The Best Amusement Parks and Festivals in Europe for Halloween 2026

Want to meet Disney villains, dare to venture into a maze of horrors, or join in the celebration of medieval Irish legends? On Halloween in Europe, you can plan a wide variety of weekend activities. Some parks invite families to enjoy pumpkin-lit paths and festive shows. Others save the scariest attractions for the evening, when actors dressed as monsters appear among the decorations.

We’ve rounded up seven parks and festivals that make an autumn trip in 2026 well worth it. We’ll tell you what awaits visitors, when to go, and what details to check before buying tickets.

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Disneyland Paris in France and Halloween with Disney Characters

Halloween at Disneyland Paris is perfect for a family trip with kids. From September 26 to November 1, 2026, Disneyland Park will host the Disney Halloween Festival. Main Street has been decorated with new pumpkins and lanterns, and Mickey, Minnie, and their friends greet guests in festive costumes.

The program includes:

- Mickey’s Halloween Celebration – a festive parade featuring four floats, music, and Mickey’s quick costume changes during the finale

- Encounters with Disney Villains – announced characters include Maleficent, Cruella, and Jafar. The lineup of characters may change throughout the season

- Phantom Manor – a journey through a mysterious haunted mansion. The attraction is open year-round but is especially well-suited to the Halloween atmosphere

- Meet Jack Skellington and Sally—you’ll need to sign up for a virtual queue, available primarily through the Disneyland Paris app. Space is limited

On October 31, the park will be open until 11:00 PM. A special fireworks show, additional character meet-and-greets, and candy giveaways have been announced for this day. Visitors of all ages are allowed to wear costumes, provided they comply with park rules.

You do not need to purchase separate Halloween tickets for Disneyland Paris; they are included with your regular admission to Disneyland Park. Seasonal attractions and the October 31 program are included in the standard ticket for that date. You can check the cost of your visit and proceed to booking on the festival’s official website. Food and purchases are paid for separately.

You can get there from central Paris via the RER A train. The trip from Châtelet station to Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy takes about 40 minutes, and it’s another two-minute walk from the station to the park entrance.

In our previous article, we discussed where to celebrate Halloween 2026 in Europe: the best cities and locations.

Europa-Park in Germany and the Traumatica horror festival

Halloween at Europa-Park in Rust takes two forms. During the day, you can stroll among more than 180,000 pumpkins, ride the attractions, and watch family shows. In the evening, Traumatica begins in a separate area, featuring spooky characters and entertainment for visitors ages 16 and up.

The daytime Halloween season runs from September 26 to November 1, 2026. The park opens at 9:00 a.m. and stays open until at least 6:00 p.m.

This season’s attractions include:

- Pumpkin Village – a new fall village with fairground booths in the German-themed area

- Trick or Treat Funfair—a children’s fair with interactive activities in the Austrian zone

- The Dark Wedding—a new 30-minute show about a mysterious wedding

- Ed’s Halloween Parade and Spooky Beats—a festive parade and a children’s disco

The Traumatica 2026 Festival takes place on select evenings from September 23 to November 7. Attractions open at 7:00 PM, and the food court opens at 6:00 PM. Be sure to check the calendar for specific dates, as the festival is not held every day.

Traumatica requires a separate Event Pass, priced starting at €49. The Shoxter Pass, which reduces wait times, starts at €96. Some additional attractions are paid separately, including the Brain Shocker VR ride and the interactive horror experience THE HOTEL. THE HOTEL and THE FORBIDDEN club have an 18+ age restriction.

Children under 16 are not allowed at Traumatica, even when accompanied by parents. You must bring an original form of ID to verify your age, and wearing a costume is prohibited.

Learn more about the best haunted spots in Europe for celebrating Halloween by following the link.

PortAventura World in Spain and five horror trails

Halloween at PortAventura World runs from September 19 to November 15, 2026. Here, you can combine roller coasters with family shows, and then test your courage on one of five themed horror trails. The main new attraction of the season is *El Carnicero de Penitence* in the Wild West zone. Visitors help the sheriff investigate the disappearances of people near a 19th-century butcher shop. The slaughterhouse sets and gory scenes are designed for horror fans.

Other routes offer different storylines:

- REC Experience transports you into the world of the horror film series of the same name

- La Isla Maldita introduces you to ghostly pirates on a cursed island

- Angkor, la Leyenda del Rey Caníbal leads to the temple of the cannibal king

- La Muerte Viva explores the eerie themes of the Mexican Day of the Dead

For Halloween with kids at PortAventura, there’s the family-friendly “Truco o Trato” activity, the “Día de los Muertos” show, and a festive parade. Among the new attractions is “Resurrection”—a dance show with a mysterious plot set in a saloon. After dark, thrill-seekers can head to the “La Maldición del Emperador” horror zone.

Horror trails require an additional fee on top of park admission. For example, El Carnicero de Penitence starts at €10, and La Isla Maldita starts at €12. If you want to experience multiple trails, you can purchase a Halloween Passport:

- Passport 2 – starting at €11.90: El Carnicero de Penitence and REC Experience

- Passport 4 – starting at €21.90: four routes excluding La Isla Maldita

- Passport 5 – starting at €30.90: all five routes

These are starting prices per person. You can check availability, terms, and prices for your desired date on PortAventura’s official Halloween page. Note that Express Miedo skips the line for La Isla Maldita but does not include either park admission or a ticket for the tour itself.

We previously wrote about the best locations for fall travel and viewing the golden leaves.

