From hockey rivals and horror icons to a very self-assured banana, queer celebrities brought plenty of imagination to Halloween 2026. With the holiday landing on a Saturday, stars had a long weekend to make an entrance, and pop-culture references did much of the heavy lifting. Here are the costumes that stood out, plus a few ideas worth borrowing.

Essential Takeaways

  • Heated Rivalry scored big: Scott Hoying and Mark Manio dressed as the hockey rivals, with their baby daughter playing the puck.
  • Couples leaned into comedy: Niecy Nash and Jessica Betts recreated a memorable interview, while Cheyenne Jackson’s family went for Schitt’s Creek.
  • Some looks took serious commitment: Janelle Monáe used prosthetics for an original creature, and Dove Cameron transformed into Edward Scissorhands.
  • Nostalgia had a strong showing: Costumes nodded to Buffy, The Lost Boys, Toy Story and Sex and the City.
  • A simple idea can still land: Justice Smith’s banana costume paired a familiar look with a cheeky caption.

Heated Rivalry became Halloween’s winning theme

The year’s biggest costume trend had a rink-side twist. Pentatonix singer Scott Hoying and his husband, Mark Manio, dressed as the rivals from Heated Rivalry for their first Halloween as dads, with their baby daughter cast as the puck. It’s a neat family costume idea: instantly recognisable, but with a sweet little detail that makes it their own. (Sources: Queerty; E! Online)

The series also inspired author Rachel Reid, whose Game Changers novels provided its source material. She chose a very different kind of intensity, dressing as Annie Wilkes, the obsessive fan from Stephen King’s Misery. Meanwhile, Justice Smith, who joins the show’s second season, went for a banana and a playful caption. (Sources: DNA Magazine; Us Weekly)

Couples and families made the joke together

A coordinated costume doesn’t need elaborate props to work. Niecy Nash and her wife, Jessica Betts, recreated Katt Williams’ interview with Shannon Sharpe on Club Shay Shay, while Cheyenne Jackson and his family dressed around Schitt’s Creek. Both ideas draw on recognisable scenes and characters, so the group connection is clear at a glance. (Sources: Queerty; ABC News)

Elsewhere, Neil Patrick Harris, David Burtka and their twins went as vampires, with nods to Buffy, The Lost Boys and Nosferatu. Andy Cohen wore Jedi robes in New York, while one of his children took on Darth Maul. These are easy themes to adapt for different ages, especially when everyone gets a character that suits them. (Sources: E! Online; Vogue)

Horror, pop culture and a little eyeliner

Some of the most memorable looks came with a full transformation. Janelle Monáe used prosthetics to become a creature she called “PHISH BOY”, while Dove Cameron opted for Edward Scissorhands. For costume inspiration, both offer a useful reminder: one distinctive silhouette or detail can do more than a pile of accessories. (Sources: DNA Magazine; Vogue)

Gus Kenworthy recreated Katy Perry’s 2025 Blue Origin space-flight look, and Troye Sivan went as Toy Story’s Woody, describing the outfit as “Spirit Halloween woody”. The references span pop spectacle and childhood nostalgia, but both depend on the audience recognising the source. When planning a look, a bold accessory or a familiar colour palette can help make the idea click. (Sources: Us Weekly; ABC News)

The best costume might be the one that makes you laugh

Not every standout outfit needs a complicated backstory. Bob The Drag Queen and Monét X Change dressed as the White Chicks, while the Old Gays went as Carrie Bradshaw and her Sex and the City friends. Theatre designer Brendan McCann took a more unexpected route, dressing as the renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. (Sources: Queerty; E! Online)

Tuc Watkins and Andrew Rannells chose the French sailors François Hervé and Yves Thomas, who died aboard the warship Bouvet in 1915. Watkins joked that the historical look was really an excuse to wear eyeliner. That blend of reference and self-awareness is often what makes a Halloween costume feel personal rather than merely polished. (Sources: DNA Magazine; Vogue)

How to borrow the ideas without overthinking it

Start with something you already love: a show, film, musician or shared family joke. Then choose one recognisable feature to build around, whether that’s a colour, prop, hairstyle or silhouette. A small group can use a single theme without matching head to toe, which usually makes the result more comfortable and fun. (Sources: ABC News; Us Weekly)

Think about practicality, too. If the costume involves prosthetics, bulky props or a child’s outfit, make sure it’s comfortable enough to wear for the evening and easy to move in. The strongest celebrity looks weren’t all the most elaborate; many simply paired a clear reference with a confident idea. (Sources: E! Online; Vogue)

A good costume doesn’t have to be complicated; it just has to feel like you.

Source Reference Map

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