Holiday

Halloween 2026

Halloween is celebrated on October 31. In 2026 it falls on Saturday, October 31. It is not a U.S. federal holiday. Roots run from Celtic Samhain through All Hallows’ Eve into modern costume and candy traditions. It shares the date with National Magic Day and National Caramel Apple Day but those are separate observances.

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Halloween - Halloween is celebrated on October 31. In 2026 it falls on Saturday, October 31. It is not a U.S. federal holiday. Roots run from Celtic Samhain through All Hallows’ Eve into modern costume and candy traditions. It shares the date with National Magic Day and National Caramel Apple Day but those are separate observances.

About Halloween

Halloween is celebrated on October 31. In 2026 it falls on Saturday, October 31. It is not a U.S. federal holiday. Its roots run from the Celtic festival of Samhain through medieval All Hallows’ Eve customs into today’s costume, candy, and pumpkin traditions. It shares the date with National Magic Day and National Caramel Apple Day on this site, but those are separate observances.

Halloween vs same-date / seasonal neighbors

Halloween versus nearby observances
Name	Timing	Notes
Halloween / All Hallows’ Eve	Oct 31	This page
National Magic Day	Oct 31	Magicians / Houdini — different focus
National Caramel Apple Day	Oct 31	Food day
Día de los Muertos	Nov 1–2	Distinct Mexican observance — do not merge
All Saints’ / All Souls’	Nov 1 / Nov 2	Christian calendar roots

Timeline (defendable arc)

Celtic Samhain traditions in Ireland and Britain mark a seasonal turning with communal custom — keep this high-level.

Medieval Christian calendar overlays All Saints’ and All Souls’ near the date; All Hallows’ Eve names the night before.

19th–20th century U.S. Costume parties, jack-o’-lanterns, and modern trick-or-treat forms grow into a largely secular cultural holiday. Soft spend trivia stays out without named recent reports.

How to celebrate

Carve a pumpkin (or decorate if carving is not safe for kids).
Costume and trick-or-treat or host a party.
Decorate the porch or table.
Movie night with age-fit picks.
Hand out candy if you are home for trick-or-treaters.
Optional: corn maze or haunted attraction — check ages and comfort.

Answer-ready summary

Facts

Halloween is observed on October 31 (Saturday in 2026)
Its roots include Celtic Samhain and All Hallows’ Eve
National Magic Day and National Caramel Apple Day share the date on this site
Día de los Muertos is a distinct observance, typically November 1–2
Halloween is not a U.S. federal holiday

Upcoming dates

Saturday, October 31, 2026
Sunday, October 31, 2027
Tuesday, October 31, 2028
Wednesday, October 31, 2029
Thursday, October 31, 2030

What you need

We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page.

Halloween is lights on the porch, not a fog machine.

Outdoor Halloween String Lights

Weather-rated for a wet October night. Measure the run.

Check live price on Amazon

Frequently asked questions

When is Halloween in 2026?

Saturday, October 31, 2026.

Is today Halloween?

No. Halloween in 2026 falls on Saturday, October 31, 2026, not today.

Is it a federal holiday?

No.

Is it the same as Magic Day?

No - same date; Magic Day focuses on magicians and Houdini’s legacy.

Is it Día de los Muertos?

No - related seasonally; distinct observance (typically Nov 1-2).

How do you celebrate?

Costumes, candy, pumpkins, gatherings - keep it age-appropriate.

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Related days

National Magic Day

National Magic Day is an informal U.S. observance marked on October 31. In 2026 it falls on Saturday, October 31. It grew from a Houdini Day idea after Harry Houdini’s death on October 31, 1926, and is associated with the Society of American Magicians. It shares the date with Halloween but is not the same holiday, and it is not a federal holiday.

National Caramel Apple Day

Dip an apple on National Caramel Apple Day! October 31 puts caramel-coated apples on the same date many households already associate with fall candy — a tart apple on a stick, wrapped in soft caramel, sometimes rolled in nuts.

Dia de los Muertos

Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a Mexican cultural festival traditionally observed on November 1 and 2. In 2026 that span is Sunday, November 1 through Monday, November 2. Families build ofrendas, share foods associated with remembrance, and honor deceased loved ones with flowers, photos, and stories. It is not Halloween, and it is not a U.S. federal holiday. No single person founded the day - it grew from Indigenous Mesoamerican death-and-memory traditions later aligned with the early-November Catholic calendar.

National Candy Corn Day

National Candy Corn Day is an informal U.S. observance marked on October 30. In 2026 it falls on Friday, October 30. It celebrates candy corn, the classic tri-colored Halloween sweet. The founder of the calendar day is not clearly documented; candy corn itself dates to the 1880s. It is not Halloween (October 31), and it is not a federal holiday.

National Pumpkin Day

National Pumpkin Day is an informal U.S. observance marked on October 26. In 2026 it falls on Monday, October 26. It celebrates pumpkins in fall cooking, carving, and autumn traditions. The founder is not clearly documented. It is not Halloween (October 31), and it is not a federal holiday.