Buddy the Unicorn is the most-searched trending Halloween costume of 2026, according to Google's Frightgeist data released on October 14. NeeDoh, the squishy stress toy, is No. 2, and Nikki from the horror hit Obsession is No. 3, with The Odyssey's Agamemnon at No. 4.
Google's top 25 trending Halloween costumes of 2026
| Rank | Costume | Where it's from |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Buddy the Unicorn | Horror film Buddy |
| 2 | NeeDoh | Squishy stress toy |
| 3 | Nikki | Horror film Obsession |
| 4 | Agamemnon | Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey |
| 5 | Lily Lovebraids | Video game Poppy Playtime |
| 6 | Oliver Tree | Musician |
| 7 | Verity | Minecraft |
| 8 | Carl | Dungeon Crawler Carl |
| 9 | Disco Scooby-Doo | Scooby-Doo |
| 10 | Hazel Hook | Descendants |
| 11 | Captain Clark | Backrooms |
| 12 | Dolly Parton | Country icon |
| 13 | Thragg | Invincible |
| 14 | Kenny Rogers | Country icon |
| 15 | Bowser Jr. | Super Mario |
| 16 | Princess Rosalina | Super Mario |
| 17 | Green Lantern | DC Comics |
| 18 | Michael Jackson (Thriller era) | Music |
| 19 | Skeletor | Masters of the Universe |
| 20 | Cyclops | X-Men |
| 21 | Dumpling | Squishy toy trend |
| 22 | Dr. Frank-N-Furter | The Rocky Horror Picture Show |
| 23 | Viltrumite | Invincible |
| 24 | Nightcrawler | X-Men |
| 25 | Doctor Doom | Marvel |
Source: Google Frightgeist 2026, as published by LiveNOW from FOX, Haunted Attraction Network and Costume Wall. The list ranks trending search interest, not total sales.
What are the biggest Halloween costume trends of 2026?
Three themes stand out on this year's list.
Horror movies. Buddy and Obsession took two of the top three spots. Fiction Horizon reports Obsession, written and directed by Curry Barker, is 2026's highest-grossing horror film, and NBCUniversal has released official Nikki and Bear costumes.
Toys and games. NeeDoh and "Dumpling," both squishy fidget toys, sit at No. 2 and No. 21. Gaming staples Poppy Playtime, Minecraft and Super Mario fill four spots.
Tributes. Dolly Parton, who died in August at 80, is No. 12 overall, No. 1 on the kids' list and No. 2 for pets, LiveNOW from FOX reported. Kenny Rogers, her longtime duet partner, is No. 14, and Michael Jackson's Thriller look has hit a ten-year search high. We covered Parton's life and legacy in our report on her death at 80.
How do I make the top costumes?
| Costume | Key pieces |
|---|---|
| Buddy the Unicorn | Pastel unicorn hood or onesie, oversized smile, a slightly unsettling stare |
| NeeDoh | Brightly coloured bodysuit or hoodie with a simple drawn-on face |
| Nikki (Obsession) | Red-and-black zebra-print top, black shorts |
| Agamemnon | Bronze-toned armour breastplate, cape, crown or helmet |
| Dolly Parton | Big blonde wig, rhinestones, denim or fringe, guitar prop |
| Michael Jackson (Thriller) | Red jacket with black V details, cuffed jeans, white socks, loafers |
Where did The Odyssey land?
Nolan's epic places Agamemnon, played by Benny Safdie, at No. 4. For more on the film's run, see our story on The Odyssey's box office.
How can I see the top costume where I live?
Google's Frightgeist site has a map that shows the top five trending costumes for any U.S. ZIP code. Haunted Attraction Network notes that Buddy the Unicorn searches are strongest in the Miami–Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles, Fresno–Visalia, San Antonio and West Palm Beach markets.
Published Monday, October 19, 2026. Rankings are from Google's 2026 Frightgeist data as reported by LiveNOW from FOX, Haunted Attraction Network and Costume Wall; film details are from Fiction Horizon.
