With Halloween just days away, many people are scrambling to put the finishing touches on their costumes, and Google’s annual Frightgeist report offers a fascinating look at what’s capturing everyone’s attention this year. Based on U.S. search trends, the report reveals the costumes people are most eager to wear, shining a spotlight on everything from breakout horror characters and viral internet sensations to… dumplings?
The Frightgeist list is broken down into five categories: Top Trending, Kids, Pets, Duos, and Horror Movies. In this article, we’ll count down the top five costumes from each category, highlighting the characters and trends that are set to dominate Halloween celebrations this year.
The Top Trending Costumes of 2026
5. Lily Love Braids (from Poppy Playtime)
The doll-like horror-game character is popular for braid-focused looks.
4 Agamemnon from The Odyssey
Christopher Nolan’s adaptation is fueling Greek mythology costumes. Armour, cloaks, and helmets are easy to find and share.
3. Nikki from Obsession
The breakout character from the horror hit, instantly recognisable by the red-and-black zebra-print halter top, black shorts or bottoms, and a little fake blood. The look went viral after the film’s release.
2. NeeDoh
The squishy stress-relief fidget toy that exploded in popularity. People are turning the blob-like cubes into box costumes or inflatable-style looks.
1. Buddy the Unicorn
Number one by a wide margin. This is the deceptively cheerful orange unicorn host 1 from the 2026 horror-comedy film Buddy (directed by Casper Kelly of Too Many Cooks fame). Searches for “Buddy unicorn costume” overtook the more common “kids unicorn costume” for the first time.
Overall top trending kids’ costumes
5. Ash Ketchum (from Pokémon)
The main protagonist of the Pokémon anime, whose dream is to become a Pokémon Master.
4. Shakira
Known for her distinctive voice, energetic dance style, and global influence in both Latin and English-language music, she is one of the best-selling female artists of all time.
3. A dumpling
Normally made from dough, often wrapped around a filling such as meat, vegetables, seafood, or cheese…
Thesedays better knwon in squish form!
2 Ella Langley
One of country music’s fast-rising stars. Her Halloween costume searches dominate Google trending graphs as much as her songs like “Choosin’ Texas’ domiates the music charts
1. Dolly Parton
The late Dolly Parton is one of music’s most iconic legends. With a career spans more than six decades. Her iconic look is the #1 kids’ Halloween costume trend this year.
Top 5 Pet costumes.
5. Princess doughnut (From Dungeon Crawler Carl)
A glamorous, highly intelligent show cat who is thrust into a deadly alien-run dungeon alongside her owner Carl
4. Diet Coke
While the Pepsi vs. Coke debate might still go strong, Diet Coke is the soft drink that most pets will be dressing up as this year. The benefit to a coke style costume is you can add your own cheeky nickname to the can like “bogan” for laughs.
3. Bullseye (from Toy Story)
The loyal toy horse from Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story franchise, first appearing in Toy Story 2 as part of Woody’s Roundup gang. Though he doesn’t speak, Bullseye is known for his playful personality, incredible speed, and unwavering devotion to Woody, often acting more like an affectionate puppy than a horse.
2. Dolly Parton
Yes, she’s so iconic, even the pets want to be her.
1. Centipede
Centipede searches this Halloween season are at 47% of their all-time peak. On Instagram AI videos of cats and dogs dressing up as a centipede are going viral.
Although the videos aren’t real the costume is gaining popularity for how easy it is.
Top 5 Duo costumes
5. Hannah and Garrett (from off campus)
Hannah is a smart, driven music student, while Garrett is the confident captain of the college hockey team; their fake tutoring arrangement gradually turns into a genuine romance as they help each other overcome personal insecurities and past challenges.
4. JLo and Maverick (from Off Campus)
Their relationship combines humour, chemistry, and emotional growth as they navigate friendship, romance, and the challenges of college life.
3. Nikki and Bear (from Obsession)
Nikki Freeman and Bear (Baron Bailey) are the central characters in the horror film Obsession. Nikki is a kind, independent young woman, while Bear is her longtime friend who secretly harbours romantic feelings for her. Their lives spiral into a nightmare after Bear makes a supernatural wish that makes Nikki dangerously and unnaturally obsessed with him, driving the film’s psychological horror. Nikki has recently become a Fortnite skin as her “no no no” trend continues to boom on platforms like TikTok.
2 . Cyclops and Jean Grey (from X-Men)
Two of the most iconic members of Marvel’s X-Men. Cyclops (Scott Summers) is a powerful mutant who can project devastating optic blasts from his eyes. At the same time, Jean Grey is a highly gifted telepath and telekinetic whose powers later connect her to the cosmic Phoenix Force. Their long-running romance has been central to X-Men stories, marked by deep loyalty, personal sacrifice, and some of the team’s most dramatic moments.
1. Disco Scooby and Shaggy
The disco disguises from Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed: bold suits, gold chains, fedoras, and huge afros—very 70s… enough said.
Top Halloween costumes from movies
5. Brute
Brute is a masked killer from the 1976 horror film Brute, a retro-style slasher set in 1976. The character is known for his intimidating appearance, brutal violence, and relentless pursuit of victims, making him a standout figure among recent horror movie villains and a popular Halloween costume choice.
4. Passenger
After a young couple witnesses a mysterious highway accident, the Passenger begins haunting their road trip, appearing as a sinister supernatural presence that stalks travellers and brings deadly consequences.
3. The Whisper Man
The Whisper Man is the infamous serial killer at the centre of the Netflix thriller The Whisper Man. Known for whispering to children before abducting them, his crimes haunt a small town years after his capture, sparking a chilling investigation when a new child goes missing and the killer’s influence appears to return.
2. Other Mommy
Other Mother, or Beldam, is the primary antagonist of the animated dark fantasy horror film Coraline. She appears as a seemingly perfect, loving version of Coraline’s mother in a parallel world. Still, she is actually a manipulative and sinister creature who lures children in and traps them forever.
1. Buddy
Not only the overall Halloween costume winner but also the #1 in the horror film category.
Buddy searches this Halloween season are at 100% of their all-time peak.
Buddy is searched most in: Clarksburg-Weston, WV
Want to see the full list?
If you’re curious what else people are dressing up as this Halloween, Google’s full Frightgeist rankings reveal the costumes generating the most buzz online. Although the data comes from U.S. searches, it provides a surprisingly accurate look at what’s dominating pop culture right now, with many of the same movies, shows and viral trends resonating with Australian audiences.
https://frightgeist.withgoogle.com/
