Google's most popular Halloween costumes for 2026 include "Obsession," "Odyssey," and "Children."

Hollywood is providing plenty of inspiration for Halloween this year, though some of the most searched-for 2026 costumes come from much stranger corners of the internet. Google has unveiled its most popular Halloween costume searches ahead of October 31, with characters from horror movies, video games and viral sensations dominating this year's list. Leadership […]

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Hollywood is providing plenty of inspiration for Halloween this year, though some of the most searched-for 2026 costumes come from far stranger corners of the internet.

Google has unveiled its most popular Halloween costume searches ahead of October 31, with characters from horror movies, video games and viral sensations dominating this year's list. Buddy the Unicorn, the happy-go-lucky mascot from Casper Kelly's horror movie "Buddy," leads the rankings, followed by popular toy NeeDoh and Nicky, the love interest at the center of Carrie Barker's horror film "Obsession." RELATED STORIES 'Intimacy coordinators don't get enough credit,' says Cynthia Erivo: 'They're often given a hard time' but 'what they do is important' SNL U.K. Cynthia Erivo selects Danny Dyer and James Norton as the next presenters

Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey also makes an appearance, with Agamemnon coming in fourth, while the rest of the top 10 includes characters from Poppy Playtime, Minecraft and the Disney franchise, along with musician Oliver Terry.

Rankings are based on the search terms that experienced the largest increase in traffic compared to the previous comparable period, not the most searched outfits overall. In other words, they provide a snapshot of which pop culture references are gaining momentum in the run-up to Halloween.

The data also points to some popular couple outfits, including Cyclops and Jean Gray from "X-Men," Nikki and Bear from "Obsession," and several pairings inspired by Prime Video's hockey romance "Off Campus."

Check out Google's top 10 Halloween costumes for 2026 below.

First place goes to the nightmarish spell of "Buddy," Casper Kelly's horror film starring Christian Milioti, Topher Grace, and Keegan-Michael Kay. Kay plays Unicorn, a brightly colored children's TV host whose seemingly wholesome world takes a disturbing turn. The character's big orange dress and purple heart are a disturbing alternative to the usual Halloween mascots.

The stress-relieving toy has become the inspiration for unlikely Halloween costumes after emerging as a viral hit among young consumers. Produced by Schylling, NeeDoh comes in a variety of colorful, squeezable shapes, and its popular cute cube is among the most recognizable versions.

Nicky Ind Navarre is an obvious contender for Halloween of the Year, thanks to the success of Carrie Barker's supernatural horror film Obsession. The character's red and black animal-print top and black shorts have become a recognizable look from the film, while NBCUniversal has released formal outfits inspired by Nicky and her dangerous counterpart, Bear, played by Michael Johnston.

Christopher Nolan's Greek epic is opening for Halloween inspiration, with Agamemnon in fourth place among Google's most popular costume searches. The mythical king is one of the characters in Nolan's successful adaptation of Homer's "Odyssey," which brought ancient Greek mythology back into the pop culture conversation.

The Poppy Playtime horror video game franchise continues its Halloween inspiration with Lily Lovebirds, a doll-like character introduced in the show's fifth season. His unsettling appearance fits well into this growing line of toy-inspired horror characters.

Musician and internet personality Oliver Terry is another popular choice thanks to his distinctive visual identity. Her bowl hairdo, voluminous dresses, and deliberately eccentric styling make for a fairly recognizable outfit without much explanation.

The gaming world has reached another milestone with Verity, a character associated with the viral horror series "Minecraft." The mysterious smiling yellow virtual assistant has gained a following through online gaming content, giving the sandbox game a more disturbing Halloween presence.

The hero of Matt Dinniman's hit fantasy series Dungeon Crawler Carl is also on the list. The story follows Carl, an ex-Coast Guard member who is forced to navigate a deadly, game-like dungeon alongside his cat, Princess Donut. Its growing popularity has made this character another genre-bending contender for Halloween celebrations.

Scooby-Doo never really goes out of style, but this year, Google rankings show that a disco-themed spin on the classic cartoon character is on the rise. The outfit also tops the company's list of pairings to pair with Scooby's old companion, Shaggy.

Disney's "Descendants" franchise ends the top 10 with Hazel Hook starring Kiara Romero in 2026's "Descendants: A Wicked Wonderland." Captain Hook's Daughter is one of the newest additions to the musical fantasy series that continues to inspire Halloween costumes for young audiences.