Universal Fan Fest Nights Is Back — And This Year's Lineup Is Even Bigger

If you were on the fence about a Universal Studios Hollywood trip this spring, consider this your sign to book it. Universal Fan Fest Nights returns for its second year starting April 23, 2026 — and based on what we’re seeing in the full lineup, this year’s event makes last year look like a warm-up.

According to Inside Universal, the after-hours event runs on select nights through May 16, with dates across late April and early May: April 23-25, May 1-3, May 7-9, and May 14-16.

What Makes Fan Fest Nights Worth It

This is a separately ticketed, after-hours event — meaning the regular day crowds are gone and the park shifts into a different gear entirely. Last year’s debut introduced the concept of bringing immersive fandom experiences to Universal’s Hollywood campus, and guests clearly responded. This year, they’ve expanded nearly every corner of it.

Here’s what’s on offer for 2026:

Forbidden Forest: Search for the Hippogriff — This is the big new addition. A guided 12-minute walk-through adventure set in the Wizarding World’s Forbidden Forest, where guests help locate a lost Hippogriff with a 20-foot wingspan. If you’ve ever wanted to feel like you actually stepped inside Hogwarts grounds after dark, this is about as close as it gets.

Scooby-Doo Meets the Universal Monsters: Mystery on the Backlot — An immersive walk-through on the Studio Backlot where guests solve a mystery alongside the Scooby Gang while running into classic Universal Monsters. The experience features rotating endings each night, which gives it genuine replay value.

One Piece: Grand Pirate Show — A 20-minute live-action show at the WaterWorld venue featuring Luffy and the Straw Hat Crew, with themed food and beverages in the surrounding area. One Piece’s fanbase is massive and fiercely devoted, and this kind of dedicated show experience is exactly what that audience has been waiting for.

Dungeons & Dragons: Secrets of Waterdeep — A returning fan favorite from last year, now expanded with enhanced interactivity and new puzzles. If you attended in 2025, it’s worth another look.

Super Nintendo World: Colorful Yoshi Celebration — Five differently colored Yoshis, special photo ops, and clue-solving to unlock them. A lighter, family-friendly addition that complements the deeper immersive experiences nicely.

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Short Film — A subtitled CG anime screening at DreamWorks Theatre, rounding out a lineup that genuinely spans fandoms.

Who Should Plan Around This

Fan Fest Nights is built for the enthusiast traveler — the person who doesn’t just want to ride the rides but wants to feel genuinely transported into a story. If that’s you, or someone in your group, this event warrants building an entire trip around it.

For families with kids who are Harry Potter fans, the Forbidden Forest experience alone may be the draw. For anime fans or tabletop gaming enthusiasts, the One Piece show and the expanded D&D experience offer something you won’t find at the park any other time of year.

Tickets are currently on sale through Universal Studios Hollywood’s website, and an Ultimate Fandom Pass is available for guests who want to attend multiple event nights. Given that the event runs on select nights only — not every night through May 16 — it’s worth confirming your specific travel dates align before booking anything else.

Spring is already a busy season at Universal. An after-hours event that clears out the day crowd and drops you into this kind of lineup? That’s a real value, and not something we’d wait on.