New Giant Animatronics Join Home Depot's 2026 Lineup
Home Depot introduced nearly 30 new Halloween decorations and animatronics for 2026, with several oversized additions joining Skelly .
New Giant Additions:
Product | Price | Features |
|---|---|---|
11-foot LED Mummy | $299 | Motion-activated lights, posable shoulders, removable cloth wrappings |
8-foot Perilous Plant Monster | $299 | Motion-triggered head movements and sound effects |
8-foot Zombie Velociraptor | $299 | Glowing LED eyes, moving jaw, sound effects |
8.5-foot Knight Frostbane | $399 | Headless horseman with skeletal steed, 3 animations, 5 voice lines |
9-foot Dry Rot Dennis | $299 | Evil tree with color-changing lights in eyes, mouth, and chest |
5-foot Rotwing Parrot | $179 | Answers yes/no questions with animated movements |
6-foot Creeping Spider | $249 | Oversized spider decoration |
7.5-foot Soul-Stealing Reaper | $199 | Animated reaper decoration |
The 8-foot Perilous Plant Monster and 9-foot Dry Rot Dennis are both embedded with bones for added realism .
3. Hershey's 2026 "Hersheyween" Lineup: 26 Million Reese's Pumpkins Produced
Hershey has unveiled its 2026 Halloween portfolio, "Hersheyween," featuring more than 20 seasonal product innovations — the company's largest and most diverse Halloween lineup ever . The company will produce 26 million Reese's Pumpkins this year, cementing its status as a seasonal favorite .
Chocolate Favorites:
Reese's Pumpkins: Iconic chocolate and peanut butter combination, now available in the exclusive Reese's Pumpkin Bowl on Amazon (110 snack-size treats in a reusable pumpkin container)
Kit Kat Count & Witch: Classic wafer combination reimagined in spooky shapes, available in regular and king-size bars and 6-packs
Hershey's Cookies 'N' Creme Fangs: Fang-shaped version returning in snack size for the first time since 2024
Consumer Data: Reese's is the brand of choice for 37% of consumers, while Reese's Pumpkins top the category as the favorite Halloween product among 22% of consumers .
4. Hershey Adds Salty and Savory Snacks to 2026 Halloween Lineup
Hershey is expanding beyond candy with a range of salty and savory options in its 2026 Halloween portfolio .
Savory Offerings:
Pirate's Booty Trick-or-Treat: Individual snack packs of signature aged white cheddar puffs
Pirate's Booty Boos & Bites: Ghost and monster-shaped puffs in snack-size packs
Reese's Sweet & Salty: Snack-size Reese's Dipped Animal Crackers, Dipped Pretzels, and Filled Pretzels
SkinnyPop Halloween Packs: Individual packs in Halloween-themed packaging
LesserEvil Pumpkin Spice Popcorn: Warm cinnamon-and-spice fall flavor on signature popcorn
LesserEvil Spooky Popcorn and Spooky Spaceballs: Better-for-you salted popcorn and cheese corn puffs in Halloween-themed packs
Jolly Rancher Gummies Trickies Minis: Bite-sized chewy candies in colors that don't match their flavors — green apple, blue raspberry, cherry, grape, and watermelon — creating a fun, interactive candy experience .
5. Sweets Assortment Stand-Up Bag Introduces Sour Strips to Hershey Portfolio
The Sweets Assortment Stand-Up Bag (120-count) introduces Sour Strips to the Hershey seasonal portfolio and adds Airheads through a partnership with Perfetti Van Melle. The variety bag also includes Jolly Rancher Gummies Trickies Minis, Jolly Rancher Gummies Minis, and Twizzlers Twists in Strawberry .
Other Jolly Rancher Offerings:
Jolly Rancher Gummies Minis Snack Size: Fruit-shaped gummies in a poppable format
Jolly Rancher Gummies Assortment: Mix of sour and sweet gummies including Sour Gummies Minis, Gummies Trickies Minis, and Sour Gummies Minis Awesome Reds
Hershey Halloween All-Stars: An 18-count box of full-size, limited-edition Halloween shapes and flavors, including Reese's Pumpkins, Kit Kat Count & Witch shapes, Kit Kat Ghost Toast, and Jolly Rancher Gummies Trickies .
6. Pop Culture Costume Trends for 2026: Supergirl, Masters of the Universe, and Barbie
At the Halloween & Party Expo in Las Vegas, Rubie's Costume Company previewed the top costume trends for 2026 .
Licensed Costume Highlights:
Supergirl: Official costume from the new DC movie debuting summer 2026
He-Man/Masters of the Universe: Costumes and accessories, plus an inflatable Castle Grayskull for parties
Barbie: Inspired by the upcoming animated Barbie Nutcracker movie
Other Licensed Offerings: Rubies also featured costumes from Wednesday, Jason Universe, and nostalgia brands including 7-Eleven, Hasbro's Twister and Guess Who?, and Mattel's Uno, Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots, and Magic 8 Ball . Trick or Treat Studios featured masks from Vecna and Demogorgon characters from Stranger Things .
Inflatables Trend: Oversized yard inflatables continue to grow in popularity, with displays becoming more elaborate year-round — not just for October, but also for Thanksgiving and Christmas .
7. Target, Walmart, and Amazon Pull Controversial "German Soldier" Costume
Amazon, Target, and Walmart removed a "German soldier" Halloween costume sold by Orion Costumes after online critics claimed it resembled uniforms worn by German soldiers during World War II. Walmart confirmed that the costume was removed from its site, stating, "We expect all items sold by third-party sellers on our site to meet our policies and standards. When violations are detected, we take swift action, including removal of listings" .
