What to Watch: Halloween 2026

Broadcast TV Gets Spooky

Broadcast television may not have quite as many Halloween marathons as cable, but there are still plenty of reasons to tune in.

CBS: Ghosts Gets a Halloween Special

One of the biggest Halloween events on broadcast this year is Ghosts. The hit comedy gets a two-episode Halloween special Thursday, October 29 at 9/8c.

And if you need even more supernatural comedy, CBS’s fall schedule also includes Eternally Yours, a new comedy about a married couple who happen to be vampires — because apparently 500 years of marriage isn’t complicated enough without adding a human boyfriend to the family.

FOX: The Simpsons Goes Full Halloween

It wouldn’t be October without Springfield’s annual descent into horror.

The Simpsons returns with “Treehouse of Horror XXXVII” on Sunday, October 25, continuing the show’s long-running Halloween tradition of twisted parodies, monsters, aliens, and whatever bizarre nightmare the writers have cooked up this year.

Treehouse of Horror has become a Halloween tradition of its own — right up there with candy, costumes, and watching Hocus Pocus for the hundredth time.

ABC, NBC and More

ABC and NBC will mostly be focused on their regular fall lineups, but their shows will inevitably bring spooky-season fun of their own as October continues.

ABC’s fall schedule includes Abbott Elementary, 9-1-1, 9-1-1: Nashville, and Grey’s Anatomy, while NBC brings back the Chicago franchise and Law & Order universe.

And don’t forget a lot of these shows will have their Halloween-themed episodes available to stream shortly after they air, making Hulu and Peacock especially useful for catching up.

Freeform’s 31 Nights of Halloween

Of course, we must start with the queen of Halloween TV: Freeform’s 31 Nights of Halloween.

The 2026 lineup includes classics like Hocus Pocus, Casper, and The Nightmare Before Christmas, along with monster movies, Tim Burton favorites, and other seasonal staples.

There’s also something new this year: Coven Academy, a new supernatural series about teenage witches at a magical boarding school. It premieres on Freeform October 1 before becoming available to stream on Disney+ and Hulu.

Freeform is also leaning heavily into Tim Burton with a dedicated lineup of his spooky classics.

And if your definition of Halloween includes monsters rather than just witches and ghosts, Freeform has you covered there, too. The network is programming movies including Monsters, Inc. and Monsters University as part of this year’s Halloween festivities.

Full lineup here: https://brnw.ch/21x64PU

AMC’s FearFest

The 2026 event kicks off on AMC and AMC+ and features more than 650 hours of horror programming throughout the season. This year’s FearFest is hosted by the Crypt Keeper from Tales from the Crypt, marking the 30th anniversary of the horror celebration.

The schedule is packed with Halloween franchises and horror classics, including:

• Halloween
• Friday the 13th
• A Nightmare on Elm Street
• Child’s Play
• Final Destination
• Insidious
• Stephen King’s It
• Carrie
• The Thing
• The Lost Boys
• Christine
• Tremors
• Gremlins

There are also full franchise marathons throughout October, including marathons for Chucky, Final Destination, Insidious, Halloween, and Jason/ Friday the 13th.

Huluween

Hulu’s October lineup is particularly strong for horror fans.

The month begins with new episodes of American Horror Story: 13 on October 1, with three episodes launching at once before new episodes continue throughout the month.

Hulu is also adding a serious collection of horror movies, including Barbarian, Hereditary, Midsommar, Soulm8te, Hokum and more.

There are also Halloween-friendly favorites such as Ghostbusters, Edward Scissorhands, and the Hotel Transylvania movies.

Disney+ Goes Family-Friendly

Disney+ is taking a much more family-friendly approach to the season.

October brings new Halloween-themed episodes of Big City Greens, Kiff, and Phineas and Ferb, while Vampirina: Teenage Vampire returns for Season 2 on October 6.

The platform is also bringing back lots of Disney-style spooky fun, making it a good option for younger viewers or anyone who wants Halloween vibes without being frightened.

Halloween favorites from Disney’s past include the Halloweentown series, Mom’s Got a Date with a Vampire, Twitches, and The Scream Team.

Netflix Is Bringing the Chills

Netflix has been stacking its October lineup with horror, thrillers, mysteries, and Halloween-friendly movies, while its Netflix & Chills collection continues to serve as a one-stop shop for spooky-season viewing.

Netflix’s October movie lineup includes horror films such as Dracula, Evil Dead, Friday the 13th, and Happy Death Day 2U, among other thrillers and genre favorites.

For something a little less traditional, Netflix also has a variety of horror and supernatural series to binge, including its extensive collection of haunted-house stories and other scary titles such as The Haunting of Hill House and The Walking Dead.

And if you like your Halloween with a little nostalgia, Netflix remains an easy place to revisit classic Halloween episodes from shows such as Riverdale, The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, and Stranger Things.

Paramount+ Is Ready for a Horror Marathon

Paramount+ is leaning hard into horror this Halloween with its PEAK SCREAMING collection.

The lineup includes the Scream, Scary Movie, A Quiet Place, Pet Sematary, and Paranormal Activity franchises.

Paramount+ is also home to the complete Dexter collection, making it an option for viewers who prefer serial killers over supernatural creatures.

And for fans who like their scares with a little comedy, Scary Movie (2026) and its Extended Cut are available to stream as part of the Halloween lineup.

Peacock Gets a Friday the 13th Prequel

Peacock has one particularly big Halloween arrival this year: Crystal Lake.

The Friday the 13th prequel series premieres October 15 and stars Linda Cardellini as Pamela Voorhees, exploring the story surrounding Jason Voorhees and the infamous Camp Crystal Lake. If you are looking for something new rather than another replay of Halloween or Scream, this is one major new series to have on your radar.

Peacock is also adding various horror movies throughout October, giving viewers another option for a late-night horror binge. These include The Purge, Hannibal, The Thing, and Five Nights at Freddy’s, along with this year’s horror breakout Obsession.

Prime Video Gets Its Own Carrie

Prime Video is getting into the Stephen King business this October with Carrie, a new eight-episode adaptation from Mike Flanagan.

The series premieres October 7 and stars Summer H. Howell and Samantha Sloyan.

If you’ve seen the classic film adaptations, this gives the story another chance to be reimagined for television — and makes Prime Video an especially interesting destination for Stephen King fans this Halloween.

Other Halloween streaming titles include The Fog, The Others, You’re Next, and Child’s Play.

One Month, Way Too Many Scares

The best thing about Halloween TV in 2026 might be just how many ways there are to get into the season. Broadcast and cable are still bringing the comfort-food classics, from Hocus Pocus to nights of Michael Myers, while streaming makes it incredibly easy to disappear into a horror series until midnight.

Disney+ has a deep collection for younger viewers, Paramount+ has entire franchises ready to binge, and Hulu is packed with darker options for anyone who likes their Halloween a little more unsettling.

Whether you’re looking for a nostalgic favorite, a full-on horror marathon, or something spooky enough to keep the lights on, there’s no shortage of ways to spend the season on the couch.

So, grab the candy, turn down the lights, pick your poison — and let the Halloween binge begin.