We’re officially a few months away from Halloween, and 2026 has already offered plenty of inspiration for Halloween costume ideas! We know now may seem early for costume planning, but some stores are already stocking fall decor and Halloween pajamas. Not to mention, the most popular Halloween costumes in 2026 will sell out early (ahem, KPop Demon Hunters costumes).
I’m one of those moms who thinks about Halloween all year long, so I start looking for costume inspiration early. Here, I’m sharing over 40 of the best 2026 Halloween costume ideas for kids and families. From trending costumes to character favorites to DIY costumes you can craft yourself (no sewing skills needed!), you’ll find all the spooky (and fun!) 2026 Halloween costume inspiration you could want.
Key Takeaways: Halloween Costume Ideas for 2026
- Halloween costume trends for 2026 include pop culture moments, tribute costumes, famous athletes, and nostalgic throwbacks.
- Popular costume ideas for kids in 2026 will be inspired by their favorite shows like Bluey and Gabby’s Dollhouse, new movies like Toy Story 5, Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie, and Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and gaming characters from Minecraft, Pokémon, or Mario Kart.
- Find over 50 Halloween costume ideas for kids, families, and couples, with photo inspiration, creative details, easy costume how-tos, and budget-friendly options.
2026 Halloween Costume Trends
Pop culture rules again for Halloween in 2026, with plenty of movie-inspired costumes like Spider-Man, Wicked, KPop Demon Hunters. One family favorite making a comeback in 2026? Toy Story. Thanks to the release of Toy Story 5 this summer, we predict the iconic characters will be a top group costume in 2026. For little ones, the steady popularity of toddler shows and movies like Bluey, Gabby’s Dollhouse, and Disney favorites means character costumes will again be everywhere in 2026.
Viral Gen Alpha trends like Squishie Dumplings and “6 7” may make costume appearances in the 2026 school Halloween parade. As will creative DIY costumes from YouTube and Pinterest; tweens save and rope their parents into crafting (these cute TicTacs were a popular pick last year!)
The biggest sports moments during the Winter Olympics and the World Cup in 2026 may also inspire more sports costumes for kids than in previous years. Plus, buzzy news headlines, like the Artemis II mission, mean astronaut and outer space costumes may be more sought-after in 2026.
In addition to these pop culture hits, I also expect some ‘90s and 2000s throwback costumes with references to old TV shows and movies, especially from parents with babies celebrating their first Halloween. Since babies don’t have their own preferences yet, their Halloween costumes are more about the creative and cute factor! So keep scrolling for plenty of timely 2026 Halloween costume ideas, inspiration, and how-tos.
Kids’ Movies & Pop Culture Costume Ideas for 2026
Outer space-inspired Halloween family costumes
Outer space costumes are going to be big in 2026, thanks to the NASA resurgence created by Artemis II, plus movies Project Hail Mary, the return of Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story 5, and Steven Spielberg’s upcoming summer film Disclosure Day.
Costume How-To: Families can create their own space-inspired group costume with little astronauts, sun, moon, rocket ships, and aliens. Or choose a creative option like a Mother Earth maternity costume or dressing siblings as “Moon Joy” with a DIY moon costume, paired with Joy from the Disney Pixar movie, Inside Out.
Toy Story 5 group costumes
With the Toy Story franchise releasing its fifth movie this summer, Buzz, Woody, and the gang will be back in a big way (did they ever actually leave?) This perennial favorite family costume is predicted to be a top pick in 2026. Expect to see more Jessies than ever this year, since she was the main character in Toy Story 5.
Toy Story Costume How-To: Plenty of Halloween stores stock Toy Story costumes for adults, kids, and even babies. (Baby Buzz Lightyear? Yes, please!) If channeling the new movie, don’t forget to include Lilypad, the toy tablet character (buy a Lilypad costume—or just grab a green cover for a tablet costume prop).
Elphaba and Glinda Wicked movie costumes
No one was safe from Wicked-mania. The epic movie inspired Wicked kids’ birthday parties, sing-alongs, and even baby names. With Wicked: For Good streaming now, Elphaba, Glinda, and other Wicked character costumes will likely still be popular in 2026.
Wicked Costume How-To: The perfect costume for sisters or besties: grab a black Elphaba dress and hat, and a pink dress for Glinda. Additionally, the land of Oz has plenty of characters to add to your group if using the movies as inspiration for a family costume.
