Welcome to Alton Towers Scarefest 2026, where a day at the theme park becomes a Halloween adventure you’ll be talking about long after the pumpkins have gone.
The light fades. The screams get louder. Somewhere ahead, a rollercoaster disappears into the darkness. Whether your perfect Halloween involves terrifying scare mazes, big rides after sunset or spooky fun with the children, Scarefest brings plenty of reasons to gather your favourite people and head to Alton Towers this autumn.
This year’s event runs on selected dates from 26 September to 1 November 2026, giving you opportunities to enjoy an early Halloween outing, an October weekend adventure or a half-term escape.
Ready to face the frights? Here’s what to know before booking.
🎟️ Get your Alton Towers Scarefest tickets HERE
When Is Alton Towers Scarefest 2026?
Scarefest takes place on the following dates:
| Month | Scarefest dates |
|---|---|
| September 2026 | 26–27 September |
| October 2026 | 2–4 October |
| October 2026 | 9–11 October |
| October–November 2026 | Every day from 16 October to 1 November |
Scarefest does not run every day throughout September and October, so match your tickets and accommodation to an event date. The dates above are listed on the official Alton Towers Scarefest page.
For an October half-term visit, check your own school’s holiday calendar before choosing your day.
What Time Does Scarefest Close?
One of the biggest reasons to visit is the chance to stay into the evening. Alton Towers advertises Scarefest opening until 9pm, with its opening calendar showing 10am–9pm for the opening weekend.
Check the official opening calendar for your chosen date. Individual attractions and entertainment can follow different schedules.
Our planning tip? Decide which rides you want to experience after sunset before you arrive. It’s easy to fill the day and discover you’ve left too little time for your Halloween evening.
What’s New at Scarefest 2026?
Final Exhibit: A New Scare Maze
An exhibition of Alton Towers artefacts sounds innocent enough. Until you discover what’s waiting behind the archive doors.
Final Exhibit is the new scare attraction for 2026, introducing visitors to the mysterious collection of The Curator. What begins as an exhibition leads into a hidden archive with a much darker story.
It launches on 26 September 2026, making it a new addition for returning Scarefest fans to investigate. Alton Towers’ operator confirmed the attraction in its 2026 Scarefest announcement.
If Final Exhibit is your must-do experience, check its specific ticket requirements before choosing a package.
Dine with the Dead
Fancy a Halloween dinner invitation with a sinister twist?
Also new for 2026, Dine with the Dead introduces an immersive dining experience hosted by Lord Vincent and Lady Lucinda Vile, who are celebrating 300 years of distinctly unhappy marriage.
It’s an intriguing option if you want to build your visit around more than rides and mazes. Check available dates, age guidance, prices and what the booking includes before adding it to your plans. Further details appear in Merlin’s official announcement.
Scarefest Scare Mazes: Choose Your Frights
For horror fans, the scare attractions are where the Halloween planning gets serious.
Alongside Final Exhibit, the official Scarefest attraction listings feature:
- COMPOUND
- Edge of the Forest
- Altonville Mine Tours: Tiny’s Revenge
You can explore the attractions and ticket options on the official thrilling frights page.
Before booking, look at the individual attraction descriptions and decide which experiences suit your group. Someone who loves rollercoasters might feel very differently about walking into a live scare attraction!
Don’t assume every maze is included in a standard theme park ticket—or that one bundle covers every attraction. Compare the named inclusions, any timed entry slots and the current age or suitability guidance.
👻 Explore Scarefest tickets and scare attraction packages HERE
Ride Alton Towers Rollercoasters After Dark
Scare mazes might get the headlines, but night rides are a huge part of the appeal.
Alton Towers highlights The Smiler, Nemesis Reborn and Wicker Man among the rides guests can experience in darkness during Scarefest.
There’s something irresistible about saving a favourite coaster for the evening. You might know the ride in daylight, but heading towards it as the night closes in adds a whole new sense of anticipation.
Build a shortlist with your group: which ride gets the first after-dark slot, and which one would make the perfect finale?
Leave some flexibility around that plan. Ride availability, weather and queues can affect what you manage to fit in, so treat your shortlist as priorities rather than a guaranteed itinerary.
🎢 Check ticket availability for your Scarefest date HERE
Is Alton Towers Scarefest Suitable for Families?
Yes—Scarefest also has a family side, with Halloween entertainment and attractions for visitors who prefer playful spooks to intense scares.
The resort’s family programme includes Trick O’ Treat Town, Amigos in the Afterlife and the CBeebies Land Monster Ball. Look through the official family Halloween information to choose suitable experiences.
