Full Dates & What’s New
Disneyland just confirmed the biggest Oogie Boogie Bash in the event’s history, and Halloween Time itself is arriving earlier than it did even two years ago. Here’s everything that’s locked in for fall 2026, including the one entertainment change longtime attendees will notice immediately.
When Halloween Time actually starts
Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort runs August 21 through October 31, 2026. This is the third year in a row the season has kicked off in late August instead of waiting for after Labor Day, a shift that’s become the new normal rather than a one-time experiment. Everything included in Halloween Time, the décor, the themed ride overlays, Haunted Mansion Holiday, the Halloween Screams fireworks, is covered by regular park admission. No separate ticket required for any of it.
If you’re squeezing in a visit right before the season flips over, note that the resort’s 70th Anniversary entertainment gets one last run first: “Paint the Night” and “Wondrous Journeys” continue at Disneyland Park through August 20, and “World of Color – ONE” returns to DCA starting August 10 through the Halloween season. There’s a real window, August 10 through 20, where you can catch both the tail end of the 70th celebration and the very start of fall décor going up.
Oogie Boogie Bash: a record 33 nights
Oogie Boogie Bash – A Disney Halloween Party runs select nights, August 18 through October 31, 2026, at Disney California Adventure. That’s 33 event dates, up from 31 in 2025 and 27 in 2024. Disney has now made “more nights than ever” a running theme for this event three years straight.
The party runs 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM on event nights, and your ticket gets you into DCA starting at 3:00 PM, three full hours before the party officially begins. That’s enough time to ride Halloween-overlay attractions like Mater’s Graveyard JamBOOree and Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark before the after-hours crowd even shows up. If you’re on the fence about whether the early admission window is worth building your day around, it is. Most first-timers don’t realize they’re paying for a half-day at the park, not just a five-hour party.
One scheduling note for the collectors and completionists: September 27, 2026 is a D23 Members-only night, a separate event with its own ticket process through D23.com. If you’re not a D23 member, plan around the other 32 dates.
What’s new this year: the parade is gone
This is the change worth leading a social post with. The Frightfully Fun Parade is not returning in 2026. In its place: “Madame Leota’s Swinging Wake – A Haunted Mansion Street Party,” featuring familiar Haunted Mansion moments built around Madame Leota’s séance, with multiple show-stopping stops along the route rather than a traditional moving parade format.
The practical reason behind the swap: construction on the new Coco-themed area at DCA is affecting the route the Frightfully Fun Parade has historically used. Disney didn’t have a clean path for a full parade this year, so the entertainment team pivoted to a street party format instead. Whether that reads as a downgrade or a fresh reason to attend depends entirely on how you feel about the Haunted Mansion. Given how beloved that ride is, don’t be surprised if Madame Leota’s Swinging Wake becomes the thing people specifically travel for this season.
Everything else about the event lineup is holding steady: the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail villain walk-through, immersive treat trails with unlimited candy, rare character appearances you won’t see during regular Halloween Time hours, and the costume-friendly dress code that makes this the one night adults can show up in full costume.
Tickets: here’s what’s actually left right now
Ticket sales already happened. Inspire Magic Key holders got first access June 16, all Magic Key holders June 17, and the general public sale opened June 18. If you’re reading this after that date, the good news is tickets are still available for most dates, they just go fast on the popular ones.
Pricing starts at $139 per guest (ages 3+) and climbs to $199 for Halloween night itself, October 31. There are no Magic Key, child, military, or group discounts on this event, and the limit is 8 tickets per guest per date. The general shape of 2026 pricing: August dates are cheapest at $139, most of September sits in the $159 to $169 range, and October climbs steadily toward that $199 Halloween-night ceiling.
If you missed the early rush, here’s the actual strategy: Tuesday and Thursday dates in August and early September are historically the slowest to sell out. Sunday dates and anything within the final week of October, especially October 25, 27, 29, and 31, go first and go fast. If your travel dates are flexible at all, a Tuesday in early September will get you the same event experience at a noticeably lower price and a much better shot at availability.
Can’t get the date you want? The Oogie Boogie Bash VIP Tour, which bundles park admission with event tickets and a dedicated guide, has historically had availability even after standard tickets sell out. It’s a premium option, but it’s worth knowing it exists as a backup.
What to actually do with this information
If you’re planning a fall trip and Oogie Boogie Bash is the priority, book your park days around your event date first, then build regular Halloween Time days around it. The season itself, Haunted Mansion Holiday, the seasonal food, the Halloween Screams fireworks, is available every single day August 21 through October 31 with standard admission, so you don’t need an OBB ticket to get the full Halloween Time experience. The party is specifically for costumes, rare characters, and the exclusive entertainment.
For families with young kids who don’t care about villain meet-and-greets, regular Halloween Time days will feel like plenty. For anyone chasing character rarity or the new Haunted Mansion street party specifically, the ticketed event is where that lives.
Trying to hold all the Disneyland information in your head while you’re also planning meals, Lightning Lanes, and a rope drop strategy is a lot. That’s exactly why we built the Magic Made Easy Guide: every rule above, plus our full planning system, kept current as things change.
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