We know it’s still summertime, but we couldn’t wait to share our costume predictions for Halloween 2023. So many memorable moments have happened already this year. Taylor Swift and Beyoncé returned to the stage. Hit new movie releases cued up nostalgia like Barbie and Super Mario Bros. Not to mention the steadily rising popularity of the kids’ show favorites Ms. Rachel and Bluey (likely on repeat in many of our homes). So Halloween 2023 is shaping up to be full of fun and timely costume ideas.
From TV shows to pop culture moments to the classic costumes that will never go out of style, there’s plenty of Halloween costume inspiration to be found. While it may seem early (we’re not over summer yet either), it never hurts to start tossing ideas around. Because, as we all know, we’ll blink and the next thing we know we’ll be prepping for Thanksgiving dinner.
If you’re as excited as we are for Halloween, we wanted to present you with a little treat. We’re sharing 30+ of the best Halloween costume ideas for kids and families we predict will be popular this year. Read on for all the spooky (and fun!) inspiration you could want.
2023 Halloween Costume Ideas for Kids and Families
Pop Culture Costume Ideas
Wednesday & The Addams Family
In November 2022, Wednesday took over our TV screens. Kids and parents alike got to enjoy the Netflix series, with many little ones learning Jenna Ortega’s memorable dance number. And we know there are plenty of kiddos ready to embody the morbid character. Or, if your kid preferred Wednesday’s colorful werewolf friend, Enid, that could be a great costume option as well.
Ms. Rachel
Not only do littles love Ms. Rachel, she’s a parent favorite as well! This will be an adorably easy costume to put together for a kid (or mom!). Simply reach for a pair of overalls, a top, and a headband and call it a day.
‘Bluey’
With the Bluey season 4 release date set for early 2024, plus new episodes from season 3 recently hitting Disney+, we know Bluey and her family will be popular costume ideas again this year. Grab this one early if your family is in their Bluey era.
Barbie
With the release of the new Barbie movie this year, we’ve seen Barbiecore take over everything—home decor, accessories, and of course, fashion. We couldn’t be more excited to see little Barbies walking around in pink this Halloween season.
‘Across the Spider-verse’
Spiderman has been inspiring kids’ Halloween costumes for years, but we expect even more this year with the popularity of the movie Across the Spider-Verse. Superheroes are a great go-to, and we expect to see a lot of Spidies out and about this season.
‘The Little Mermaid’
The character Ariel has been capturing the hearts of viewers since 1989. But we know this year’s live-action revival will re-spark the love for the movie with plenty of mermaids trick-or-treating this year. Plus, this costume idea is perfect for families!
Source: @amylouhawthorne
Super Mario Bros.
We’ve known and loved them for decades, but the brothers are without a doubt getting a revival this Halloween after the release of the new movie. This is a great option for a family or siblings costume. There’s of course, the two brothers Mario and Luigi. Then we have Princess Peach and Bowzer or a mushroom for additional costume ideas.
‘Paw Patrol’
For any kiddos who prefer the other most popular group of dogs on TV, a Paw Patrol costume may be in order. Plus, the pups are back with a new movie out on September 29, mere weeks before Halloween.
‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’
Another great option for a family of four is the ever popular Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, especially with the 2023 release of the new film, Mutant Mayhem. Everyone in the family can be one of the four turtles. If you do have more members to include, you could incorporate Splinter, April, and Rocksteady.
‘Encanto’
With rumors that Encanto 2 is officially in the works, we’re sure kiddos are reviving their love for the animated film. Plus, the cast is perfect for a large family costume.
‘Beetlejuice’
Since its release in 1988, Beetlejuice costumes have been creepy classics for Halloween. However, this year a long-coming sequel was confirmed for expected release in Fall, 2024! We can’t wait to see some of the original cast like Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O’Hara reprise their roles. Not to mention Jenna Ortega joining the cast! Look for this to be an even more popular costume in 2024, but we’re keeping it on the list of Halloween costume prediction this year, too.
