By Katie Extine, Staff Writer
Every year, when the wind starts blowing again and you can finally wear that sweatshirt from the furthest corner of your closet, you know it’s time for Halloween. For me, picking a costume every October feels like the biggest decision I can make. And with this year having so many box-office hits, new TV shows, and new trends for the upcoming spooky season, I’ve compiled a top 10 list of costumes and characters I think we will be seeing this Halloween.
Spider-Man (Brand New Day)
This might be a bit obvious to everyone since Spider-Man is a go-to every single year for people. Since the newest edition to Tom Holland’s version of the character, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, was released this past July, it’s safe to say 2026 won’t be any different. Not to mention anyone can be Spider-Man; after all, there’s a multiverse of them. Spider-Man also makes for a perfect last-minute pick, with nearly every store selling Peter Parker’s Spider-Man mask, and others having Gwen Stacy and Miles Morales versions.
Nikki Freeman (Obsession)
I think everyone saw this coming. With Obsession breaking records at the box office and bringing so many people back to the theatres, I do not doubt that we will see a lot of her this year with her iconic party outfit – a surprisingly easy outfit to find. Maybe someone can spice it up with some uncanny valley makeup. Personally, I would also love to see some ‘Cassell’s Music’ employee uniforms as well.
Dolly Parton
With the news of her tragic passing only two months ago, I see many people dressing up as a tribute to her. Dolly has so many iconic outfits to choose from as well, meaning the only consistent thing we will see is her beautiful blonde hair. Even with all the outfit options, I am hoping to see some of her pink outfits in the mix.
Odysseus (The Odyssey)
Christopher Nolan, Matt Damon, and Greek mythology- what more do I need to say? Everyone lives for a Greek Mythology-inspired costume. With the release of The Odyssey film only a couple of months ago, resurrecting the popularity of this classic tale, no doubt we’ll be seeing some gods and goddesses trick-or-treating.
New York Knicks Player or Fan
Since the Knicks won the NBA Championship this year, we might be seeing a lot of orange and dark blue this Halloween. There might even be some people dressing up as Taylor Swift from Game 4 of the NBA Finals, since she was there for the Knicks. Choosing to be a fan makes for an easy last-minute concept costume, since you can find clothing with Knicks logos at certain sports memorabilia stores, or just find some dark blue and burnt orange clothes.
Ryland Grace (Project Hail Mary)
With this film being a massive hit among almost everyone, and it being another Ryan Gosling character to choose from, I can already see the wire-framed glasses and corduroy jackets. This one is also a nice option for a last-minute costume, since the basic costume only needs the glasses and jacket. Though this is a simple one, I would love to see his other outfits this Halloween, like his red jumpsuit or his orange spacesuit.
Any character from The Pitt
This one feels a little bit like cheating, but there are so many possibilities from the show. If I listed them all, I would have a Top 50 list instead of just 10. With the ensemble cast having a total of two outfits to choose from (one from each season), it’s a simple yet effective costume to go for.
Donnie Darko (Donnie Darko)
Since this film just celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary and was re-released in theatres the first weekend of October, I have no doubt we will see this one. Not to mention, it is also perfectly fitting since, in the film, Donnie, played byJake Gyllenhaal, wears a black skeleton onesie and a grey hooded jacket to a Halloween party he and his sister throw near the end of the film.
Allie Hayes (Off Campus)
Played by Mika Abdalla in the Amazon Prime series, which is based on the book series with the same name. Allie wears many recognizable outfits throughout the show, giving lots of options to choose from for your costume.
Woody (Toy Story 5)
Another iconic character we see every year, but with the newest Toy Story movie having been released in June this year, I have a feeling we will be seeing this costume once again. But, for the couples out there, let’s make sure it’s Woody and Bo Peep, since people seem to forget Jessie and Woody are related.
Hopefully, when it turns November, these predictions will hold strong, and I won’t be completely wrong about all of them. Every year, one thing never changes: it’s a time for everyone to get out there and dress up. From new characters to iconic ones, to concept costumes, and even real people – I’m excited to see what people come up with this year. Remember to stay warm and eat lots of candy. Happy Halloween, everyone!
