The pumpkins are appearing, spooky decorations are crawling out of storage and there is a familiar chill—or at least the hope of one—starting to creep into the air.
Halloween is coming.
And this year, there is even more reason to go all out. Halloween falls on a Saturday in 2026, giving families an entire weekend to embrace everything spooky, silly and just a little strange. Whether that means transforming the front yard into a haunted attraction, planning a party or making sure everyone has the perfect costume before heading out to trick-or-treat, now is the time to start getting ready.
But what is everyone dressing up as this year?
HalloweenCostumes.com has shared some of its top-selling costumes and decorations from August, offering an early look at what shoppers are already grabbing before October arrives. Unsurprisingly, familiar characters are proving difficult to beat.
Leading costume sales is a Marvel Toddler Spider-Man costume, giving some of the smallest trick-or-treaters a chance to sling their way through Halloween night. A Little Mermaid infant Flounder costume follows, because apparently it is never too early to become Ariel’s favorite fish.
The top five also includes a women’s country singer costume, a Michael Jackson “Thriller” costume for kids and one option that could easily become a Halloween party favorite: an adult “Toy Story” Slinky Dog costume.
Yes, Slinky Dog.
And really, if Halloween falling on a Saturday isn’t the perfect excuse for two adults to spend the evening walking around as a giant Slinky Dog, when is?
Costumes aren’t the only thing shoppers are already thinking about. Halloween décor continues to become increasingly elaborate, and the site’s August sales suggest plenty of homes may be getting some rather unusual new residents this October.
An animated crawling zombie currently leads the company’s decoration sales, followed by a hanging and swinging Slimer prop inspired by “Ghostbusters.” Lock, Shock and Barrel from “The Nightmare Before Christmas” are also getting into the festivities with their own animatronic, while an animated rocking horse with a doll and an Area 51 Roswell alien animatronic round out the top five.
Because apparently pumpkins on the porch just aren’t enough anymore.
Beyond which costumes and decorations are selling, HalloweenCostumes.com’s 2026 consumer survey offers an interesting look at how people are approaching the season itself. Comfort and fit have become the biggest consideration when selecting a costume, cited by 30% of respondents compared with 20% in 2024. Quality now follows at 26%.
Shoppers are also putting a significant amount of their Halloween budgets into what they wear. Costumes ranked as the highest-spend category in the survey, with indoor home décor following closely behind.
Yet costumes increasingly aren’t being purchased solely for October 31. Nearly half of respondents—48%—said they wear costumes at other points during the year for cosplay, festivals, parties and other events. That makes the line between a Halloween costume and something destined for the convention closet a little less clear than it once was.
Costume options are becoming more inclusive as well. According to the survey, 63% of respondents now feel there are enough choices available across areas including plus-size, adaptive and maternity costumes. That is up considerably from 33% in 2022 and 49% in 2023.
Still, there is something special about the annual rush to decide exactly who—or what—you are going to become for one spooky night.
With Halloween landing on Saturday, October 31 this year, there is plenty of opportunity to make an entire day of it. Pull out the decorations, plan the scary movie marathon, carve a pumpkin or two and start figuring out those costumes before the most popular choices disappear.
After all, Spider-Man, Flounder and even Slinky Dog are already getting ready.
The zombies are apparently crawling over too.
Halloween will be here before we know it.
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