Halloween Weather and When to Shop

Halloween 2026 falls on Saturday, October 31. The weekend date is expected to increase party attendance and trick-or-treating participation.

Retailers Advise Early Shopping: With popular items like Home Depot's Skelly routinely selling out in past years, shoppers are encouraged to purchase early. Home Depot's collection launched online July 16, with in-store availability in August.

Industry Summary

The US Halloween product market for 2026 is characterized by:

1. Summerween Trend: 70% of shoppers plan to buy fall/Halloween items before September, with retailers stocking merchandise as early as July.

2. Giant Animatronics Competition: Home Depot's app-controlled Skelly ($299-$379) faces off against Lowe's 15-foot Talking Watcher ($429) — the tallest on the market.

3. Hershey's "Hersheyween" Portfolio: 20+ new products including Reese's Pumpkins (26 million produced), KIT KAT Count & Witch, Jolly Rancher Trickies, Pirate's Booty, and LesserEvil Pumpkin Spice Popcorn.

4. Salty Snack Expansion: Hershey adds salty offerings (Pirate's Booty, SkinnyPop, Dot's Pretzels) amid GLP-1 popularity, though chocolate remains central.

5. Target's Affordable Lineup: Nearly 70% new, 60% exclusive; 60% of decor under $10; 50% of costumes under $25; K-Pop Demon Hunters and 26 Pokémon costumes.

6. AI and Technology: Fanta uses AI to create original Halloween characters; Home Depot's app-controlled Skelly; AI helps shoppers generate costume concepts.

7. DIY and Crafting: Michaels' "Hobbyween" with 70% of shoppers making their own decorations; crochet kits up 583%.

8. Pop Culture Costumes: Greek mythology (The Odyssey), superheroes (Avengers, Spider-Man), K-Pop Demon Hunters, Pokémon, and anime.

9. Disneyland Halloween Costumes: Mickey and friends debut harlequin-themed costumes with orange/black diamond patterns.

10. Spending Forecast: 2025 spending reached $13.1 billion; 2026 forecast expected in September; 25% of consumers already purchased at least one Halloween item by early August.