Minions & Monsters family costume ideas
Another movie franchise gifting us with a new family movie in 2026? The Minions are back in theaters this summer with Minions & Monsters.
Minions Costume How-To: DIY your own Minions costume with a yellow beanie, overalls, and a yellow shirt. Dress Dad as Gru with a black turtleneck and grey striped scarf.
Spider-Man
Comic book superhero franchises are releasing new movies in 2026: Spider-Man: Brand New Day, starring Tom Holland and Zendaya, and Supergirl, starring Milly Alcock. These may be the main character costumes of choice for kids this year—even though both movies come with a PG-13 rating.
Costume How-To: Spider-Man and superhero costumes have been popular for years, so most Halloween stores carry store-bought options. For a creative Spider-Man group costume, dress as every iteration: the original superhero, Miles Morales from Into the Spider-Verse, Spidey and His Amazing Friends, and the new TV show, Spider-Noir.
Dolly Parton tribute kids’ costume
A literal icon for her talent and character, Dolly Parton’s life—and her loss—touched so many people. So expect to see a few more gals dressed as Dolly this Halloween.
Costume How-To: Dress in bedazzled country glam, a voluminous blonde wig, guitar prop, and maybe even a book as a nod to her Imagination Library.
Jurassic Park family costume
After the passing of Sam Neill in July 2026, the actor who brought Dr. Alan Grant to life in the original movie, expect a resurgence of Jurassic Park-inspired tribute costumes this year.
Costume How-To: Let kids play the part of the ferocious dinos in a family costume with parents dressed as Dr. Grant in a denim shirt, red kerchief, hat, and Dr. Ellie Sattler in a pink button-down with khaki shorts. DIY a dino “cage” out of a wagon to tote your little dinosaur trick-or-treaters.
Gabby’s Dollhouse (+ other kids’ TV show costumes)
While Bluey, Blippi, and Ms. Rachel have been favorite costumes for young kids in recent years, the new Gabby’s Dollhouse movie recently debuted on Netflix. Gabby costumes will be more popular in 2026, since kids can now watch the film on repeat.
Costume How-To: Gabby’s iconic look is perfect for a DIY costume. Grab a striped shirt, a pink zipper hoodie, kitty ears, and a Pandy Paws plush.
Gaming-inspired costumes
Mario and Luigi have been fan-favorite duo costumes since the ‘80s, the same time playing video games became a hallmark childhood experience. Today’s kids and tweens use gaming to socialize with friends (and strangers!), so expect to see Halloween costume ideas from Minecraft, Pokémon, Roblox, Fortnite, alongside Sonic the Hedgehog and Super Mario Bros. in 2026.
Costume How-To: Halloween stores sell plenty of video game-inspired costumes like Minecraft characters and Sonic the Hedgehog. If you want more of a DIY costume, grab an accessory kit for a budget-friendly Mario Bros. duo costume.
Star Wars characters from The Mandalorian and Grogu
Families have been dressing up as Star Wars characters for Halloween for decades, but everything got a little bit better with the introduction of Baby Yoda in The Mandalorian series. And with the latest Mandalorian movie out in May, Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, we may see more of them trick-or-treating in 2026.
Costume How-To: Store-bought Star Wars costumes are readily available for these main characters. And if you don’t have a sibling to dress up as Grogu, grab a toy prop they’ll play with long after Halloween.
Zootopia 2 characters
Officer Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde came back to the big screen in Zootopia 2, with the new movie available to stream on Disney+ in 2026. You might consider a group Zootopia costume with the whole gang if your kid(s) are still watching this movie on repeat.
Costume How-To: Perfect for crafty families willing to put together a creative outfit. Since the animals in the movie wear normal clothes, try thrifting outfits, and all you’ll have to buy are the animal ears and tails.
Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce costumes
Thanks to the summer nuptials of everyone’s favorite power couple, Taylor and Travis costumes will likely be popular again in 2026.
Costume How-To: Opportunities for creative Halloween costumes with these two are really endless. From KC sports-inspired costumes to Eras Tour outfits to ‘90s track suits featured in Swift’s Opalite video. Don’t forget the pet rock and cactus!
Greek mythology costumes
Is your kid’s hyperfixation Greek mythology? Maybe they love Disney’s Hercules, are obsessed with Percy Jackson, or wonder why they can’t see the R-rated Odyssey in theaters. Whatever the root of their interest, Greek mythology costumes for kids and families will likely be big this year.