Taylor Swift Eras
If there’s anything we learned this year, it’s that dressing up like Taylor Swift is fun. As people prepared to attend the Eras tour this year, many dressed in themed outfits based on their favorite album. We happen to think taking this idea into Halloween would be adorable, with each family member embodying a different era.
Pop Stars
If your family isn’t full of Swifties, there’s sure to be a pop star or musical group your kids or family love. Use Halloween as an excuse to unleash some inner star power.
‘70s Hippies
Flower power has made quite the revival in pop culture recently—think shows like Daisy Jones and the Six. Because of this, we think there will be some totally groovy hippies promoting peace & love this Halloween and we’re all for it!
‘80s & ‘90s Nostalgia Costumes
There’s no better place to draw inspiration from than our favorite pop culture moments from the ’80s and ’90s. From ‘90s movies like A League of Their Own and Clueless to our favorite ‘80s toys like Cabbage Patch Dolls, parents can relive their youth with the sweetest costumes for little ones.
Pickleball Players
Pickleball’s popularity grew even more in 2023, so if your family can’t get enough of this addicting game—or you’d like to poke a little fun at it—consider pickleball player costumes. We love this costume because it’s highly DIY-able—think tennis whites, sweatbands, and paddles—perfect for a last-minute Halloween costume option.
Tribute Costumes
Tina Turner
Without a doubt, 2023 has gifted us with some pretty great moments, and, of course, some not-so-great. This year we witnessed the passing of pop star Tina Turner. As a tribute, we anticipate seeing some little rock stars out trick-or-treating this year. If you ask us, this Halloween costume idea is “simply the best”.
The Queen
We happen to think there’s nothing cuter than LOs dressing up as old people, and this way they can honor the late Queen Elizabeth II while doing it. This is a great costume idea for any fans of the royal family, and would be even better if there’s a corgi dog in the household!
Elvis
Honoring The King is always a classic on Halloween. The Elvis movie was also nominated for eight awards at the 2023 Oscars, making this tribute costume timely too.
Classic Halloween Costumes
‘Ghostbusters’
You truly can never go wrong with this classic Halloween costume. Ghostbusters costumes are not only readily available but also totally adorable. Plus, any additional family members can dress up as the ghosts they’re catching.
‘Hocus Pocus’
Halloween means one thing—Hocus Pocus season. If your kiddos couldn’t get enough of the sequel Hocus Pocus 2 last year, it’s only right to dress up as the infamous Sanderson Sisters in honor of the most beloved Halloween film.
Source: @raven.vasquez
‘Harry Potter’
A classic we see year after year comes from our favorite world of wizards. You simply can’t go wrong with dressing up as Harry Potter or one of his friends. Again, this is a great option for a little witch or wizard to pull off on their own, or it can be part of a group ensemble.
Source: @mrscofieldandco
‘The Wizard of Oz’
Following the yellow brick road will always lead to this timeless Halloween costume. With so many great characters like Dorothy, the Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, Scarecrow, and the witches. Don’t forget to include the family dog as Toto!
‘Star Wars’
Families have been dressing up as Star Wars characters for decades, but everything got a little bit better with the introduction of Baby Yoda in The Mandalorian series. This costume idea is perfect for siblings and families too.
Disney Princesses
You can never go wrong with Disney classic characters! For little ones in their princess eras, they’ll likely find themselves drawn to certain characters. Luckily, there’s never a shortage of Disney princess costumes. These will always be available at major retailers, but would also likely be found secondhand for a budget friendly costume option.
Disney Villains
While princesses were a usual go-to, we’ve actually seen the Disney villains rise in popularity over recent years. We think we have productions like Cruella, Malificient, and The Descendants to thank for that. Don’t be surprised if your little ones want to forgo the typical Disney protagonists and opt for something a little more sinister.
Source: @raven.vasquez
