Universal Orlando Resort added three Universal Nights dates at Universal Epic Universe on September 2, 2026, after a Saturday sold out, according to the official Universal Nights event page and FOX 35 Orlando. The event now runs October 3, 17, and 24, plus November 6 and 20. Tickets start at $179.99 plus tax, and October 17 is sold out.
If you are building a fall Orlando itinerary, the new nights are the remaining inventory for a lower-crowd evening inside all five worlds. Start with Deep Arrival’s Epic Universe park guide so you know which lands and rides you actually want after dark, then buy a remaining date before another Saturday disappears.
- Event: Universal Nights at Epic Universe, a separately ticketed after-hours event.
- Dates: October 3, 17, and 24, plus November 6 and 20, 2026.
- Hours: 9 pm to midnight, with ticketed entry from 7 pm
- Price: From $179.99 plus tax; annual and seasonal passholders save 10 percent.
- Sold out: October 17 is gone; FOX 35 reports tickets remain for the other four nights.
Three New Nights Follow an October Sellout
Universal first announced Universal Nights for two Saturdays, October 3 and October 17. Tickets went on sale in August. By September 2 the resort had added Saturday, October 24, Friday, November 6, and Friday, November 20, citing demand. FOX 35 reported that October 17 sold out after that on-sale window. The official event page now lists all five nights together, so the public calendar matches the expansion.
That mix of Saturdays and Fridays matters for people already holding Halloween Horror Nights tickets at Universal Studios Florida. Horror Nights runs select nights from August 28 through November 1. Universal Nights is at a different park.
You can keep a scream night and still book an Epic Universe evening, as long as you do not try to be in two parks at once. The remaining inventory is the practical decision, not a rumor that more nights will keep appearing.
What Universal Nights Includes After Dark
Universal’s event page says guests get exclusive access to all attractions and experiences from 9 pm to midnight. Ticket holders may enter as early as 7 pm, which is also the window for Universal Celestial Goodnight, the park’s nighttime spectacular in Celestial Park. That early gate is part of the ticket, not a hotel extra.
Attractions Magazine, citing Universal, lists nighttime ride access, entertainment, character interactions, complimentary specialty snacks and beverages, and limited attendance. Do not assume a full dining plan or every restaurant remaining open.
WDW News Today, quoting Universal Orlando Resort’s September 2 post, adds unlimited berry-flavored Celestial Popcorn and crispy Kimchi Bao in Celestial Park, plus refills in a provided cup at Coca-Cola Freestyle locations. Those snack names are the items Universal has specified.
The five worlds stay in play: Celestial Park, Super Nintendo World, How to Train Your Dragon Isle of Berk, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Ministry of Magic, and Dark Universe. Use Deep Arrival’s Epic Universe rides guide to pick a short after-dark loop.
Stardust Racers, Mine-Cart Madness, and the Ministry of Magic coaster are the usual capacity bottlenecks in daylight. A limited-capacity night is the chance to ride them without a full daytime queue, if they operate as advertised.
Ticket Price, Passholder Discount, and Remaining Dates
Universal prices Universal Nights from $179 plus tax for ages 3 and up. FOX 35 and Attractions Magazine both report $179.99 plus tax. Passholders save 10 percent on up to six tickets per valid pass. That discount is on the event ticket, not daytime admission before 7 pm
October 17 is sold out. The remaining nights are October 3, October 24, November 6, and November 20. Universal says prices, times, and entertainment can change or cancel without notice, and that the event is limited capacity and subject to availability.
Treat that as a live inventory problem. If you need a Saturday, October 3 and October 24 are the open weekend options. If you can travel on a Friday, the two November nights sit after peak Halloween Horror Nights but still inside fall crowd season.
Attractions Magazine notes the $179.99 starting price sits in the same band as Disney After Hours tickets, which it reports at $155 to $199 plus tax depending on park and date. That comparison is useful for budget, not a promise that the two products are interchangeable. Disney After Hours and Universal Nights are different parks, different included snacks, and different ride sets.
Early Entry and Celestial Goodnight
The 7 pm entry is the planning hinge. Epic Universe often closes around 8 pm in September. A Universal Nights ticket lets you arrive before the 9 pm exclusive block, catch Celestial Goodnight, and stay through midnight. Showing up at 8:50 pm leaves the included spectacular unused.
Celestial Goodnight is the fountain, light, and music show in the hub. Deep Arrival’s Celestial Park explainer is the next page if you have never stood in that plaza at night. Clear security, then pick a viewing spot before the show. After it ends, ride a short loop instead of wandering all five portals.
How This Fits a Fall Universal Orlando Trip
Universal Studios Florida is already closing as early as 5 pm on many September Halloween Horror Nights dates, a change Deep Arrival covered when the 5 pm list posted. Epic Universe is a separate ticketed park with its own calendar.
Universal Nights does not keep Studios Florida open, and a Horror Nights ticket does not admit you to Epic Universe after hours. If your group wants both, book them on different nights and sleep in between.
Daytime visits in mid-September have a separate note: The Untrainable Dragon is listed closed September 15 to 20 on Universal’s park hours page. That window ends before Universal Nights begins on October 3. Check the hours page again the week you travel.
Hotel guests with Early Park Admission already get a morning jump. Universal Nights is the evening counterpart, sold separately. If you are staying on property, you can stack a morning Early Park Admission day and a Universal Nights evening only if your energy and budget support two paid access products in one trip. Most visitors should pick one.
| If you… | What to do |
|---|---|
| Need a Saturday night | Buy October 3 or October 24 now. October 17 is sold out. |
| Hold a Universal annual or seasonal pass | Use the 10 percent discount on up to six tickets per valid pass. |
| Already have Halloween Horror Nights tickets | Keep that night at Studios Florida and book Universal Nights on a different date at Epic Universe. |
| Want Celestial Goodnight plus rides | Enter at 7 pm, watch the show, then ride from 9 pm to midnight. |
September 2, 2026 is the expansion date. Universal added October 24, November 6, and November 20 after the original two-night calendar sold through on October 17.
October 3 is the first remaining Saturday. If you need a weekend, this is the earliest open night still listed for sale.
November 20 is the last listed night. After that date, Universal has not announced more Universal Nights inventory.
When is Universal Nights at Epic Universe in 2026?
Universal lists October 3, 17, and 24, plus November 6 and 20, 2026. Event hours are 9 pm to midnight, with ticketed entry from 7 pm
How much do Universal Nights tickets cost?
Tickets start at $179.99 plus tax per person ages 3 and up. Annual and seasonal passholders save 10 percent on up to six tickets per valid pass.
Is October 17 still available?
No. FOX 35 Orlando reported that the October 17 event sold out after tickets went on sale in August. The other four nights remained on sale as of that report.
Does a regular Epic Universe ticket include Universal Nights?
No. Universal Nights is a separately ticketed, limited-capacity event. Daytime admission is not the same product as the 7 pm event window.
