New Houses and New Frights Coming to Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in 2026
It's going to be a haunting Halloween season in Tampa Bay with the return of Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay! This is one of our favorite events to celebrate Halloween for teens and adults, and when we say this event is haunting, we mean it…
Prepare for a night of screams, startles, and even some ghoulishly good treats! We attend this event each year to bring you all the details to help you map out your night.
The thrills kick off on Friday, September 11, and run select nights through October 31, 2026.
We're answering the top questions about what we know about this year's event. And don't forget to check out our Ultimate Guide to Pumpkin Patches and Fall Festivals in Tampa Bay for your best season ever!
Can kids go to Howl-O-Scream?
This event is designed for adults and older teens, but the night we attended, we saw several kids who looked to be about 10 years old or older. Busch Gardens will not turn kids away at the gate, so the decision is solely up to you as a parent on whether you think your child can handle the event.
Kids ages 17 and younger must have an adult chaperone who is 21 or older to enter the park, and that chaperone must remain in the park and be reachable by phone.
What to expect at this year's Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Did you know the creative teams literally spend all year thinking and planning for this event? In fact, they're probably already dreaming up NEW ways to scare you next year right now!
There are some returning favorites plus NEW additions to this year's event, including one new haunted house, five returning haunted houses with all-new storylines, and three new scare zones!
Busch Gardens' 2026 Howl-O-Scream Haunted Houses:
There are six haunted houses ready to scare during this year's Howl-O-Scream, including one all-new house and three with all-new storylines and two others returning by popular demand. Here's what Busch Gardens is sharing with us:
- “Anaconda: Fear Has No Escape” Haunted House (ALL-NEW!) : Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens crosses into dangerous territory with the introduction of the all-new haunted house, Anaconda. Set in the world of Anaconda, guests are sent deep into the Amazon to search for a missing film crew, quickly turning into a fight for survival. The haunted attraction, Anaconda: Fear Has No Escape, offers a unique tale while honoring the legend of an iconic film.
- Stranglewood Estate: RePossessed (NEW STORYLINE): Once bustling with lavish parties, Stranglewood Estate sat abandoned for decades until a group of reckless teenagers broke into the mansion. Their séance awakened the tortured spirits trapped inside and opened a door for something evil to enter. Now the halls of Stranglewood Estate are overrun by violent ghosts led by Madame Stranglewood herself.
- Circus of Fear: Killer Encore (NEW STORYLINE): Once a famous Italian opera singer, Vittorio was the star attraction of D.H. Baggum’s Circus of Fear until he murdered Baggum and claimed the circus as his own. Now his voice echoes through the halls while his crazed carnies hunt anyone who enters, and guests who step inside soon realize nobody leaves Vittorio’s circus alive.Â
- Shadows of Wonderland: Reign of Madness (NEW STORYLINE): Wonderland rejoiced when Alice dragged the Queen away for her execution, but something shifted when Alice returned from the Queen’s cell. Instead of saving Wonderland, Alice began her own reign of terror, treating every creature in the land as guilty. The crown now sits on Alice’s head, heed her command, or it’s off with yours.Â
- M.A.R.S. — Mars Alien Research Station (RETURNING): This space station holds dark secrets that guests will be on a mission to search and destroy or risk being destroyed themselves…
- Raven's Mill: Lambs to Slaughter (RETURNING): Raven's Mill was once the heartbeat of the region, where farmers worked the land, and the fields fed the town. But when the crops began to fail and the workers vanished, the soil turned cold and something else rose in their place…The ritual continues without rest. Each new body is a piece of the design. Each step forward brings you closer to becoming part of it. Raven's Mill doesn't need crops anymore… It grows something else.
2026 Scare Zones
Scare zones are dotted throughout the park and feature dark alleyways, ghoulish characters, and all the frights. This year, we'll feature six scare zones with three brand-new themes and three MORE with new storylines!
- Mr. Gleam’s Auto Spa (NEW): Mr. Gleam’s Auto Spa was the talk of the town until the economy crashed. Desperate to keep his doors open, he accepted an offer from a mysterious salesman selling an even more mysterious cleaning solution. Little was known about the chemicals inside the solution, but Mr. Gleam and his patrons would soon find out the ghastly cost of keeping his doors open.
- Rootbound (NEW): Once a groundskeeper for the Dark Side of the Gardens, The Grimherd is no longer human, dragging victims through the gardens and into graves. Tonight the graves have opened once again, and The Grimherd is ready to pull you under.Â
- The Punchline: Riot (NEW): Welcome to the hottest comedy club in town. The drinks are cold, the jokes are terrible and the clowns have completely lost it. Every bad punchline sends them into another fit of madness, turning the stage into a full-blown riot! Keep laughing if you want, but around here the last laugh is always on you.
