Last year marked the first-ever Universal Studios Hollywood Fan Fest Nights, and while I thought it was a successful debut, it also felt like an event that still needed a few tweaks before it fully found its identity. This year, it feels like Universal listened.
Fan Fest Nights 2026 keeps some of the strongest pieces from last year, brings back a few fan favorites, and expands on the parts that needed more attention. More importantly, it feels like Universal has a much clearer idea of what this event is supposed to be: an after-hours celebration of fandoms, character interactions, themed experiences, and park-wide fun without the horror-heavy energy of Halloween Horror Nights.
The Fan Fest Experience
Heading to Universal Studios Hollywood is always exciting for me. It’s a theme park that combines two things I love deeply: movies and theme parks. Every fall, Universal opens its gates after hours for Halloween Horror Nights, giving guests a chance to experience the park in a darker, more intense way. But not everyone is built for HHN, and honestly, I think everyone deserves to experience those after-hours Universal vibes in some form.
That’s where Fan Fest Nights really works.
Instead of scares, mazes, and horror icons, Fan Fest Nights turns the park into a celebration of different fandoms. The event brings in themed shows, walkthrough experiences, meet and greets, special food, and unique entertainment that makes the park feel alive in a completely different way. In some ways, I actually think the Fan Fest experiences are more in-depth than some HHN offerings because they lean harder into interaction and character moments.
This year, Universal brought back One Piece in a much bigger way, returned the fan-favorite Dungeons & Dragons experience, gave the Wizarding World the attention it deserved, and added one of the best backlot experiences I’ve seen with Scooby-Doo and the Universal Monsters.
Scooby Doo x Universal Monsters Mystery on the Backlot
Last year’s Fan Fest took guests onto the backlot for a Back to the Future experience. Being on that original set was awesome, but the interactive pieces felt a little more choreographed. This year’s Scooby-Doo x Universal Monsters mystery felt much more alive.
After exiting the tram, guests pick up a clue booklet that lets them take notes, decode clues, and interact with the Mystery Gang as they try to figure out who the Phantom Director really is. That extra layer of interactivity made a huge difference. Simply walking around Little Europe and seeing Scooby-Doo characters alongside the Universal Monsters would have been fun on its own, but having an actual mystery to solve made the whole thing feel special.
As a huge horror nerd, exploring Little Europe, where some of the original monster films were shot, was already incredible. But interacting with the cast made it even better. I probably sound like a broken record at this point, but the actors Universal brings in for Fan Fest Nights really make these experiences work. They fully commit, stay in character, and bring so much personality to the event.
There are a couple of things worth knowing before you go. First, Mystery on the Backlot was the first thing we did, and before 10 p.m., they were already sold out of Scooby Snacks. I also saw a handful of guests walking around the park with six or more boxes, so if those are on your must-try list, make this experience an early stop. Second, there was no clear signage or warning that once you enter the big reveal finale, you can’t go back. So if you want to take pictures, grab food, or explore more of the area, make sure you do it before solving the mystery and heading into the finale.
The tram itself had little to no wait throughout the night, but once you’re down there, it can be a bit of a free-for-all. If you want to interact with specific characters, you may need to hang around for a bit and wait for the right moment. Even with those small notes, this was easily one of the highlights of the entire event.
Forbidden Forest: Search for the Hippogriff
One of my biggest hopes after last year’s Fan Fest was that Universal would do more with the Wizarding World, and this year they absolutely did. Forbidden Forest: Search for the Hippogriff gives guests a full walkthrough experience where they head into the Forbidden Forest on school business to help save a Hippogriff.
This experience was top-notch.
You’re guided through the walkthrough by a Hogwarts professor who encourages guests to interact, play along, and lean into the magic of it all. If you have a wand, bring it. Like the Dungeons & Dragons experience, this is one of those attractions that becomes much better if you let yourself have fun with it. It’s okay to pretend no matter how old you are.
The animatronics were also fantastic. Every time Universal sets up something that feels this lifelike, I’m impressed all over again. The entire experience was charming, immersive, and something I would have happily done a second time if there had been more time in the night. This did consistently have the longest wait of the night, but it’s absolutely worth it, especially if you’re a Harry Potter fan.
One Piece: Grand Pirate Show
In my opinion, WaterWorld is the epitome of what Universal Studios is all about. It has action, stunts, comedy, practical effects, and a little bit of movie magic. I enjoy the Purge show during Halloween Horror Nights, but I’ve been wanting to see Universal switch that venue up with something different, and the One Piece: Grand Pirate Show delivered.
