SeaWorld San Diego's Howl-O-Scream Returns for 2026 with Two New All-New Haunted Houses

Southern California theme park fans and Halloween enthusiasts will be excited to know this fall's return date of SeaWorld San Diego's Howl-O-Scream for its sixth year running, and the fact that two new haunted houses will be featured at this year's event. More information below.

What's happening:

• SeaWorld San Diego has announced the start date and lineup of haunted houses for Howl-O-Scream 2026, the annual Halloween haunt that is going into its sixth year (having first launched in September of 2021) at the Southern California theme park.
• Howl-O-Scream 2026 will begin on Friday, September 11 and run on select nights through Saturday, October 31 (Halloween) at SeaWorld San Diego.
• This year, Howl-O-Scream San Diego will feature six (6) total haunted houses:
  • Area 64: MOTHERSHIP - An all-new prequel to Area 64: Alien Outbreak, set 30 years prior to the events of the original house.
  • Another All-New House - SeaWorld San Diego says they will be making an additional announcement about this haunted house in "a few short weeks."
  • Circus of the Damned 3D (returning)
  • Simon's Slaughterhouse (returning)
  • Deathwater Bayou: Awakening (returning)
  • Nightmare Experiment: Sweet DreamzZz (returning)
• More announcements about Howl-O-Scream 2026's live performances, scare zones, vignettes, haunts, themed food and bars, and hidden speakeasies are coming soon.
• SeaWorld San Diego guests can save up to 65% off on Howl-O-Scream tickets for a limited time during the theme park's Sinister Sale.

More SeaWorld News:

• SeaWorld San Diego recently welcomed a new dolphin calf and sea lion pup.
• Just last week we got an announcement about SeaWorld Orlando's version of Howl-O-Scream 2026.
• Electric Ocean has returned to SeaWorld Orlando for the summer of 2026.