Universal Fan Fest Nights are heading back to Universal Studios Hollywood in 2026! Yes, this incredible fandom-oriented event, designed to “immerse guests in the spellbinding worlds of sci-fi, fantasy, gaming and anime,” will return for its second annual outing at the theme park. And this year, the experiences will be even more exhilarating, Easter egg-filled, creative, and FANNISH. Universal Studios Hollywood has shared details on its first four new experiences at the event (with more to come) and one returning favorite (our favorite!), and they all sound AMAZING. Let’s dive into what we know!
Universal Fan Fest Nights 2026 Shares First Five Experiences
Universal Fan Fest Nights has revealed what its first five immersive fan experiences will be, and the line-up features new and returning favorites. New to Universal Fan Fest 2026 will be a Scooby-Doo Meets The Universal Monsters experience, a One Piece experience, plus new experiences for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Super Nintendo World. Returning to Universal Fan Fest Nights in 2026 is Dungeons & Dragons: Secrets of Waterdeep. (one of the absolute best fan experiences ever, if you ask us!)
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More Details on Some of These Second Annual Fan Fest Experiences
Phew, we’re excited! But we get to know more than just the overall themes of these new Universal Fan Fest experiences! Below, you can check out details about some of the new Universal Fan Fest 2026 experiences.
Scooby-Doo Meets The Universal Monsters: Mystery on the Backlot
This all-new, immersive walk-through adventure is designed to give guests the sensation of stepping into a live-action mystery with the Scooby-Doo gang and the Universal Monsters. Guests will travel to the destination via Studio Tour tram, where they have a chance to walk along a movie studio backlot with Scooby-Doo himself and his pals Fred, Daphne, Velma and Shaggy. The exciting escapade will challenge them to solve a mystery involving the most legendary Universal Monsters in cinematic history, including Frankenstein, Dracula, Bride of Frankenstein and Wolf Man, as they navigate portions of Universal’s world-famous outdoor film sets, from the cobblestone streets of Little Europe to the iconic Court of Miracles, the original filming locations for historic Universal horror films Frankenstein (1931) and The Wolf Man (1941).
ONE PIECE: Grand Pirate Show
ONE PIECE returns to Universal Fan Fest Nights, but this time as a live show extravaganza at the WaterWorld show venue. Inspired by the success of the Universal Studios Japan production, ONE PIECE: Grand Pirate Show will invite guests to a whirlwind performance featuring a cast of ONE PIECE fan-favorite characters. With action, comedy, and chaos taking center stage, guests will be transported to the very heart of the world of ONE PIECE – enveloped in friendship, freedom and mayhem
SUPER NINTENDO WORLD – Colorful Yoshi Celebration
This year’s Universal Fan Fest Nights introduces a vibrant, multi-colored Yoshi celebration in SUPER NINTENDO WORLD. This all-new adventure will welcome guests to explore the land, where they will have a chance to meet new, colorful Yoshis who can be found throughout the Mushroom Kingdom.
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Secrets of Waterdeep
This fan-favorite immersive experience returns due to popular demand, along with some enhancements. Inspired by the World’s Greatest Roleplaying Game™, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS (D&D), this epic walk-through experience will welcome guests and fans to partake in a one-of-a-kind adventure and explore the fantastic world of D&D. Guests will join the Harpers—a heroic spy network—to foil a plot by the legendary beholder Xanathar and save the city of Waterdeep.
This engaging experience features the legendary beholder Xanathar, uniquely created by the masterful puppeteer, Jim Henson’s Creature Shop. For over 40 years, Jim Henson’s Creature Shop has been a world-renowned innovator in puppetry, animatronics and digital animation.
More About Universal Fan Fest Nights 2026
Universal Fan Fest Nights 2026 sounds AMAZING! We are obsessed with One Piece at Nerdist—so we can’t wait for the new “live show extravaganza” heading to Fan Fest Nights. Additionally, “Scooby-Doo Meets The Universal Monsters” sounds nerdy and awesome, both from a fan perspective and as lovers of movies and cinematic history. Plus, who doesn’t want to spend more time with Yoshi! And, of course, we had such an amazing time visiting the Dungeons & Dragons: Secrets of Waterdeep Universal Fan Fest experience last year, so we cannot wait to return. You can get an inside look at the attraction right now with our deep dive into its world.
When Do Universal Fan Fest Nights 2026 Take Place?
But what about the details? Well, the first thing you’ll want to know is that Universal Fan Fest Nights is exclusive to Universal Studios Hollywood. The event runs for 12 nights only. The dates for Universal Fan Fest Nights 2026 are as follows: April 23-25; May 1-3, 7-9, 14-16, 2026.
What Are Universal Fan Fest Nights?
If you need a refresher on Universal Fan Fest Nights, here’s how Universal Studios Hollywood describes the event:
Universal Fan Fest Nights is an after-hours, separately ticketed event that celebrates the exhilarating world of fandom through immersive and interactive in-world experiences created by the theme park’s renowned and highly creative entertainment team in collaboration with esteemed industry experts. Featuring a spectrum of inspirational categories, Universal Fan Fest Nights will welcome guests to embrace a variety of eclectic worlds that celebrate and elevate fandom favorites alongside character interactions, cosplay and photo opportunities as well as curated food, beverages and merchandise (separate purchase required). All experiences and activations are included every event night for guests to enjoy.
Adding to the adventure, guests can also experience select theme park attractions open during the event, including “Mario Kart™: Bowser’s Challenge,” “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™,” “Flight of the Hippogriff™,” “Jurassic World—The Ride,” “Despicable Me Minion Mayhem,” “TRANSFORMERS™: The Ride—3D,” “Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride” and “The Simpsons Ride™”.
Tickets Are Now Available for Fan Fest Nights 2026
Yes! Tickets are now available for purchase to attend Universal Fan Fest Nights 2026! Don’t delay, get your tickets to experience the fandom fun today.