Universal Orlando has introduced a new five-house R.I.P. Tour for Halloween Horror Nights 2026, offering guests a shorter and less expensive alternative to the event’s traditional premium tour.

The new experience allows guests to choose between two predetermined routes, named North and South, with each tour providing guided priority access to five of the ten haunted houses appearing at Universal Studios Florida this autumn.

Prices for the new five-house R.I.P. Tour begin at $299.99 (£225) per person, plus tax. Admission to Halloween Horror Nights is not included and must be purchased separately for the same event night.

How does the new five-house R.I.P. Tour work?

Guests booking the shortened R.I.P. Tour must select either the North or South route. Each itinerary includes five different haunted houses, meaning visitors will need to consider which route contains the experiences they most want to see before completing their booking.

The houses included in each itinerary are predetermined by Universal rather than selected individually by guests. The routes divide the complete ten-house Halloween Horror Nights lineup into two separate touring experiences.

As with Universal Orlando’s established R.I.P. Tour, guests will be accompanied by a dedicated guide and receive priority VIP entry to the houses included in their itinerary. Entry is provided once per house and remains subject to the planned tour route.

The new option is therefore aimed at visitors who want the convenience and reduced waiting associated with an R.I.P. Tour but may not need a guided experience covering every house at the event.

A more accessible premium option

R.I.P. Tours have traditionally represented one of the most expensive ways to experience Halloween Horror Nights. In return, guests receive a structured itinerary and priority entry that can remove much of the uncertainty involved in attempting to complete the entire event during a single night.

The five-house format lowers the starting cost of entering that premium tier, although the $299.99 price remains in addition to the cost of a Halloween Horror Nights admission ticket.

Prices and availability vary depending on the selected date, so guests attending on more popular nights may find that the final cost is higher than the advertised starting price.

The established R.I.P. Tour covering the wider event remains available, making the five-house edition an additional choice rather than a direct replacement. Visitors can now decide between a shorter guided route or the more comprehensive premium experience.

Will guests still be able to visit all ten houses?

Booking the five-house tour does not prevent guests from experiencing the remaining houses independently during the rest of their evening.

However, the tour’s priority entry benefit only applies to the five houses included in the selected North or South itinerary. Guests wanting to complete the opposite route will need to join the standard queues, purchase a separate Express Pass where available or book another suitable premium experience.

This could make the shorter tour particularly attractive to visitors who have already identified five priority houses and are comfortable exploring the remainder of the event at their own pace.

It could also appeal to returning guests using a multi-night ticket who do not feel under pressure to complete every house during one visit.

Halloween Horror Nights returns for its 35th year

Halloween Horror Nights 2026 will take place at Universal Studios Florida on selected nights from 28 August until 1 November.

This year marks the 35th edition of the Orlando event, with Universal promising ten haunted houses alongside scare zones, live entertainment, themed food and selected rides and attractions.

Universal has already begun revealing the experiences forming this year’s lineup, with additional details expected as the event’s opening night approaches.

Single-night tickets, packages and premium additions are now available, including Universal Express, R.I.P. Tours and Behind the Screams: Unmasking the Horror daytime tours.

Is the five-house R.I.P. Tour worth it?

The value of the new tour will depend heavily on the houses included in each route and how important priority entry is to each guest.

At a starting price of almost $300 before tax and event admission, it remains a significant upgrade. Visitors who only want shorter waits may find that an Express Pass offers greater freedom to create their own itinerary, while experienced HHN guests may prefer to manage the regular queues themselves.

The R.I.P. Tour provides something different, however. Its guided structure removes much of the planning from the evening and offers a more organised route through some of the event’s most popular attractions.

By introducing a five-house edition, Universal has created a middle ground for visitors interested in the VIP-style experience but unwilling to pay for the most comprehensive tour.

Bookings are now available through Universal Orlando, with prices and tour availability varying by event date.