Halloween lands on a Saturday this year, which makes 2026 ideal for a haunted getaway. Trick-or-treating may be an American habit, but the holiday’s roots stretch across centuries and continents. Around the world, people honor the dead, welcome winter and dress up in wildly different ways. Pack your passport, because these 10 destinations offer far more than candy.
Several milestones make this season special. Derry, Northern Ireland, celebrates 40 years of its Halloween festival. Hong Kong launches its first citywide Halloween month. Tokyo, however, asks visitors to leave the street party behind. Meanwhile, Nov. 1 falls on a Sunday, so many travelers can stretch the holiday into a long weekend.
Japan: Costumes, Crowds and New Rules
Start in Tokyo, where Halloween resembles a citywide fashion show. Japan embraced the holiday as a costume party rather than a candy hunt. For years, enormous crowds packed Shibuya Crossing in elaborate outfits. Now, however, the ward urges good manners under a new slogan, “Goodbye Bad Halloween.” As a result, authorities will divert traffic around Shibuya Station from the evening of Oct. 30 until early Nov. 1. What’s more, street drinking stays illegal in Shibuya year-round, and Shinjuku restricts it on Halloween night. Instead, join an organized event. For instance, the Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival runs activities from Oct. 30 through Nov. 1. Before then, the Omotesando pumpkin parade rolls through Harajuku on Oct. 25. Tokyo Disney Resort and Universal Studios Japan in Osaka also stage large Halloween events all month. Costume shops in Harajuku and Akihabara supply everything from wigs to full mascot suits, so even last-minute visitors can join the fun.
China: Haunted Mazes and a Hong Kong Party
China’s Halloween scene thrives on theme parks and cosplay. Hong Kong leads the way with its first citywide Halloween month. The tourism board promises district-wide cosplay parties that build toward a grand finale on Halloween night, Oct. 31. Ocean Park’s Halloween Fest runs from Sept. 5 through Nov. 1. This year, it debuts a collaboration with singer Jackson Wang. Hong Kong Disneyland also adds its own Halloween Time through Nov. 1.
On the mainland, Universal Beijing Resort offers five haunted mazes and four scare zones. Shanghai Disney Resort also hosts Spook-tacular Days from Oct. 4 through Nov. 1. Anime and game characters make popular costumes, so expect elaborate cosplay at every turn. Keep in mind that Halloween is a modern import here. China’s traditional ghost season, the Hungry Ghost Festival, arrives in late summer. Book park tickets early, since the busiest nights sell out.
Mexico: Día de los Muertos, A Joyful Remembrance
Mexico saves its grandest fall celebration for Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. Despite the skeletons, this holiday is warm and joyful, not scary. Families build ofrendas, or altars, with marigolds, candles and photos of loved ones.
Oaxaca offers the most traditional experience, and its celebration runs Oct. 31 through Nov. 2, with an evening parade on Nov. 1. Cemetery vigils also run on Nov. 1 and 2. Mexico City, meanwhile, stages its Great Day of the Dead Parade along Paseo de la Reforma in early November. Check the city’s official schedule for the exact date. For a quieter night, head to San Andrés Mixquic on the city’s southern edge. Sample pan de muerto, a sweet bread, from street vendors. Pack comfortable shoes, because parades and cemetery visits involve long walks. Nov. 1 and 2 fall on a Sunday and a Monday this year, so reserve early.
Related: Where to Celebrate Día de los Muertos in America
Ireland: the Birthplace of Halloween
Ireland claims Halloween as its own, and history backs up the boast. The holiday grew from Samhain, a Celtic festival that marked the shift from light to dark. In 2026, Derry Halloween celebrates its 40th anniversary from Oct. 28 through 31. Organizers describe Derry’s festival as Europe’s largest, and it closes with a carnival parade and fireworks over the River Foyle on Halloween night. This year, Derry also adds a permanent Halloween mural and a new Samhain experience.
Meanwhile, the Púca Festival fills Trim and Athboy in County Meath over Halloween weekend. Fire and folklore sit at the heart of its processions. Confirm exact dates on the festival website, since listings vary. In Dublin, the Bram Stoker Festival fills the October bank holiday weekend with gothic events. Pack a rain jacket, since late October weather turns damp quickly.
