Google Frightgeist 2026 Reveals Top Halloween Costume Trends

Google has published its 2026 Frightgeist Halloween trends overview, offering a regional look at the most-searched costume ideas ahead of spooky season. The annual list highlights what is driving interest among web searchers, giving both shoppers and businesses a clear snapshot of the themes shaping this year’s celebrations.

Movie-Inspired Costumes Lead the Way

Film characters feature heavily in this year’s rankings. The top movie-inspired costumes include Buddy the Unicorn from the new horror film “Buddy,” Nikki from the horror film “Obsession,” and Agamemnon from director Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of “The Odyssey.” For each listed costume, the guide shows where in the U.S. it is trending and how much momentum it has gained in overall search activity this year.

Beyond movie characters, the overview also includes lists of the top kid, pet and couple costumes, along with the most-searched horror movies. Google has added a Trending Map feature as well, allowing users to view the top costume trends for each U.S. state.

A Useful Guide for Marketers

The Frightgeist list can also help guide marketing approaches by showing what is generating interest before Halloween arrives. Businesses can use these insights to angle product displays and promotions toward popular themes. The guide reflects pop culture trends more broadly, which could benefit marketing and display plans.

Google said people can also use its Lens feature to scan their wardrobes and get tips on creating a Halloween costume from clothes they already own. Users can ask Lens for Halloween makeup inspiration, or turn to Google’s artificial intelligence search engine to find the best local celebrations.

Overall, Google Frightgeist 2026 offers an interesting snapshot of annual Halloween trends and shows what is gaining momentum among web searchers, whether the goal is finding costume inspiration or planning seasonal campaigns.