Costume How-To: Grab a Greek goddess costume or god costume (like this adorable toddler Zeus), or make one yourself with draped white fabric (or even an XL white tee with the sleeves cut off), a red sash, and a Grecian crown. Dress the family dog as a Pegasus for an epic Greek myth group costume.
Dumplings Squishies DIY costume
If you have an elementary schooler in 2026, you’ve likely been sent to Five Below on a search for Dumplings. The cute and squishy fidgets have been selling out across the country, fueling Labubus-like demand (also similar to Beanie Babies in the ‘90s). Could a Dumpling Squishie be the costume to DIY this year?
Costume How-To: Parents have been making DIY dumpling costumes for their kids in recent years, using fabric and stuffing. To Squishie-fy the costume, choose a bright color and use a fabric marker to draw on the cute faces.
6 7 costumes
The Gen Alpha catchphrase that has been driving teachers, coaches, and parents nuts has made its way into Halloween costume ideas. Searches for ‘6 7 costume‘ skyrocketed in October last year, according to Google. Will 67 still be a thing in 2026? We’ll be watching.
Costume How-To: An easy costume to execute with DIY T-shirts or sweatshirts featuring the numbers. Or, as I saw at my kids’ elementary school, giant cardboard cut-outs worn like a letterboard with the two numbers.
More 2026 pop culture kids and family Halloween costume ideas
- A Jellycat DIY costume: dress as any stuffed animal and add a printable Jellycat tag (alternatively, create a Beanie Baby costume with a TY tag).
- A Paw Patrol family costume: characters (and a dinosaur) from the new movie: Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie
- Favorite Pokémon character costume
- The Lorax and a tree for a meme and book-themed costume.
- Stranger Things teen group costume in ’80s gear
- Zombies 4 characters (licensed Zombies costumes were just released, Zombies 5 coming in 2027)
- Descendants: Wicked Wonderland movie characters
- Moana and Maui from the new live-action Moana
- The Cat in the Hat plus Thing 1 and Thing 2 (new movie coming November 6)
- Avengers: Doomsday characters (new movie coming December 18)
- The Heeler family from Bluey (new Bluey movie debuts in 2027)
- Frozen movie characters (Frozen 3 debuts in 2027)
- KPop Demon Hunters Rumi, Mira, Zoey, and Saja Boys costumes (tour begins in 2027)
- Nevermore Academy Wednesday from the popular Netflix series
Sports Costume Ideas for Kids in 2026
Winter Olympians like Alysa Liu
The 2026 Winter Olympics had no shortage of stories to inspire Halloween costumes this year. Skiers, bobsledders, hockey players, and more! The USA women’s figure skating team probably had the most recognizable standout stars with Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn, and Isabeau Levito.
Costume How-To: Alysa Liu wig tutorials are popping up on social media, so grab your little one a shimmery ice skating dress, an American flag, and a gold medal prop for the perfect Winter Olympian costume.
Hockey player Halloween costumes
Hockey is everywhere in 2026, with PWHL teams now expanding to major U.S. cities like Detroit and Las Vegas. Shows like Heated Rivalry and Off Campus will inspire adult hockey Halloween costume ideas, but for kids, the gold-medal wins by Team USA are perfect costume inspo. The year 2026 could be just the beginning of a hockey resurgence in kids’ sports Halloween costumes.
Costume How-To: For parents, hockey costumes are easy: grab a hockey jersey, a helmet, and a faux Olympic gold medal. For extra detail, use this hockey tooth paint to channel Team USA players like Jack Hughes.
World Cup soccer players
This summer, the World Cup took over the sports headlines—and inspired kids to play outside and dress up as their OG favorite players like Messi or Ronaldo—and standout stars like Norway’s Erling Haaland. The best thing about soccer Halloween costumes? They’re also easy to put together.
Costume How-To: Your kid probably already has shin guards and sneakers, so top off the costume with a jersey of their favorite player (and for Erling Haaland costumes, a Viking hat!) For extra DIY points, paint a circular pumpkin Halloween bucket into a World Cup soccer ball.
Savannah Banana baseball players costume
The Banana Ball brings so much joy, with a growing league of teams touring the country. They’re popping up everywhere, even Savannah Bananas player Jackson Olson debuting on Dancing With the Stars this season. If your kids are fans, too, this could be a fun, timely costume for 2026.
