Halloween Horror Nights is Universal’s annual horror event, and 2026 marks its 35th year at Universal Studios Florida. The event runs on select nights, with Orlando opening on August 28 and Universal Studios Hollywood opening on September 3.
Unlike a movie or series, this event has no single official soundtrack album. Its music lives inside the haunted houses, scare zones, and live shows.
The most documented score work comes from guitarist Slash, who has composed music for the Hollywood event for years. For 2026, he returns with an original score for the new KILLceañera house, and Ice Nine Kills contributes new music to the Hollywood park’s revamped Terror Tram.
Halloween Horror Nights Soundtrack Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Event Name | Halloween Horror Nights |
| Organizer | Universal Destinations & Experiences |
| 2026 Orlando Dates | August 28 – November 1, 2026 (select nights) |
| 2026 Hollywood Dates | September 3 – November 1, 2026 (select nights) |
| Featured Composer | Slash (Hollywood houses) |
| 2026 New Original Score | Slash’s “15 Candles” for the KILLceañera house |
| 2026 New House Music | Ice Nine Kills for the revamped Terror Tram starring Art the Clown |
| Best-Known Album | SLASH Music of Universal Studios Hollywood – Halloween Horror Nights |
| Label | Snakepit Records LLC / Deko Entertainment |
| Format | Limited-edition vinyl (released September 5, 2024) |
| Total Tracks | 11 |
Halloween Horror Nights Soundtrack Overview
There is no one official score for the whole event. Each haunted house carries its own sound design, and some houses get original music.
The clearest example is Slash’s work for the Universal Monsters houses at Universal Studios Hollywood. In 2018, a collection of his maze music was shared on Spotify as a seven-track score.
A later collection, titled SLASH Music of Universal Studios Hollywood – Halloween Horror Nights, gathered 11 of his compositions on vinyl. It was sold onsite at the Hollywood park from September 5 through November 3, 2024, through Snakepit Records LLC and Deko Entertainment.
The overall tone is gothic, guitar-driven, and built to raise tension rather than play as background music.
Who Composed the Halloween Horror Nights Soundtrack?
Slash is the Grammy-winning guitarist best known for his work with Guns N’ Roses. He is also a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee.
His Halloween Horror Nights partnership began with the 2014 Clowns 3D maze, which produced the track “Sweet Licks.” He later returned for the Universal Monsters houses.
For 2026, Hollywood’s KILLceañera house is billed as “Music by SLASH,” and it introduces a new original song, “15 Candles,” written for the house.
Other houses use music in different ways. Orlando’s Sinners house reportedly draws on cues from the film, which was scored by Ludwig Göransson. Hollywood’s Terror Tram starring Art the Clown, meanwhile, carries new original music written by metalcore band Ice Nine Kills.
Halloween Horror Nights Official Tracklist
A full, officially verified 2026 house-by-house tracklist has not been published. The one confirmed, released album tied to the event is Slash’s 11-track vinyl, listed below with its running times as published by Deko Entertainment:
| # | Track | Side | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Universal Monsters Rising | A | – |
| 2 | Live Again | A | 3:15 |
| 3 | The Monster Reborn | A | 3:07 |
| 4 | The Gypsy Theme | A | 3:17 |
| 5 | “Sweet Licks” | A | 4:16 |
| 6 | Dracula’s Brides | A | 2:50 |
| 7 | Danse of the Dead | B | 4:23 |
| 8 | Kharis the Mummy | B | 3:58 |
| 9 | Silent Screams | B | 5:14 |
| 10 | We Belong Dead | B | 4:46 |
| 11 | The Final Scare | B | 1:52 |
A full tracklist for the 2026 KILLceañera score, including “15 Candles,” has not been released separately from the house experience.
Score Highlights
“Sweet Licks” is the track that started the Slash and Halloween Horror Nights partnership. It builds a creepy carnival mood for a family of twisted clowns.
The Universal Monsters scores are the centerpiece of Slash’s work. They aim to give each classic monster its own musical identity — tracks like “Kharis the Mummy,” “Dracula’s Brides,” and “We Belong Dead” each build a theme around a specific monster.