Second Target Controversy in Two Weeks: This is the second time Target has faced backlash over a Halloween costume in as many weeks. Earlier, Target pulled a "Kids' Glows Under Blacklight Circus Clown Halloween Costume" after shoppers said it evoked blackface imagery. Target responded: "As a company, we know we got this wrong, and we are deeply sorry. The costume is offensive and should never have been part of our assortment" .
Marketplace Issue: Like Amazon and Walmart.com, Target.com operates as a marketplace allowing third-party sellers to list products, which can lead to controversial items slipping through verification processes .
8. Tariffs Impacting Halloween Business; Slight Increase Expected
Attendees at the Halloween & Party Expo anticipate only a slight increase in Halloween business for 2026, despite the holiday falling on a Saturday. This cautious outlook comes after a year when U.S. tariffs (ranging from 30-145%) affected companies heavily reliant on China-based manufacturing .
Industry Sentiment: "Last year, big retailers re-evaluated and this year they're ahead of it and won't be surprised [by the added tariff costs]. They've had a year to stabilize," said Mark Von Ohlen, Brand Licensing Manager at Rubies .
Costume Trends: Generic and licensed costumes are getting equal billing, along with animatronic and inflatable figures aimed at lawn displays. Retailers are buying "a little more optimistically" given the Saturday date, but business growth may be tempered by consumer behavior shifts including delayed buying, more mindful spending, and cautious retail ordering .
9. Pet Halloween Products: A Growing Category
Halloween is increasingly a family celebration that includes pets, with the NRF estimating consumers would spend $860 million on pet costumes in 2025, up from $700 million the year before. New York City's Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade marks its 36th year in 2026 .
Fastest-Growing Pet Halloween Searches:
Halloween dog bandanas: +400%
Dog Halloween costumes: +233%
Halloween dog cookies: +100%
Halloween dog toys: +48%
Halloween dog treats: +21%
Retailers are moving beyond single novelty pet items to create dedicated Halloween pet assortments that let shoppers dress up and treat their animals throughout the season .
10. Pottery Barn Halloween Decor on Sale for First Time
Pottery Barn is holding a Labor Day sale with markdowns up to 70% off, including Halloween decor — marking the first time the retailer has discounted its Halloween collection .
Featured Halloween Items:
Pumpkin Pillow Covers: Soft, plush pillows in seasonal colors
Lit Ghost Collection: Weather- and wind-resistant outdoor ghosts, one of Pottery Barn's Halloween best-sellers
Pumpkin Icon Tumblers: Glassware adorned with tiny pumpkin motifs
Gus The Ghost Family Doormat: Spooky doormat featuring ghost characters for the whole family
The sale also includes an extra 20% off clearance items, running through Labor Day .
11. Halloween and Party Expo: 237 Exhibitors Showcase 2026 Trends
The Halloween & Party Expo at Las Vegas' World Market Center featured 237 exhibitors showcasing the latest Halloween products for the 2026 season .
Major Exhibitors:
Rubies Costume Co. and Party City had a large booth presence
Jazwares took space alongside Berkshire Hathaway-owned Oriental Trading Co.
Trick or Treat Studios featured Droog costumes from A Clockwork Orange and masks based on Rob Zombie's House of 1,000 Corpses, plus a board game featuring Zombie's artwork
Dental Distortions provided consumer versions of bio-compatible FX fang plastic teeth seen in films like Dawn of the Dead and the upcoming Resident Evil movie
Notable Trends: Headdresses are selling well, driven by the release of Taylor Swift's "Life as a Show Girl" album, according to supplier Zucker Feather .
12. The Future of Halloween Shopping: Earlier, Longer, and More Occasion-Based
The Halloween season is starting earlier than ever before, driven by the "Summerween" trend. Hershey notes that consumers are now enjoying the festivities in stages while embracing a "treat me" mentality .
Key Consumer Insights:
Parents are increasingly likely to buy seasonal candy before September — 77% for chocolate, 72% for gummies
Halloween is evolving from a single day into a multi-month retail season
Consumers are looking for products that serve multiple occasions and offer value beyond October 31
Retailers are responding by stocking Halloween merchandise earlier and expanding assortments across categories, from giant yard decorations to pet costumes and salty snacks .
Industry Summary
Additional US Halloween product news for 2026 is characterized by:
Home Depot's App-Controlled Skelly: The iconic 12-foot skeleton now features Bluetooth voice control, custom recordings, 20 eye effects, and head/jaw movements at $379, with 30+ new decorations joining the lineup .
Hershey's Largest Portfolio: "Hersheyween" features 20+ products including 26 million Reese's Pumpkins, Kit Kat Count & Witch, Cookies 'N' Creme Fangs, and expanded salty offerings (Pirate's Booty, SkinnyPop, LesserEvil) .
Costume Controversies: Target, Walmart, and Amazon pulled an Orion Costumes "German soldier" costume following backlash, marking the second Target Halloween costume controversy in two weeks .
Tariff Impact: Business is expected to only see a slight increase despite Halloween falling on Saturday, due to tariffs (30-145%) on China-based imports and cautious retail ordering .
Pet Halloween Growth: Searches for Halloween dog bandanas rose 400%, dog costumes 233%, with retailers creating dedicated pet assortments .
Pottery Barn's First Halloween Sale: Labor Day sale marks first-ever discounts on Halloween decor, up to 70% off .
Pop Culture Costumes: Supergirl, Masters of the Universe, Barbie, and Stranger Things are expected top costume trends .
Jolly Rancher Innovation: Trickies Minis feature colors that don't match flavors, creating an interactive candy experience .