I haven’t seen a ton of One Piece, but from what I have seen, the show absolutely nails the personalities and mannerisms of the characters. The action was great, the comedy was cheesy in that perfect stunt show kind of way, and there were some genuinely impressive effects throughout.
I’d recommend sitting in the middle section if you want the full experience. Between the action, effects, and energy of the crowd, this is easily one of the must-see offerings of the night. For me, this and Scooby-Doo were the two biggest highlights of Fan Fest Nights 2026.
Just keep in mind that there are only a limited number of shows throughout the night, and they fill up fast. If this is high on your list, get there early so you can lock in a good seat.
Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon the Miracle: Moon Palace Chapter Deluxe
While I at least have some exposure to One Piece, I have almost none when it comes to Sailor Moon. Even so, I still found the show enjoyable and cute.
That said, I spent a decent amount of time crowd-watching during this one, and the guests who clearly knew and loved Sailor Moon seemed extremely happy with it. They were into the characters, the moments, and the overall presentation in a way that made it clear Universal knew who this was for.
As someone going in almost completely blind, I had fun, but I was also a little lost. That didn’t ruin the experience, but it did make it feel more skippable for guests who don’t already have a connection to the fandom.
There was also a Sailor Moon meet and greet outside the DreamWorks Theatre, and she seemed especially lovely with kids. This definitely felt like the wholesome stop of the night.
There also wasn’t much of a wait for the show. As long as you don’t wait until the final performance of the night, you probably won’t have to try very hard to catch it. If you’re a Sailor Moon fan, I’d highly recommend it. If you’re not, it’s skippable, but chances are you’ll have some extra time toward the end of the night, so why not take a cute, wholesome break
Dungeons & Dragons: Secrets of Waterdeep
Last year, Dungeons & Dragons: Secrets of Waterdeep was one of the highlights of Fan Fest Nights, so it makes sense that Universal brought it back for year two. It also gives guests who missed the first event a chance to finally experience it.
That being said, this is, for the most part, the same experience as last year. If you already went through it in 2025, don’t expect major changes. I still enjoyed it this year, but returning guests shouldn’t feel too stressed if they need to skip it to prioritize newer experiences.
For first-timers though, it’s still a great interactive walkthrough. Like Forbidden Forest, it works best when you play along and let yourself be part of the story.
The line hovered around 20 minutes throughout most of the night, which felt very manageable.
Colorful Yoshi Celebration
I popped into Super Nintendo World later in the night after spending time with Scooby and the Gang, and it was absolutely popping over there.
The lines for the Yoshi meet and greets were long all night. I’ll admit I didn’t wait or track the exact wait times, but they were consistently lengthy every time I passed by. If meeting the Yoshis is a must-do for you, I’d recommend heading there earlier in the night instead of saving it for later.
Super Nintendo World already has a lot of energy on a normal day, but during Fan Fest Nights, it had an extra level of excitement thanks to the character presence and colorful celebration atmosphere.
Jurassic Park Celebration
This wasn’t technically one of the major named experiences of the night, but Jurassic Park fans should absolutely make time for it.
If you head past the Raptor Encounter in the lower lot, you’ll find a full setup celebrating classic Jurassic Park. There are character meet and greets with icons like Ian Malcolm and John Hammond, and the actors in this area were a delight.
The Dennis Nedry actor, in particular, was hilarious. Make sure you spend some time chatting with him if you get the chance. This area may not have been one of the flashiest parts of the event, but it was full of charm and easily worth a stop.
Food and Merch
I went into Fan Fest Nights 2026 expecting more from the food and merchandise. The experiences themselves were clearly upgraded from the first year, so I was hoping the merch and food would get the same level of attention. Unfortunately, I don’t think my expectations were fully met.
On the merch side, a lot of it felt a little dull to me outside of the Jurassic Park offerings. A black T-shirt with different fandoms on the front doesn’t exactly scream Fan Fest. The Yoshi shoulder pals and matching shirts were cute, but overall, I wanted to see stronger themed merchandise.
Personally, I think Fan Fest Nights could benefit from an overarching theme each year. Something like “Throwback,” “Villains,” or “Adventure” could help tie the merchandise together while still letting each fandom stand on its own.