- Breadcrumbs to Nowhere: Once Upon a Time (NEW STORYLINE): The fairy tale creatures of Havenwood lived in harmony until one dark day a sinister witch cast a spell of ancient malice across every inch of the peaceful land. Soon, the creatures of Havenwood were consumed by a rage so powerful they couldn’t control it. The land unraveled, and in this fairy tale, the end has no heroes. Instead, the start of a very gruesome chapter begins.Â
- Ragnar’s Wrath: Call of Odin (NEW STORYLINE): In a final act of desperation to save themselves from extinction, Niflheim citizens pled to the Gods for help. When it seemed all hope was lost, the skies roared and covered the land in heavy rain. The people’s sacrifice had been accepted by Odin himself, but now it’s time to administer retribution. The people of Nifleheim will soon find out their lives being saved came at a cost.Â
- The Pestilence: Lazarus Strain (NEW STORYLINE): It started with fear of the strain. Families hoped the sickness wouldn’t creep into their homes, but soon their desperation turned into something worse. A mutation of the infection has taken hold, and it doesn’t just kill the host. It uses them. The sickness hasn’t come back. It has evolved, and contaminated bodies have found themselves once again alive with the purpose of spreading the pestilence.
Hidden Scare Zone & Roaming Hordes
Beware of the hidden zone and roaming hordes…just when you think you know what's coming, untold horrors lurk in the darkness awaiting your arrival.
No Boo Necklace for Timid Haunters
Howl-O-Scream offers a No Boo necklace for those who want to partake in the spooky fun, without dramatic scares around every corner. This year's No Boo Necklace is a light-up gravestone featuring “Do Not Disturb,” to let the scare actors know to let you walk through in peace.
Note: This No Boo Necklace does not work inside the houses, only the scare zones. A scare-free experience is not 100% guaranteed while wearing the necklace.
Entertainment at Howl-O-Scream
There are thrilling live shows you can enjoy throughout the night, including:
- The Reckoning (Returning): Join mortal Lark as she faces her ultimate judgment day in the fiery depths of Hell. Taking place at the Dragon Fire Grill.
- Cirque X-Scream (Returning): Be on the edge of your seat during this electrifying and mesmerizing show. Cirque X-Scream features exhilarating acts and stunts, including trampoline tricks and aerial performances at the Stanleyville Theater.
Freakishly Fantastic Food
There are plenty of festive food options at this year's Howl-O-Scream, and if you've ever wanted to feast on zombie brains, now is your chance! There are delicious tricks and treats, from Deep Fried Wings, to the Slaughter Dog, Cheetos Churros, and much more!
Rides Open During Howl-O-Scream
All of the blood-pumping rides you know and love will be in operation.
- Phoenix Rising
- Iron Gwazi
- Tigris
- Cobra’s Curse
- Cheetah Hunt
- Montu
- SheiKra
How much are tickets for Howl-O-Scream?
There are several different ticket options for Howl-O-Scream. As we mentioned, you will need a separate ticket to attend Howl-O-Scream, so don't plan on trying to go to Busch Gardens earlier in the day and trying to sneak your way in later.
If you do plan to visit the park during the day and have your Howl-O-Scream ticket for later, there will be designated holding areas where you can get your event wristband.
Do Busch Gardens Pass Members get a discount on Howl-O-Scream tickets?
Yes! It's one of the many perks of being a pass holder. All you have to do is log into your pass member account and you can purchase tickets. This discount applies to Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Florida Platinum pass holders.
You can absolutely purchase an annual pass and THEN buy your Howl-O-Scream tickets. Annual passes include entry to other special events at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, including Bier Fest Brews & BBQ, Christmas Town, and more, so it might be worth it for you to buy now and then enjoy the perks for an entire year!
Fear not, there are some ghoulishly good ways to upgrade your night at Howl-O-Scream!
Who doesn't love a ghoulishly good upgrade?? Along with the Unlimited Passes, you can purchase to attend as many times as you want, there are also some other VIP upgrades you might want to take advantage of!!
Ultimate VIP Tour – $299.99
This ultimate spooky package includes:
- Admission to Howl-O-Scream for your group of 2 or more
- Private VIP tour guide
- Front of the line access to haunted houses and major thrill rides
- Private VIP only lounge with complimentary snacks, beer, wine, and non-alcoholic drinks.
- Priority access to themed bars throughout the park.
- Dinner at Dragonfire Grill with reserved seating at their NEW show The Reckoning.
- Reserved seating at all Howl-O-Scream shows
- Preferred parking (while available)
Front Line Fear – $69 per person
Get front-of-the-line access to five haunted houses of your choice. Includes single-use access to five houses. Howl O Scream admission is not included but is required.
Front Line Fear Extreme – $79 per person
Get front-of-the-line access to six haunted houses and thrill rides of your choice, including Serengeti Flyer! Howl-O-Scream admission is not included but is required.
Can I wear a costume to Howl-O-Scream?
Unfortunately for those of you who love to get dressed up, the answer is no.
Howl-O-Scream is intended for a mature audience. This event contains intense adult content such as violence, gore, and blood. Howl-O-Scream 2025 is a separately-ticketed nighttime event. No costumes are allowed.