Long Island Haunted House Season Kicks Off as Halloween Attractions Begin Opening Across Nassau and Suffolk for 2026

LONG ISLAND, NY – Haunted house season is getting underway on Long Island, with the first major attractions opening in September and a growing lineup of haunted houses, trails and Halloween events preparing for October.

Bayville Scream Park opened for the 2026 season Friday, September 18, from 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., according to the attraction’s published calendar. Gateway’s Haunted Playhouse in Bellport follows on September 25, with performances scheduled on select nights through November 1.

LongIslandGuide.com is tracking the season through its Haunted Houses on Long Island directory and interactive map, which currently includes 19 scare-oriented attractions across Nassau and Suffolk counties. The list ranges from large commercial attractions to theatrical haunts, haunted trails and smaller community events.

The early openings reflect a broader shift in Halloween from a single October holiday into a season that increasingly begins in September. The National Retail Federation reported that as of early August 2026, one-quarter of consumers had already purchased at least one Halloween item. NRF’s full 2026 Halloween consumer survey is expected to be released later in September.

Haunted Houses Draw Millions of Americans

The latest complete NRF Halloween survey provides some indication of the size of the audience. In 2025, 73% of U.S. consumers surveyed said they planned to celebrate Halloween, while 24% planned to visit a haunted house. Halloween spending was projected to reach a record $13.1 billion, including spending on costumes, candy, decorations and other holiday purchases.

The 2025 survey, conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics for NRF, included 8,045 consumers and had a margin of error of plus or minus 1.1 percentage points.

Haunted attractions also represent a sizable seasonal industry. America Haunts, a haunted-attraction industry organization, estimates that more than 1,200 paid haunted attractions operate across the United States, along with more than 300 amusement facilities offering Halloween events and more than 3,000 charity-run attractions. The organization estimates that a typical paid haunted attraction draws about 8,000 guests during its season, although attendance varies considerably by market and attraction size.

On Long Island, the season extends well beyond traditional haunted houses. Attractions include professionally produced theatrical experiences, scream parks, haunted woods and trails, historic properties and community-run events. Gateway’s Haunted Playhouse, for example, is produced by The Gateway performing arts organization and uses professional actors, theatrical designers and production staff to create a new walkthrough experience each year.

More Long Island attractions will begin opening as September turns to October, with many operating only on selected nights and weekends. Dates, hours and availability can change throughout the season.

Visitors can find locations and updated information through the Long Island haunted house map and 2026 directory, which covers attractions throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties.

With the first major haunts opening and October approaching, Long Island’s 2026 haunted house season is officially underway, with the busiest stretch still ahead in the weeks leading up to Halloween.