Food-wise, I was also a little let down by some of the offerings. I was excited to give the One Piece food another shot since last year’s options felt pretty average. This year, One Piece took over Hollywood & Dine, but when I showed up around 11 p.m., the wait for the Loco Moco Burger was longer than I was willing to commit to. Instead, we settled for Sanji’s Seafood Fried Rice.
I would humbly recommend waiting for the burger.
I heard nothing but good things about it, while the fried rice had a seafood flavor that was overpowering to the point where it became hard to enjoy. The Straw Hat dessert was a tasty treat, but I still found myself wishing it was the Jujutsu Kaisen brownie from last year. The Tropical Iced Tea at Hollywood & Dine also didn’t really taste like tea and had a tang that almost burned a little.
For food and drinks, I’d recommend heading down to the Dungeons & Dragons Tavern in the lower lot instead.
The Hunter’s Mark sandwich was actually enjoyable, and I wish I had used both of my entrée items on that. The drink options there were also the best-tasting in my opinion. If you’re over 21, I’d recommend trying the Dragon’s Breath cocktail.
And again, if you want Scooby Snacks, head down to Mystery on the Backlot early before they sell out. If you want to try the Monster Dog, don’t make my mistake and accidentally cut yourself off early. It looked and smelled great, and I was a little disappointed I didn’t get to try it myself.
Is the Dining Pass worth it?
For about $65, the Dining Pass gives you six items. Considering many of the individual food items are around $20 each, I’d say it can be worth it, depending on how you use it.
If you’re coming with a family or you already know you want to try a bunch of different food items, it’s a good option. But if it’s just for yourself or even for you and a partner, I don’t know if I can fully say it’s worth it for everyone.
The biggest limitation is that alcohol is not included, which cuts down your options quite a bit. I had no problem finding entrée items I wanted, but I had a harder time using up the snack and drink credits. Yes, there are options, but finding snack and drink items I actually wanted or enjoyed was more difficult than expected.
If you’re already planning to spend the money and sample a lot of food, get the pass. But if you’re buying it just to buy it, you may be better off simply grabbing the specific items you actually want.
How bad are the lines at Fan Fest Night?
Honestly, the lines weren’t bad.
The event was busy, and it even sold out over the weekend, but nothing felt unreasonable. A lot of the normal rides were walk-ons, and many of the special experiences hovered around 20 to 30 minutes.
The longest waits seemed to be for the Yoshi meet and greets and the Forbidden Forest walkthrough, with Forbidden Forest averaging around 70 minutes. Everything else felt pretty manageable.
Maybe I’m a little desensitized because of Halloween Horror Nights wait times, but a 70-minute top-end wait for an event like this isn’t terrible. Normal theme park ride lines can get longer than that on weekends.
Do you need an express pass for Fan Fest Night?
I would say no.
I don’t enjoy waiting in lines any more than the next person, but the lines at Fan Fest Nights were not crazy. Express does give you more freedom to do everything in whatever order you want, and that convenience is always nice. But if you’re going in without Express, you can still have a great night with a little bit of planning.
Prioritize the experiences with limited showtimes, knock out the backlot mystery early if you care about food or photos, and keep an eye on the Forbidden Forest wait. If you do that, you should be able to hit the major highlights without feeling too rushed.
Final Thoughts
Universal Fan Fest Nights 2026 feels like a real step forward for the event. Last year was a fun proof of concept, but this year feels like Universal is starting to understand what makes Fan Fest special. The stronger interactivity, better use of the backlot, upgraded Wizarding World presence, and standout One Piece show all helped the event feel more complete.
Not everything was perfect. The food was hit or miss, the merchandise could use more personality, and a few areas would benefit from better signage or crowd flow. But the actual experiences were strong enough that those issues didn’t ruin the night.
Scooby-Doo x Universal Monsters: Mystery on the Backlot was easily one of the best things Universal has done for this event so far, Forbidden Forest gave Wizarding World fans a much-needed spotlight, and One Piece proved that the WaterWorld venue can successfully transform into something new.
Fan Fest Nights still has room to grow, but this year made one thing very clear: Universal is listening. And if this is the direction the event is heading, I’m excited to see what fandoms take over the park next.
Universal Fan Fest Nights 2026 runs on select nights from April 23rd through May 16th, at Universal Studios Hollywood. The event takes place on 12 nights total: April 23–25, May 1–3, May 7–9, and May 14–16.
