Alton Towers Scarefest is back for 2026, bringing late-night rides, scare mazes, outdoor scare zones and family-friendly Halloween attractions to the Staffordshire resort.
This year's event runs on selected dates from 26 September through to 1 November, with the park staying open until 9pm on Scarefest nights.
Whether you are visiting for the scare mazes, taking the family for a lighter Halloween experience or simply want to ride some of Alton Towers' biggest attractions in the dark, a little planning can make a big difference.
Here is everything you need to know before visiting Scarefest 2026.
When is Alton Towers Scarefest 2026?
Scarefest takes place on 26-27 September, 2-4 October, 9-11 October and then every day from 16 October through to 1 November 2026.
On Scarefest dates, the theme park stays open until 9pm, giving visitors the chance to experience many of the major rides after dark.
That later closing time is one of the biggest reasons to visit. Attractions such as Wicker Man, Nemesis Reborn and The Smiler feel noticeably different once the park is dark, particularly if you normally only visit during standard daytime hours.
What scare mazes are at Scarefest 2026?
There are four main thrill scare mazes at Scarefest this year.
Final Exhibit is the major new addition for 2026. The maze takes guests into The Curator's forgotten collection, where each room reveals another part of a darker archive.
It joins returning attractions COMPOUND, Altonville Mine Tours: Tiny's Revenge and Edge of the Forest.
COMPOUND places guests inside a sinister scientific experiment, while Altonville Mine Tours returns with the Skin Snatchers storyline. Edge of the Forest takes visitors into the darker side of the Dark Forest area.
All four are recommended for guests aged 12 and over and require an additional ticket on top of normal theme park admission.
How much do the scare mazes cost?
If you want to do all four main scare mazes, the Thrills Combi currently starts from £43, with passholder pricing from £34.40.
Individual maze tickets are also available. Final Exhibit starts from £16, while Edge of the Forest, COMPOUND and Altonville Mine Tours start from £14 each.
There is also an Ultimate Thrills Combi from £95, which includes unlimited access to the four thrill mazes with Fastrack.
For most visitors who want to experience all four mazes once, the standard Thrills Combi is likely to make the most sense rather than buying them individually.
Are there any free scare attractions?
Yes. Scarefest also includes outdoor scare zones that are included with standard theme park admission.
Dark Hollow returns as a free-flowing scare zone set within a darker woodland environment, while Burial Ground brings back The Unchosen and its connection to the Beornen mythology around Wicker Man.
Unlike the paid mazes, you can simply walk through these areas as part of your normal visit.
They are particularly effective after sunset, so if you are trying to fit everything into one day, it can be worth leaving the scare zones until later in the evening.
What is there for families?
Scarefest is not just aimed at visitors looking for intense scares.
Amigos in the Afterlife returns with its colourful Dia de los Muertos-inspired setting, while Trick O' Treat Town with HARIBO and MAOAM offers a lighter Halloween walkthrough experience.
Both are recommended for guests aged six and over.
The Spooks Duo, which includes single entry to both family attractions, starts from £16, while individual tickets start from £10.
There are also Halloween shows, meet and greets, photo opportunities and family entertainment around the park, making it possible to have a Scarefest visit without doing any of the intense mazes.
Which rides are open in the dark?
One of Scarefest's biggest attractions is simply being able to stay in the park until 9pm.
Alton Towers specifically highlights Nemesis Reborn, Wicker Man and The Smiler as major rides to experience after dark.
Oblivion is another particularly good night ride, while Toxicator also operates into the evening.
Not every attraction necessarily stays open all day or every day, so it is worth checking the Alton Towers app during your visit for live ride availability and queue times.
Should you book the scare mazes in advance?
Yes, particularly if you are visiting on a Friday, Saturday or during the October half-term period.
The four main scare mazes use timed entry slots, typically available at 15-minute intervals, and popular times can disappear.
Booking them before your visit also makes planning the rest of your day much easier.
Try not to place every maze booking too close together. Alton Towers is a large park, and moving between Dark Forest, Forbidden Valley and other areas can take longer than expected once crowds build later in the day.
What time should you arrive?
If you want to combine normal rides with the Halloween attractions, arrive for park opening.
A Scarefest day can easily last until 9pm, so you have plenty of time, but the early part of the day is useful for getting several headline rides completed before crowds build.
As darkness approaches, shift your attention towards the attractions that benefit most from the Halloween atmosphere.
That means saving rides such as Wicker Man and Nemesis Reborn for at least one night-time ride if possible, while fitting your booked scare mazes around them.
What should you take with you?
October at Alton Towers can mean almost any weather.
A lightweight waterproof, warm extra layer and comfortable shoes are worth bringing, particularly if you plan to stay until closing.
A portable power bank is also useful because the Alton Towers app, mobile tickets, photos and regular queue-time checking can drain your phone over a long day.
Try to keep your bag relatively small. You will be walking a considerable distance and may be carrying it for more than ten hours.
Is Scarefest worth it if you do not like scare mazes?
Yes.
The atmosphere across Alton Towers changes significantly during Scarefest, particularly after dark, and riding the park's major roller coasters at night can justify the visit on its own.
The free scare zones and general Halloween entertainment also mean you can experience plenty of the event without buying additional maze tickets.
Families have their own dedicated attractions too, so Scarefest can work very differently depending on who you are visiting with.
Our tips for Scarefest 2026
Book any scare maze packages before your visit, arrive early and do not try to cram every paid attraction into a narrow two-hour window.
Use daylight for rides that do not benefit as much from darkness, then switch to Scarefest attractions and night rides later in the day.
If Wicker Man, Nemesis Reborn or The Smiler are priorities, try to experience at least one of them after sunset rather than doing everything first thing in the morning.
Most importantly, plan for a long day. Scarefest combines a normal Alton Towers visit with several extra hours of entertainment, so comfortable clothing, food breaks and a little flexibility will make the evening much more enjoyable.
Scarefest 2026 at a glance
Scarefest runs on selected dates from 26 September until 1 November 2026, with the park open until 9pm on event nights.
Standard theme park tickets currently start from £37 online, while packages including all four thrill scare mazes start from £80.
Whether you are visiting for the new Final Exhibit maze, returning favourites such as COMPOUND and Altonville Mine Tours or simply want to experience Alton Towers after dark, Scarefest remains one of the biggest dates in the UK theme park calendar.