For a family visit, start with three questions:
- Which attractions will your children actually enjoy?
- Which experiences require an additional ticket?
- How late will everyone comfortably want to stay?
You don’t need to tackle the most frightening attraction to enjoy a Halloween day out. A few carefully chosen activities, time for food and a manageable finish can make a better family plan than trying to squeeze everything in.
Check individual age guidance, ride height restrictions and entertainment times before promising a particular experience.
🎃 Find family ticket options for Alton Towers Scarefest HERE
Alton Towers Scarefest Tickets: What Should You Book?
The right ticket depends on whether you’re visiting mainly for rides, scare attractions or family entertainment.
Alton Towers currently advertises one-day tickets from £37 online on its October half-term page. This is a starting price, with availability and prices dependent on your visit date.
Use the following checklist when comparing options:
| Your priority | What to check before booking |
|---|---|
| Rollercoasters and the Halloween atmosphere | Theme park admission valid for your chosen Scarefest date |
| Scare mazes | Which named mazes are included and whether park admission is included |
| Family Halloween attractions | Which experiences cost extra and whether a family bundle suits your plans |
| Final Exhibit | Its specific admission requirements |
| An overnight visit | Accommodation, park tickets and any extras included in the package |
Compare the total price for the experiences you want, rather than just the lowest headline figure.
A cheaper ticket isn’t necessarily the best fit if you then need several additional bookings. Equally, there’s little reason to pay for a package of attractions your group won’t use.
🎟️ Check current Alton Towers Scarefest ticket prices HERE
Make It a Halloween Short Break
If you want to stay for the late rides without facing a long journey home afterwards, an overnight stay is worth considering.
Alton Towers offers themed accommodation and dedicated Scarefest and October half-term short breaks.
Before choosing a break, compare:
- The room’s suitability for your group.
- Whether theme park admission is included.
- How many days of park entry you receive.
- Whether breakfast and parking are included.
- Whether scare attractions require separate booking.
- The cancellation and amendment terms.
For a one-night visit, think about which arrangement works best: arriving the evening before for an easier start, or staying after Scarefest so you can head straight to your accommodation.
🏨 Browse Alton Towers Scarefest short breaks HERE
Tips for Planning Your Scarefest Visit
Choose Your Must-Do Experiences First
Ask everyone for their top priority. Build the day around those choices, then treat anything else as a bonus.
For a mixed group, agree when you’ll split up and where you’ll meet again. That gives the horror fans room to enjoy the scares without making everyone follow the same itinerary.
Leave Space Between Timed Bookings
Avoid filling every available slot. Give yourself time to walk between attractions, eat and cope with a queue taking longer than expected.
Dress for the Evening
Plan for several hours outdoors, including time standing still. Comfortable shoes, an extra layer and a waterproof are sensible additions even if the morning looks promising.
Keep Your Phone Charged
Save booking confirmations somewhere easy to find and bring a portable charger if you’ll be relying on your phone throughout the day.
Budget for the Whole Visit
Include travel, parking where applicable, food, drinks and extra attractions when setting your budget. Decide which upgrades matter before arriving, when every spooky extra can suddenly seem essential.
Check the Details Shortly Before You Go
Revisit opening times, attraction guidance and your booking confirmations before setting off. Keep the day flexible enough to enjoy what’s available.
Alton Towers Scarefest 2026 FAQs
Does Scarefest Run on Halloween Night?
Yes. 31 October 2026 falls within the advertised daily run from 16 October to 1 November.
Can You Visit Scarefest Without Doing the Scare Mazes?
Yes. You can plan your visit around rides and family entertainment. Choose admission and any extras to match the activities you want.
Are All Scare Attractions Included With Entry?
No—check each ticket’s inclusions carefully. Scare attractions can require additional tickets, and packages may cover different experiences.
Is Scarefest Suitable for Young Children?
There is a family-focused programme, but suitability depends on the child and attraction. Check the current guidance and plan around your family’s comfort with Halloween themes.
Is One Day Enough?
One day can work well if you choose a few priorities. If you want lots of rides, several additional experiences and a less rushed schedule, consider an overnight break and check how much park admission it includes.
Ready for a Halloween Adventure?
Will you be stepping into The Curator’s archive, gathering the family for spooky fun or saving your favourite rollercoaster for the darkness?
With daytime adventures and evening frights, Alton Towers Scarefest 2026 gives you plenty of ways to build your own Halloween escape.
Choose your date, compare the ticket options and decide who’s brave enough to lead the way.
🎃 Book your Alton Towers Scarefest adventure HERE
Prices, attraction availability, opening times and package inclusions may change; confirm the details when booking.