Costume How-To: Grab an official Savannah Bananas jersey, or an Amazon Dupe (they even have a Halloween jersey!) A friend, sibling, or parent could also dress as an actual banana for a funny group costume.
More creative sports costume ideas for kids
- Favorite NFL players (parents dress up as the referees)
- NBA stars like Wemby in a Spurs jersey
- WNBA stars like Caitlin Clark in an Indiana Fever jersey
- Serena and Venus Williams as a tennis siblings costume
- Bad Bunny from the 2026 Super Bowl Halftime show
- Taylor Swift and Haim in Knicks tees at the 2026 NBA playoffs
- The Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders featured in the Netflix series America’s Sweethearts
Throwback Halloween Costume Ideas for Families in 2026
’90s nostalgia costumes
Even more than last year, ‘90s summer vibes and ’90s nostalgia are everywhere. So I anticipate the ’90s love will again carry over to Halloween costume ideas this year. A League of Their Own and Clueless costumes have been popular for years, but maybe even more throwback costumes are coming.
Costume How-To: Hit the storage spot in your house to unearth old flip phones, fanny packs, and other ‘90s-style outfits and accessories. Or channel ‘90s movie and TV characters like the boys from The Sandlot or the Bayside crew, like this creative Saved by the Bell family costume!
American Girl Doll costumes
The 40th anniversary of American Girl Dolls is stoking millennial nostalgia in 2026, especially with the re-release of the original historical dolls (hello, Felicity Meriman!)
Costume How-To: American Girl released costumes for kids and adults a few years back. They sold out quickly, so grab them early in 2026. American Girl doll dresses are also ripe for a DIY costume with today’s trendy prairie dress styles. For example, add aprons and boots for a Kirsten or Felicity Halloween costume.
Couples Halloween Costume Ideas for 2026
Parents deserve a creative couples costume moment this Halloween, too. Maybe your kids have outgrown the family costume, you’re headed to an adults-only Halloween party this year, or you just love dressing up—we have you covered with timely and nostalgic picks for parents.
Timely couples costumes for parents
- Maverick & JLo (aka Allie and Dean) from Off Campus: Likely the most popular couples costume of 2026, so much so that Spirit Halloween has official Off Campus costumes.
- Joanne and Noah from Nobody Wants This: Season three comes out soon, so you can dress as Joanne in an iconic Nobody Wants This Outfit, with Noah in a Matzah Ballers basketball jersey
- Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce: Choose an era or lean into Chiefs gear; make sure to have some major bling on Taylor’s finger for a timely 2026 couples costume.
- Morticia & Gomez Addams from Wednesday: A form-fitting black dress for Morticia and a striped suit with a faux mustache for Gomez.
- Carmy and Sydney from The Bear: White tees and blue aprons, plus a hair bandana for Sydney.
- Beth and Rip from Yellowstone and Dutton Ranch: Dress Rip in classic Western duds and a cowboy hat, and give Beth her iconic leopard-print look and sideswept bangs.
- Rumi and Jinu from KPop Demon Hunters: Official Rumi and Jinu costumes are at Spirit Halloween.
- Moana and Maui or Hei Hei from the live-action Moana: Official Moana costumes are at Halloweencostumes.com.
Nostalgic costumes for couples
- Zack Morris and Kelly Kapowski from Saved by the Bell: Grab a Bayside Tigers sweatshirt for Kelly, and ‘90s gear, a blond wig, and a phone prop for Zack.
- Squints and Wendy Peffercorn from The Sandlot: Squints in a baseball cap, jersey, and black glasses. Wendy in a red ‘60s-style swimsuit with white sunglasses and a lifeguard whistle.
- Johnny Castle and Baby from Dirty Dancing: Johnny in black jeans, black tee, and a black leather jacket. Baby in a pink dance dress or her white button-down tied up with long jean shorts from the Mickey & Sylvia scene.
- Jimmy Dugan and Dottie Hinson: Grab an official movie couples costume from A League of Their Own
- Carl and Ellie Fredrickson (or Carl and Russell) from Up: Dress as an elderly couple, but add balloons to Carl for a whimsical touch.
- Tiana and a Frog (aka Prince Naveen) from The Princess and the Frog: Pair a green princess-inspired dress with a funny frog onesie for a sweet, Disney-inspired couples costume.
