 11 to October 31 season, but SeaWorld controls nightly inventory, park rules and final operating details.
When is SeaWorld San Diego Howl-O-Scream in 2026?
The event runs on select nights from September 11 through October 31, 2026. It starts at 7 p.m., with event entry beginning at 6 p.m.
How many haunted houses will there be?
SeaWorld lists six haunted houses. Area 64: MOTHERSHIP is new, another new house remains unnamed, and four returning houses are currently identified.
Does a SeaWorld day ticket include Howl-O-Scream?
No. Howl-O-Scream is separately ticketed, and daytime admission, Annual Passes and Fun Cards do not provide event entry.
Can guests bring bags or wear costumes?
Guest costumes are not allowed. Most bags larger than 8 by 5 inches are prohibited, with a limited clear-bag exception for medically necessary items after screening.
Which rides are scheduled to operate?
SeaWorld lists Arctic Rescue, Electric Eel and Emperor for nighttime operation, weather permitting. Ride availability may change on the event night.
