Halloween in January once again in the City of Wonder: The 2026 Halloween Party and Celebration show in Las Vegas

By: John Wallace

Las Vegas — the City of Wonder — isn’t just a place of neon lights, high stakes, and unforgettable nights. It is also a city where celebration ignores the usual rules of the calendar. Nowhere is this more exciting than during the phenomenon fondly called “Halloween in January.”

While the rest of the world packs away costumes after October 31, Las Vegas keeps the spooky spirit alive with a massive winter gathering dedicated entirely to Halloween and party culture. In January 2026, the tradition returned bigger than ever as the Halloween & Party Expo transformed the city into a global stage for creativity, costumes, and celebration.

Why Celebrate Halloween in January?

At first, Halloween after the New Year may sound unusual. The holiday is normally tied to autumn nights and pumpkin-filled streets. But Las Vegas has always done things differently. The city thrives on imagination, showmanship, and year-round entertainment, making it the perfect home for a mid-winter Halloween revival.

The Halloween & Party Expo has become the heartbeat of this movement. Rather than a simple trade show, it is a declaration that Halloween is not just one night — it is an industry, an art form, and a lifestyle. Designers, retailers, entertainers, and fans gather to shape the future of how the world will celebrate the spooky season.

From January 12 to 14, 2026, the World Market Center in Las Vegas became a playground of masks, makeup, décor, and dazzling new ideas. Thousands of attendees explored what Halloween 2026 will eventually look like months before the first jack-o’-lantern is carved.

More Than Costumes

Although costumes remain at the heart of the event, the Expo embraces every corner of celebration culture.

Visitors discovered:

Elaborate costumes ranging from classic monsters to futuristic characters
Professional makeup, prosthetics, and special-effects tools
Haunted house props and animatronics
Party decorations for birthdays, festivals, and themed events
Novelty items, accessories, and immersive experiences

Walking through the exhibit halls felt like stepping into dozens of mini Halloween worlds. One booth might showcase elegant masquerade designs while the next revealed terrifying creatures straight out of a horror film.

For retailers, this was the first look at products that will soon fill store shelves across the country. For creators, it was a chance to reveal months of hard work and watch the reactions of buyers and fellow artists.

A Meeting Place for Dreamers

Beyond products, the true magic of the Expo lies in the people it brings together.

Independent shop owners spoke with international manufacturers. Haunted attraction designers traded ideas with costume stylists. Event planners searched for inspiration for festivals, weddings, and theme parties. Everywhere, conversations sparked new partnerships.

Emerging designers were among the biggest stars. Many used the Expo as their launch pad, presenting bold concepts made from sustainable fabrics, interactive lighting, or technology that responds to movement and sound. These fresh voices proved that Halloween continues to evolve far beyond plastic masks and simple capes.

Even though it was January, the atmosphere felt like October at its peak — energetic, playful, and just a little mischievous.

Honoring the Best: The Spooky Awards

One of the highlights of the 2026 celebration was the Second Annual Spooky Awards. This special ceremony honored the most imaginative creations in the Halloween and party world.

Awards were presented for outstanding costume design, innovative décor, visual effects, and overall creativity. The winners represented the cutting edge of the industry — artisans who transform simple materials into unforgettable characters and environments.

The Spooky Awards have quickly become a crystal ball for upcoming trends. What shines on this stage often becomes the must-have item of the next Halloween season. More importantly, the event celebrates the passion and hard work behind an industry built on fun and fantasy.

Las Vegas: The Perfect Host

No city could host Halloween in January better than Las Vegas.

This is a place where everyday life already feels theatrical. Giant resorts resemble castles and pyramids, street performers become superheroes, and every night offers a new show. Halloween culture fits naturally into that landscape.

Visitors to the Expo often extend their stay to enjoy the city’s legendary restaurants, concerts, magic shows, and nightlife. The blend of business by day and entertainment by night turns the event into an unforgettable destination experience.

Las Vegas proves that Halloween doesn’t need cold weather or falling leaves. All it needs is imagination — and this city has plenty of that.

Shaping Halloween 2026

When the Expo doors closed, the influence of the event was only beginning.

Retailers left with orders that will define their fall collections. Theme parks and haunted attractions found props that will scare thousands. Party planners gathered ideas for weddings, birthdays, and community events.

The creativity displayed in January will echo throughout the year, eventually reaching neighborhoods, schools, and festivals around the world. In many ways, Halloween 2026 truly began in Las Vegas.

A Lifestyle, Not a Date

The biggest lesson from Halloween in January is simple: Halloween is more than a single evening.

It is self-expression, art, storytelling, and play. It brings people together to laugh, to be scared, to become someone else for a moment. The Expo captured all of that spirit under one roof.

Las Vegas once again proved that celebration has no season. Whether in October or January, the City of Wonder keeps the pumpkins glowing and the costumes ready.