Universal Studios' Next Halloween Horror Nights Will Be Inspired By Stranger Things Season 3

Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights promo image

Last year, Universal Studios' annual Halloween tradition, Halloween Horror Nights, took its inspiration for one of its iconic mazes from the first season of Stranger Things. Well, just like Stranger Things itself is returning this year, HHN is also returning for another season of its own, and this year will be a sequel in its own right as a Stranger Things inspired maze is on the way this fall, this time inspired by both Season 2 of the show as well as the forthcoming Season 3.

It's never too early to start planning for Halloween and Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando Resort are starting now, as both theme parks will be hosting the Stranger Things themed maze later this year.

Universal is keeping quiet on details, of course. Although, we'll have a better idea what might be in store for us during Halloween Horror Nights this summer as Stranger Things new season will be arriving in July, so you'll have plenty of time to binge it before you step into the maze and experience it all for yourself.

Every year for Halloween we see the various Universal theme parks transform, combining several of our favorite horror properties in one place. The new Stranger Things maze is just the first of what will surely be several announcements to be made over the coming months as we get closer to the popular holiday.

Much like the show itself, Halloween Horror Nights will have to up its game when it comes to the new Stranger Things maze. While popular horror franchises have certainly made multiple appearances at HHN, this is the first time that we've really seen one maze or haunted house that's designed to follow as a direct sequel of one from the previous year. The Horrors of Blumhouse have appeared each of the last two years, and may very well appear again this year in a new form, but that's not really a single universe. In the same way the show had to finds a way to continue the story, while still remaining fresh and new, HHN will have to do the same thing.

If the actual maze is half as chilling as the teaser that's been released, Halloween Horror Nights is in good shape. Check it out below.

Halloween Horror Nights is the sort of event that people go to every year, so you can be sure that many of the people who went through the Stranger Things maze last year will be back this year to check out the new one.

Still, that just makes the upcoming maze all the more exciting. Fans of Stranger Things will certainly be ready to travel back into the Upside Down. The more familiar with the show you are, the more you'll be able to enjoy the different elements, as well as the easter eggs, that are frequently hidden throughout the mazes.

Those on the east coast will get a slight jump on the festivities as Halloween Horror Nights will launch in Orlando on September 6 with the Hollywood park following on September 13. No official end date has been announced but obviously the event will run through October 31, likely slightly later.

Dirk Libbey
Content Producer/Theme Park Beat

CinemaBlend’s resident theme park junkie and amateur Disney historian, Dirk began writing for CinemaBlend as a freelancer in 2015 before joining the site full-time in 2018. He has previously held positions as a Staff Writer and Games Editor, but has more recently transformed his true passion into his job as the head of the site's Theme Park section. He has previously done freelance work for various gaming and technology sites. Prior to starting his second career as a writer he worked for 12 years in sales for various companies within the consumer electronics industry. He has a degree in political science from the University of California, Davis.  Is an armchair Imagineer, Epcot Stan, Future Club 33 Member.