By Carter Hayes | Published: August 21, 2026Key Takeaways
- What: Announcement of the new event icon Pestilence, five new haunted houses, and six scare zones for the Halloween season.
- Where: SeaWorld Orlando.
- When: The event runs select nights from September 11 through October 31, 2026.
- Details: The lineup features an “I Know What You Did Last Summer” intellectual property house. Advance tickets are currently on sale for $38.99, discounted from the $125.99 gate price.
Pestilence Unveiled at the Scream and Sweat Spectacle
SeaWorld Orlando Howl-O-Scream is a separately ticketed nighttime Halloween event featuring haunted houses, scare zones, and live entertainment running on select nights in Fall 2026. SeaWorld Orlando hosted a one-night preview event on August 20, 2026, named the Scream and Sweat spectacle to reveal the creative direction for the upcoming season. Nautilus Theater was transformed into a 1990s-era fitness studio where scare actors led invited guests through aerobics routines that introduced the thematic nightmares of the event.
The preview event concluded with the introduction of Pestilence, the newest original character icon joining the Howl-O-Scream narrative. Narrative lore provided by SeaWorld Entertainment establishes Pestilence as the former first love of Havoc, the reigning event icon. Pestilence represents contagion and corruption. Pestilence wears poisonous green and purple costuming and wields a barbed weapon coated in toxin known as the Venom Whip.
Pestilence centers her reign of terror in “Nekrosis”, an all-new scare zone built to resemble a seaside town frozen in the final moments of 1999. The Nekrosis scare zone functions as ground zero for her infection, utilizing 1990s technology and nostalgia as instruments of terror against park guests.
Check out on-the-ground footage from the Scream and Sweat preview below:
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All-New Haunted Houses and Scare Zones
Howl-O-Scream haunted houses are indoor, walk-through maze experiences constructed specifically for the Halloween season. SeaWorld Orlando announced five brand-new haunted houses for the 2026 season. The premier addition is an intellectual property maze based on the Sony Pictures film “I Know What You Did Last Summer”, which tasks guests with escaping the vengeful Fisherman. The remaining four houses are original concepts developed by SeaWorld Entertainment.
Immersive Scare Zone Layout
Howl-O-Scream scare zones are heavily themed outdoor environments located along the main pedestrian pathways of the park, utilizing fog, lighting, and roaming scare actors. Six distinct scare zones will operate during the 2026 season, blending new concepts with returning fan-favorite locations.
| Attraction Name | Type | Theme Concept |
|---|---|---|
| I Know What You Did Last Summer | Haunted House | Sony Pictures IP, The Fisherman |
| Dark Net | Haunted House | Cyberpunk vampire nightmare |
| Everything Must Stay | Haunted House | Suburban open house horrors |
| Raveyard | Haunted House | Eternal undead party |
| Crawlspace | Haunted House | Failed underground containment |
| Nekrosis | Scare Zone | 1999 Y2K seaside town |
| Just One More Chapter | Scare Zone | Dark romance garden |
| Dooms District | Scare Zone | Apocalyptic end of the world |
| Extermination Order | Scare Zone | Horrifying infestation |
| Woodrot Hollow | Scare Zone | Forest decay (Returning) |
| Trailer Park Tragedy | Scare Zone | Twisted dark humor (Returning) |
Tickets, Food, and the Front Line Unlimited Scream Pass
SeaWorld Orlando Howl-O-Scream requires a separate event ticket that is not included with regular daytime park admission. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment is currently running a limited-time sale where regular adult tickets can be purchased for $38.99, a significant reduction from the standard $125.99 gate price. Pass Members are eligible for savings of up to 70%. Guests can secure admission through the official SeaWorld ticketing portal.
New for the 2026 operational season is the Front Line Unlimited Scream Pass. The Front Line Unlimited Scream Pass bundles event admission for every single operating night with Front Line Fear Ultimate access. Passholders receive unlimited priority queue access to all haunted houses and participating thrill rides, alongside reserved seating for the “Monster Stomp” stage show. The pass carries no blockout dates.
Along with the entertainment, SeaWorld Orlando will feature five themed bars and exclusive event merchandise.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does SeaWorld Orlando Howl-O-Scream 2026 open?
SeaWorld Orlando Howl-O-Scream 2026 operates on select nights from September 11 through October 31, 2026.
Who is the new icon for Howl-O-Scream 2026?
Pestilence is the newest character icon for Howl-O-Scream 2026, operating as a toxic contagion force primarily located in the Nekrosis scare zone.
How much are tickets for SeaWorld Orlando Howl-O-Scream?
Advance regular adult tickets for SeaWorld Orlando Howl-O-Scream are currently available for $38.99, reduced from the standard gate price of $125.99.
What is the Front Line Unlimited Scream Pass?
The Front Line Unlimited Scream Pass provides admission to every 2026 Howl-O-Scream event night with unlimited priority queue access to all haunted houses and participating rides without blockout dates.
Does Howl-O-Scream have intellectual property houses?
The 2026 Howl-O-Scream lineup features an intellectual property haunted house based on the Sony Pictures horror movie “I Know What You Did Last Summer”.
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