2026 Halloween

Halloween on October 31 grew out of the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people lit bonfires and wore costumes to ward off wandering spirits; the name comes from All Hallows' Eve, the night before the Christian feast of All Saints on November 1. Irish and Scottish immigrants carried the customs to North America in the 19th century, and today it is one of America's most popular holidays: children go trick-or-treating for candy, families carve pumpkins into jack-o'-lanterns, and adults throw costume parties, visit haunted houses and binge horror movies. It has spread worldwide — Tokyo's Shibuya crossing and Seoul's theme parks now host huge Halloween crowds. It is not a public holiday, so festivities cluster on the evening itself and the nearest weekend. Costumes and party venues sell out by mid-October, so plan early. This countdown ticks to midnight on October 31 in the time zone of the country you are viewing.