Tivoli in Denmark features pumpkins, lights, and a monster parade

Halloween at Tivoli in Copenhagen runs from October 2 to November 1, 2026. The park is decorated with over 20,000 pumpkins, spiderwebs, and scarecrows. Festive stalls are set up near the open-air stage, and in the evening, you can enjoy the Halloween Illuminations light show and the Water Lilies installation.

For children, there are meet-and-greets with Rasmus Klump the bear, witch dances, pumpkin carving, and a maze. The seasonal program also features a little ghost train and a witch’s carousel. From October 22–25, visitors can watch the artistic carving of giant pumpkins.

For a spookier spectacle, be sure to arrive on October 24 at 6:00 p.m. That’s when Monsters Night Out—a costumed monster parade—will begin. Participants will march from the main entrance through the park to the Hikari area.

Before buying tickets to Tivoli for Halloween, you’ll need to decide what kind of entertainment you’re planning:

- Entrance grants access to the park but does not include rides

- Entrance + Ride Pass combines admission with unlimited rides, excluding certain seasonal attractions

- Scary House Combo for 150 Danish kroner includes one visit each to two haunted houses—Villa Vendetta and The Haunted House. Park admission is paid separately

The standard Ride Pass during Halloween does not cover Villa Vendetta and The Haunted House. The cost of admission and combo tickets depends on the date and, sometimes, the time of arrival.

Learn more about the Top 10 Scariest Cities in the World for Celebrating Halloween by following the link.

Púca Festival in Ireland with Samhain legends and bonfires

The 2026 Púca Festival will take place October 29–November 1 in Trim and Athboy, two towns in County Meath. Its program is centered around Irish folklore and Samhain traditions. Mythical creatures appear in the streets, fire performers take the stage near historic landmarks, and the walls of Trim Castle serve as a screen for light projections.

To celebrate Halloween in Ireland, you can plan an itinerary of free events here:

- Púca Procession – a parade through the streets of Trim featuring drums, music, and fire performances. Starts October 30 at 6:00 p.m.; no ticket required

- Projections on Trim Castle – an audiovisual installation on the walls of the medieval castle, dedicated to myths and supernatural creatures

- Lighting of the Samhain Fire – the lighting of the Samhain fire, featuring performances by artists and stories about the holiday’s traditions

- The Pyro Collective – a show featuring fire choreography and aerial acrobatics. The event venues are located near Trim Castle and at Athboy Fairgreen

Concerts are a separate part of the festival. The Coronas are scheduled for October 30, and The Waterboys for November 1. Tickets for paid performances must be purchased separately through the official Púca Festival website, where the program is organized by day and location.

For family trips, please note the age restrictions: events in the Big Top tent are open to those 16 and older, and Samhain Circus is open to those 18 and older. Other events, according to the organizer’s general rules, are open to all age groups. In Trim, free parking is available at Porchfields. In Athboy, parking spaces are limited, so organizers recommend using the free shuttle between the towns.

Learn more about the history, traditions, and interesting facts about the scariest holiday of the year by following the link.

Derry Halloween in Northern Ireland and the City Carnival

Derry Halloween 2026 marks its 40th anniversary and will take place from October 28 to November 1. The festivities span Derry’s historic center with its ancient walls, squares, and the Foyle River waterfront. Here, you can see street performances, light installations, and costumed parades simply while strolling through the city.

A few events in the program are particularly worth noting:

- Awakening the Walled City Trail – an evening tour featuring theatrical performances, music, and light effects. Characters from local legends appear near the city walls and in historic alleyways

- Little Horrors – a children’s program featuring creative workshops, performances, and spooky storytelling

- Heart of Samhain – musical performances and food stalls at Guildhall Square and Waterloo Place

- Carnival Parade – the main costume parade on October 31 at 7:00 p.m. A fireworks display over the River Foyle is scheduled to follow

Halloween in Derry is perfect for those who want to join in the city’s festivities and come in costume themselves. Hundreds of local performers, as well as representatives from schools, clubs, and community organizations, traditionally take part in the parade. To watch the parade, it’s best to arrive in the city center early.

The organizers have opened ticket reservations for a separate, expanded program on the city walls. Therefore, before your trip, check the terms and conditions for the specific events you want to attend on the official Derry Halloween website. If the main purpose of your trip is the carnival and fireworks, plan your evening in the city specifically for October 31, although the festival’s overall dates also include November 1.

West Side Hallo Fest in Bucharest and creatures from Romanian legends

West Side Hallo Fest 2026 will take place October 30–November 1 near the dam of Lacul Morii in Sector 6 of Bucharest.

The theme of this year’s festival is ORIGINI, meaning “Origins.” The decorations and characters will introduce visitors to Romanian mythology. Among the characters are the forest creature Muma Pedurii, the mythical Iele maidens, the dragon Balaur, and the sorcerer Solomonar.

The program features themed installations, interactive performances, children’s activities, and concerts. On October 30, the band Zdob și Zdub will perform, and on October 31, Lupii lui Calancea and singer Andra will take the stage. You can plan your trip as a family day out with entertainment and an evening music program.

The Halloween Festival in Bucharest will be open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Admission details:

- October 30 – free

- October 31 or November 1 – 60 Romanian lei per day

- Weekend pass (Saturday and Sunday) – 100 lei

- Children under 14 – free when accompanied by parents. Visitors aged 14–16 must have a ticket and be accompanied by a parent

You can purchase tickets and check for program updates on the West Side Hallo Fest page on iaBilet.

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We remind you! Popular European tourist destinations are becoming increasingly crowded, so travelers are looking for alternatives without the crowds. In 2026, attention is turning to countries that remain off the beaten path but offer unique experiences, affordable prices, and an authentic atmosphere. Read more about 5 European countries that are rarely visited by tourists.

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