Google Unmasks Halloween 2026’s Trending Costumes, Candy & Creepy Searches
Image via Google Frightgeist
Google has released its annual Frightgeist report, revealing which costumes, candies, spooky recipes, and horror movies are summoning the most attention ahead of October 31. From fictional characters and country-inspired looks to a squishy stress toy, Americans appear to be casting a particularly wide net for their Halloween plans.
Leading Google’s list of trending Halloween costumes for 2026 is Buddy the Unicorn, followed by NeeDoh, the popular squishy sensory toy. Nikki from Obsession takes third place, while Agamemnon from The Odyssey and Lily Love Braids from Poppy Playtime round out the top five. The rankings comprise a mix of entertainment references, internet interests, and less conventional costume ideas.
Musician Oliver Tree lands in sixth place, followed by Verity from Minecraft and Carl from Dungeon Crawler Carl. Disco Scooby Doo brings a retro spin to ninth place, while Hazel Hook from Descendants completes the top 10.
Top Trending Costumes in the United States
2. NeeDoh
3. Nikki (from Obsession)
4. Agamemnon (from The Odyssey)
5. Lily Love Braids (from Poppy Playtime)
6. Oliver Tree
7. Verity (from Minecraft)
8. Carl (from Dungeon Crawler Carl)
9. Disco Scooby Doo
10. Hazel Hook (from Descendants)
Image via Google
For those planning to dress up as a pair, Google’s couples costume rankings offer another mix of recognizable characters and unexpected combinations. Disco Scooby and Shaggy top the list, followed by Cyclops and Jean Grey from X-Men. Nikki and Bear from Obsession claim third place, while JLo and Maverick, along with Hannah and Garrett from Off Campus, occupy fourth and fifth.
The remaining couples costume searches include Cowboys and Angels, Ricky Bobby and Carley Bobby from Talladega Nights, WALL-E and Eve, Woody and Bullseye, and Joe Dirt and Brandy.
Top Trending Couple’s Costumes in the United States
1. Disco Scooby and Shaggy
2. Cyclops and Jean Grey (from X-Men)
3. Nikki and Bear (from Obsession)
4. JLo and Maverick (from Off Campus)
5. Hannah and Garrett (from Off Campus)
6. Cowboys and Angels
7. Ricky Bobby and Carley Bobby (from Talladega Nights)
8. Wall-E and Eve
9. Woody and Bullseye
10. Joe Dirt and Brandy
Costumes are only part of the festivities, of course. Google’s Halloween food findings indicate that Americans are also searching for ways to make their refreshments look suitably spooky. “Witches brew punch” emerged as the leading trending Halloween drink over the past month, while edible glitter has been attracting interest among people looking up seasonal beverages.
Kitchen equipment is getting a Halloween makeover, too. Searches for “cauldron crock pot” have reached an all-time high, while “how to make a bubbling cauldron” has become a breakout query this month. Dry ice remains another seasonal favorite, with searches for “where can I buy dry ice” showing recurring October spikes dating back to 2007.
For anyone hoping to serve something more unsettling than an ordinary party snack, the search trends offer plenty of ideas. Recipes for “feet loaf” and “hot dog mummy” have registered breakout interest over the past month, while “lychee eyeballs,” “cinnamon roll guts,” and “brain cupcake” are among the other spooky foods attracting attention. Cookie dough, Jell-O, and candy corn also feature among trending Halloween-related searches for sugar-free sweets.
And what about treats? This year’s candy search rankings put KitKat in first place. Oreo ghost follows in second, with Reese’s Halloween candy, Jelly Belly, and Swedish Fish completing the top five. These rankings represent increases in search interest rather than overall sales, meaning they offer a snapshot of what people are looking up rather than a definitive measure of which treats are filling the most candy bowls.
Most-Searched Halloween Candy
1. KitKat
2. Oreo ghost
3. Reese’s Halloween candy
4. Jelly Belly
5. Swedish fish
When the costumes come off and the candy bowls start running low, horror movies are another popular choice for the evening. Google reports that searches for “nostalgic Halloween movies” have risen year over year since 2019. Meanwhile, “gothic horror movies” and “mascot horror movies” are the leading trending horror-film searches this year, pointing to continued interest in both atmospheric scares and unsettling characters associated with games and other entertainment.
The rankings highlight not necessarily what everyone will wear, eat, or watch, but which ideas are gaining search momentum as the holiday approaches. And with a squishy stress toy among this year’s costume favorites, it seems Halloween 2026 is shaping up to be quite a squeeze.
[via Google]