The 2024 Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines house, featuring female monsters such as the Bride of Frankenstein, also carried a new Slash score. For 2026, “15 Candles” continues that pattern with an original piece written specifically for the KILLceañera house.
Halloween Horror Nights Licensed Songs and Film Cues (2026)
Universal says the Sinners house in Orlando uses film-linked cues, including “Surreal Montage,” “I Lied to You,” and “Rocky Road to Dublin.” The chorus of “I Lied to You” plays as guests approach the house’s juke joint scene, and “Rocky Road to Dublin” drives a later moment in the maze. Music is central to that house rather than incidental.
Orlando also features a house focused on Ozzy Osbourne, with music from his solo career playing throughout.
At Universal Studios Hollywood, the park’s Terror Tram has been rebuilt around Art the Clown from the Terrifier films, and metalcore band Ice Nine Kills composed new original music for the ride-through experience.
The event’s live entertainment includes Stranger Things: Return to Hawkins, a music-filled look back at all five seasons of the Netflix series.
A complete list of licensed songs for every 2026 house has not been confirmed.
Slash Halloween Horror Nights Collaborations
| Year / Project | Details |
|---|---|
| 2014 | Clowns 3D maze, first collaboration, track “Sweet Licks” |
| 2018 | Universal Monsters maze score released on Spotify (seven tracks) |
| 2024 | Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines, plus the 11-track vinyl released September 5, 2024 |
| 2026 | KILLceañera: Music by SLASH, featuring the new original song “15 Candles” (Universal Studios Hollywood) |
Where to Listen to the Halloween Horror Nights Soundtrack
Slash’s Universal Monsters score was released on Spotify in 2018. The 11-track vinyl was sold onsite at Universal Studios Hollywood from September 5 through November 3, 2024, rather than through general retail. Official streaming links for the 2026 house music — including “15 Candles” and the Ice Nine Kills Terror Tram score — have not been announced, so check Universal’s official channels and your preferred music streaming app for updates. For more soundtrack guides, browse A2Z Soundtrack.
FAQs
Who composed the Halloween Horror Nights soundtrack?
There is no single composer for the whole event. Guitarist Slash is the most prominent name, scoring Hollywood houses since 2014, and Ice Nine Kills wrote new music for the 2026 Terror Tram.
Is there an official Halloween Horror Nights soundtrack album?
Yes, in a limited form. SLASH Music of Universal Studios Hollywood – Halloween Horror Nights is an 11-track vinyl of his haunted house music, released September 5, 2024.
How many tracks are on the Slash vinyl, and what are they?
It contains 11 tracks: “Universal Monsters Rising,” “Live Again,” “The Monster Reborn,” “The Gypsy Theme,” “Sweet Licks,” “Dracula’s Brides,” “Danse of the Dead,” “Kharis the Mummy,” “Silent Screams,” “We Belong Dead,” and “The Final Scare.”
When does Halloween Horror Nights 2026 run?
Orlando runs on select nights from August 28 to November 1, 2026. Hollywood runs on select nights from September 3 to November 1, 2026.
Which 2026 house features music by Slash?
KILLceañera: Music by SLASH at Universal Studios Hollywood, which introduces his new original song “15 Candles.”
Is the music from the Sinners house in the 2026 event?
Universal says that house includes cues from the film, such as “Surreal Montage” and “I Lied to You,” both scored by Ludwig Göransson.
What new music is at Halloween Horror Nights 2026?
Slash wrote “15 Candles” for the new KILLceañera house, and metalcore band Ice Nine Kills composed original music for Universal Studios Hollywood’s revamped Terror Tram starring Art the Clown.
Where can I stream the music?
Slash’s 2018 Universal Monsters score was released on Spotify. The 2024 vinyl was sold only onsite, and 2026’s new house music has no official streaming release yet.
Related reading: Sinners Soundtrack (2025), Stranger Things Season 5 Soundtrack, and the Streaming hub for where to find official music releases.