The Most Popular Halloween Costumes of 2026, According to Costume Shops

If you are still looking for a Halloween costume, BBC News says to try a gargoyle, Nikki from the horror film "Obsession," or Dolly Parton. Tamar Zaig, who runs a costume hire shop in London, says people do not necessarily want to look frightening, but extraordinary. She sees a real appetite for escapism, glamour and a bit of dark humor. As always, the year's big films and shows, news and trends shape the choices.

Here are some ideas.

Claudia Winkleman from "The Traitors." Her look is easy to pull together: a fringe, tartan, chunky knitwear and heavy eyeliner. A creator behind a popular Instagram account says she is a classic every year and will return this Halloween thanks to the show.

Allie and Dean from "Off Campus." This ice hockey romance series appears in many costume videos online. In the show, Allie dresses as J-Lo and Dean as Maverick from "Top Gun" at a Halloween party, which makes for a costume within a costume. "Widow's Bay," which won at this year's Emmy Awards, is also inspiring outfits. Maria Nichol, 35, a horror fan from Ely in Cambridgeshire, is making her own headdress with antlers and a taxidermy fox, copying a character played by Kate O'Flynn.

Nikki from "Obsession." This may be the most copied look. A waitlist of 27,000 people formed after the character's red and black zebra-patterned shirt became famous online earlier this year and sold out, until it was finally back in shops. A shop in London says customers are asking for Nikki, who is recreated with a red corset and a wig, and a make-up artist in Liverpool says people want the make-up too.

Buffy and "Practical Magic." Maria Nichol also expects a wave of 1990s and 2000s nostalgia, with people dressing as Buffy, Hilary Duff and characters from "Practical Magic," whose sequel came out last month.

Other ideas come from the year's top films, such as the Michael Jackson biopic, "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" and "The Odyssey," as well as Gothic and historical styles from "Wuthering Heights," "The Bride!" and "Peaky Blinders," with corsets, lace and dramatic shapes.