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The best Halloween costume for 2026 is one you can pull together from things you mostly own, with one or two pieces you buy: a witch, a vampire, a 70s disco look, a couples pun or a group theme. Halloween 2026 falls on Saturday, October 31, so most parties land on Friday the 30th and Saturday night. Below are 50 ideas, the costumes most people are planning this year, and a simple way to save your picks so they are ready in time.
The most popular Halloween costumes in 2026
The National Retail Federation's 2026 survey found that the top adult costumes are a witch, a vampire, Batman, Spider-Man and a ghost. For kids it is Spider-Man, a generic superhero, a princess, a witch and a ghost. For pets, a pumpkin leads, followed by a hot dog and a ghost.
The same survey found that 34% of shoppers plan to buy pieces they can reuse, and 31% will compare prices if costs are higher than expected. That is a good argument for costumes built from real clothes.
Classic costumes, done well
1. Witch: black midi dress, pointed hat, a broom and dark lipstick. 2. Vampire: white shirt, black blazer, a red-lined cape and slicked hair. 3. Ghost: a white sheet with eye holes, or a white slip dress with pale makeup for a modern take. 4. Black cat: black turtleneck, black pants, ears and a drawn-on nose. 5. Skeleton: printed bodysuit or black outfit with white face paint. 6. Zombie: thrifted clothes you can tear, gray makeup and fake blood. 7. Mummy: white bandage wraps over a fitted base layer. 8. Devil: all red outfit, horns and a tail. 9. Angel: all white, wings and a halo headband. 10. Pirate: striped top, loose white shirt, boots and a head scarf.
Fashion-forward costumes
11. 70s disco: flared pants, a satin shirt and platform shoes. 12. 90s supermodel: slip dress, tiny sunglasses and a claw clip. 13. Cowgirl: denim, a fringe jacket, boots and a hat. 14. Old Hollywood star: satin gown, finger waves and red lips. 15. Tennis player: pleated skirt, polo, visor and a racket. 16. Fairy: pastel dress, glitter and wings. 17. Mermaid: sequin skirt, shell details and wavy hair. 18. 80s workout: leotard, leggings, leg warmers and a headband. 19. Y2K pop star: low-rise pants, a butterfly top and body glitter. 20. Flapper: fringe dress, headband and pearls.
Couples costumes
21. Salt and pepper: one white outfit, one black, matching hats. 22. Peanut butter and jelly: two simple signs over matching outfits. 23. A tourist and a local: one in a camera and sun hat, the other dressed for the city. 24. Bride and ghost groom. 25. A pilot and a flight attendant. 26. Two halves of a heart. 27. A chef and a dish of the day. 28. Day and night: one in sunshine yellow, one in navy with stars.
Group costumes
29. Crayons: one color each, matching hats. 30. Card suits: hearts, spades, diamonds and clubs. 31. A rock band, with one person as the roadie. 32. Weather forecast: sun, cloud, rain and a rainbow. 33. The seasons: spring, summer, fall and winter. 34. A sports team with a coach and a referee.
Last-minute costumes from your closet
35. A cat: any black outfit and ears. 36. A ghost: a white sheet. 37. A tourist: shorts, a camera, sunscreen on your nose. 38. A painter: overalls and a paint-splashed shirt. 39. A cowboy: jeans, a plaid shirt and boots. 40. A "sleepwalker": pajamas, a robe and a pillow. 41. A rock star: black jeans, a band tee and smudged eyeliner.
Costumes for kids
42. Superhero with a homemade cape. 43. Princess or knight. 44. Astronaut with a foil helmet. 45. Dinosaur with paper spikes. 46. Little witch or wizard.
Costumes for pets
47. Pumpkin. 48. Hot dog. 49. Ghost. 50. Bumblebee.
How to keep your costume ideas in one place
Costume ideas come from everywhere: a TikTok tutorial, an Instagram post, a screenshot of a store window, a link a friend sent. Save them all to Sorti. Sorti reads each save with AI and files it into the right category, so costume ideas, makeup looks and the pieces you want to buy sit together. Search later by describing it, like "the 70s disco look with the gold pants." For a full plan with makeup and decor, see our guide to saving Halloween costume and decor ideas.
If you need to buy something, save the product link. Sorti tracks the price and notifies you when it drops, and tells you when an item is back in stock. With Halloween on a Saturday, order by the middle of the week before to be safe.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most popular Halloween costumes in 2026?
According to the NRF, the top adult costumes are a witch, a vampire, Batman, Spider-Man and a ghost. For kids it is Spider-Man, a superhero, a princess, a witch and a ghost.
When is Halloween 2026?
Saturday, October 31, 2026.
When is Halloween 2027?
Halloween 2027 falls on a Sunday, October 31, so most parties will be on Friday the 29th and Saturday the 30th.
What is an easy last-minute Halloween costume?
A black cat, a ghost, a tourist or a rock star, all made from clothes you already own.
How do I save Halloween costume ideas from TikTok and Instagram?
Share them to Sorti. It saves posts, videos, links and screenshots in one place, sorts them automatically and lets you search by description. It is free on iOS and Android.
Download Sorti free on iOS or Android and keep your costume ideas in one place.