- Amanda Woods and Graham (as Mr. Napkinhead) from The Holiday: An easy DIY couples costume with cozy winter wear, a napkin, and glasses.
- Richie and Margot from The Royal Tenenbaums: an IYKYK couples costume inspired by the 2001 movie can include a sweatband for Richie and a fur coat for Margot.
Budget Halloween Costume Ideas for 2026
Does splurging on a $100+ kids’ Halloween costume seem like a lot? The cost can be tough to rationalize, even if the photo you capture is adorable. For those looking for budget-friendly costumes, here are a few ways to save money on Halloween ideas this year.
Check thrift stores and local buy nothing groups
Local kid-to-kid resale shops, thrift stores, and online buy nothing groups get a surge of gently used costumes in the fall. Start looking early to find a high-quality costume that’s likely only been worn a handful of times.
DIY a homemade costume
After constructing a DIY alien outer space costume for my daughter, I can confidently say that DIY costumes do not necessarily save you money (fairy lights and spray paint are not cheap). But they can be a way to repurpose and reuse materials, which might feel better than buying a cheaply made costume that kids will wear once. For parents who want to make their kids’ ideas a reality, here is some DIY costume inspiration.
Call kids’ dress-up clothes a Halloween costume
Kids are fickle, and many will change their minds on their Halloween costumes the night before. Take it from a mom whose daughter chose to forgo her expensive Pottery Barn Kids costume in favor of her Elsa nightgown for the preschool Halloween parade. Make Halloween easy on yourself and call their dress-up clothes a costume this year.
2026 Halloween Costumes FAQs
What are the most popular Halloween costumes for kids in 2026?
Kids love to dress up as their favorite characters and sports heroes, like Disney princesses or NFL players. In 2026, expect to see plenty of kids’ costumes inspired by Toy Story 5, Bluey, Paw Patrol, Zombies 4, KPop Demon Hunters, Spider-Man, the Olympics, and the World Cup.
What are good family group costume ideas for 2026?
Movies and shows with ensemble casts make great family Halloween costumes. Consider costumes inspired by Toy Story 5, The Incredibles, The Avengers, The Heeler family from Bluey, or the Minions. For a timely pop-culture family costume, consider an outer-space theme to inspire more “moon joy.” For a 2026 sports family costume, dress as World Cup soccer players and refs (with red cards!)
What are easy DIY Halloween costumes for toddlers in 2026?
Cute, low-lift DIY costume ideas for toddlers include Crayola crayons (solid color PJs + black tape + a party hat), Beanie Babies (add a homemade ‘TY’ tag to a hoodie with animal ears or furry kid’s sleeper), or Harry Potter (prop glasses + black cape + a striped scarf).
What are good last-minute or no-sew Halloween costume ideas?
Reach for pieces you likely already own: a striped shirt and hoodie for Gabby’s Dollhouse, a hockey jersey and helmet for a quick sports costume, or a black turtleneck and scarf for a Minions-inspired Gru. Kids’ existing dress-up clothes or pajamas can also double as a costume in a pinch. No one will know the difference at a school parade.
Where’s the best place to buy Halloween costumes in 2026?
Spirit Halloween, HalloweenCostumes.com, and Disney Store tend to carry the most licensed character costumes (Wicked, Star Wars, KPop Demon Hunters). While Amazon and Etsy are good for props, accessories, and DIY add-ons. For investment costumes you can use beyond Halloween, Pottery Barn Kids and Little Adventures washable kids’ costumes are good options. For budget shopping, check thrift stores and local buy-nothing groups, which typically see a surge of gently used costumes in early fall.
Read More:
- 40 Festive Halloween Crafts and Activities To Do With Kids
- 30 Scary-Good Appetizers Perfect for a Halloween Party
Kathy Sisson, Senior Editor
Kathy Sisson has been a key contributor in the editorial parenting space for nearly a decade, not only as a full-time editor at The Everymom but previously as a freelance writer for top parenting sites, including Scary Mommy, Motherly, Parent Co., and more. As an editor at The Everymom, she has produced hundreds of articles on a range of parenting topics, reviewed dozens of family-focused products, interviewed leading experts in the children and parenting world, and created viral parenting social media content. A mom of two, she is committed to sharing the honest, helpful, and often humorous stories of motherhood.
