A creepy orange unicorn, a squishy toy and a Greek king. Google just revealed what America wants to be for Halloween 2026, and the No. 1 costume is wonderfully weird.
The full top 10, plus the hottest kids, couples and pet costumes, straight from Google's Frightgeist search data.
By A Rashwan · Cairo Times 24 · October 25, 2026 · 6 min read
Every year, Google watches what millions of people type into its search bar in October, and every year it tells us what the world is about to dress up as. The 2026 list from Google's Frightgeist tool is out, and it is a perfect picture of the year: horror films, a viral toy, a Christopher Nolan epic and a lot of nostalgia.
The rankings are based on the costume searches that spiked the most ahead of Halloween. Here is the complete list, and what each costume actually is.
Google's top 10 trending Halloween costumes of 2026
Buddy the Unicorn
The surprise winner. Buddy is the mascot of a cheerful kids' TV show in Casper Kelly's horror film, which opened in August, and things get very dark very fast. Keegan-Michael Key voices the unicorn, and Cristin Milioti and Topher Grace star. The costume is a big orange suit with a purple heart. It is so popular that "Buddy unicorn costume" beat "kids unicorn costume" on Google for the first time.
NeeDoh
Yes, a stress toy. NeeDoh squishies, made by Schylling, come in lots of colourful shapes, and the "Nice Cube" is the most famous. Kids and teens love them, and now they want to be one.
Nikki
Inde Navarrette's character from Curry Barker's supernatural horror film, one of the biggest movies of the year. The look is a red-and-black animal-print top with black shorts, and official costumes for Nikki and Bear exist. Some writers have called the costume a questionable choice because of the film's dark story, so think about where you are wearing it.
Agamemnon
Nolan's take on Homer's epic made ancient Greek warriors cool again. Agamemnon, played by Benny Safdie, is the costume of choice for anyone who wants armour, a cape and a lot of attitude.
Lily Lovebraids
The horror video game series keeps creating characters kids obsess over, and Lily is this year's favourite.
Oliver Tree
The bowl cut, the oversized clothes, the sunglasses. Oliver Tree is easy to copy and instantly recognisable, which is why he shows up in both the adult and kids lists.
Verity
Minecraft never really leaves the costume charts, and Verity is the character fans are searching for this year.
Carl
The hit book series has a huge fan base, and Carl (plus his cat, Princess Donut, who appears on the pet list) has become a Halloween favourite.
Disco Scooby-Doo
Pure nostalgia. The groovy disco version of Scooby is one of the easiest costumes on the list to put together, and it works even better with a Shaggy.
Hazel Hook
Disney's Descendants franchise rounds out the top 10 with Captain Hook's daughter.
Top kids costumes
Kids are dressing like music legends this year: Dolly Parton, Shakira and Michael Jackson's "Thriller" look all made the list.
Top couples and duo costumes
Top pet costumes
A dog dressed as a can of Diet Coke or a baked potato? This is the internet in 2026, and we love it.
- Horror is king: two of the top three costumes come from horror films.
- Kids rule Google: toys and games like NeeDoh, Poppy Playtime and Minecraft are all in the top 10.
- Easy wins: Oliver Tree and Disco Scooby are cheap, simple and instantly recognisable.
One more thing about Halloween night
Halloween 2026 falls on a Saturday, and it is also the night the clocks change in the United States. Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 1, so the party gets one extra hour. Remember to set any old clocks back before you go to bed.
Halloween 2026 FAQ
What is the most popular Halloween costume of 2026?
According to Google's Frightgeist data, it is Buddy the Unicorn from the horror film "Buddy".
What are the top 5 Halloween costumes for 2026?
Buddy the Unicorn, NeeDoh, Nikki from "Obsession", Agamemnon from "The Odyssey" and Lily Lovebraids from "Poppy Playtime".
What is NeeDoh?
A squishy stress-relief toy made by Schylling. Its best-known version is the Nice Cube.
What are the best couples costumes for 2026?
Disco Scooby and Shaggy lead the list, followed by Cyclops and Jean Grey and Nikki and Bear from "Obsession".
What day is Halloween 2026?
Saturday, October 31, 2026.