Scotland: Fire on Calton Hill
Edinburgh answers Halloween with drums and flames. On Saturday, Oct. 31, the Beltane Fire Society stages its Samhuinn Fire Festival atop Calton Hill, a landmark overlooking the city. Hundreds of performers act out the death of summer and the arrival of winter. Gates open at 6:30 p.m., and organizers light the bonfire at 7:45 p.m. Check ticket availability right away, because one local guide reports the event has sold out.
If you miss out, book an underground vault tour in the Old Town instead. Those tours run all month, with special Halloween programming from Oct. 27 through 31. Paisley, near Glasgow, also stages a Halloween festival with a parade and street performers.
Guatemala: Giant Kites for the Dead
Guatemalans send their remembrance skyward on Nov. 1. Giant kites, or barriletes gigantes, take over Sumpango and Santiago Sacatepéquez. Some of these kites measure more than 30 feet across. In 2024, UNESCO added the giant kite-making technique to its list of intangible cultural heritage. Santiago’s festival reaches its 127th edition this year.
Because Nov. 1 is a Sunday and a national holiday, expect heavy crowds. Arrive early, and confirm flight times locally, since some years the kites fly on Nov. 2. At lunch, try fiambre, a colorful cold salad that families prepare for the day. Antigua, less than an hour away, makes a convenient base. Also, bring cash, sunscreen and patience for long lines.
Germany: Castle Scares and Quiet Candles
Germany splits its season between spooky fun and solemn tradition. Burg Frankenstein, a hilltop castle near Darmstadt, hosts a well-known Halloween festival each autumn that draws large crowds who come for costumes, scares and castle views. As for Nuremberg Castle, it will host not only candlelight concerts but also Halloween night tours within the medieval fortress.
Allerheiligen, or All Saints’ Day, brings a quieter mood on Nov. 1. However, it is a public holiday only in several states, including Bavaria. Families visit cemeteries with candles and wreaths. As a result, expect closed shops and hushed streets in those regions. For an easy base, choose Frankfurt, less than an hour from Darmstadt.
Philippines: Undas by candlelight
Filipinos observe Undas on Nov. 1 and 2, and the holiday feels more like a family reunion than a solemn vigil. Families travel home, clean the graves and often stay in the cemetery overnight. They share meals, sing songs and light candles for relatives. Meanwhile, Oct. 31 brings trick-or-treating in malls and neighborhoods, a nod to American influence. By the way, if a local family invites you to join, accept, since hospitality runs deep. Travel early, because roads, buses and flights fill up fast around the holiday. Also, pack water, an umbrella and patience for crowds.
Poland: a Sea of Candles
Poland turns its cemeteries into glowing landscapes on November 1. On All Saints’ Day, families light candles, or znicze, on relatives’ graves. Visit at dusk, when thousands of flames flicker among the headstones and the entire cemetery glows with a warm, golden light. For example, Kraków’s Rakowicki Cemetery and Warsaw’s Powązki Cemetery draw especially large crowds. In addition, keep your voice low and your camera discreet. Dress warmly, because November evenings turn cold. Then, on Nov. 2, All Souls’ Day continues the remembrance.
Spain: Chestnuts, Sweets and Ghost Stories
In Catalonia, families celebrate La Castanyada on the night of Oct. 31. Traditionally, locals roast chestnuts and sip sweet wine. They also eat panellets, small almond sweets. Elsewhere, bakeries sell huesos de santo, marzipan pastries that look like bones. Theaters, meanwhile, revive Don Juan Tenorio, a classic play about a rake and his ghosts. Visit a cemetery on Nov. 1 to see families leave fresh flowers. In short, try a pastry and catch a performance for a very Spanish Halloween.
Related: America’s Best Cities for Halloween
About the Author
Randy Yagi is an award-winning writer who served as the National Travel Writer for CBS from 2012 to 2019. More than 900 of his stories still appear in syndication across 23 CBS websites, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco. During his peak years with CBS, Randy had a reported digital audience reach of 489 million and 5.5 million monthly visitors. Additionally, his stories have appeared in the Daily Meal, CBS News, CBS Radio, Engadget, NBC.com, NJ.com, MSN.com and Radio.com. He earned a Media Fellowship from Stanford University and is a Bay Area Travel Writers (BATW) member.
