Your Favorite Nightmares Are Coming to Cincinnati: HorrorHound Weekend Fall 2026

Written by Antonina Schubert

HorrorHound Weekend is getting ready to return to the Cincinnati area this September, bringing another weekend of horror, celebrity guests, film, cosplay, shopping, and plenty of ways for fans to celebrate everything they love about the genre. Taking place at the Sharonville Convention Center, HorrorHound Weekend Fall 2026 is already shaping up to be another incredible event, with an impressive guest lineup and a packed schedule of activities planned throughout the convention.

Having attended both the spring and fall HorrorHound conventions in the past, this is easily one of the conventions I always look forward to returning to. There is always something happening somewhere, whether you're meeting one of your favorite actors, sitting in on a Q&A, discovering a new horror film, wandering through the vendor floor, checking out the incredible cosplay, or realizing you somehow spent an hour looking at horror memorabilia you absolutely did not plan on buying. It has a little bit of everything, and that's a big part of what makes HorrorHound so much fun.

The celebrity lineup is already giving fans plenty of reasons to make the trip. Robert Englund, Bryce Dallas Howard, Malcolm McDowell, Dylan McDermott, Denis O'Hare, Finn Wittrock, Bonnie Aarons, and many more are scheduled to appear throughout the weekend. With a lineup this impressive, there is no shortage of guests to add to your must-meet list.

One thing I really appreciate about HorrorHound's website is how easy it makes it to explore the guest lineup before attending. Each guest has information about their career and some of the movies and television shows you may recognize them from, which is especially helpful if you know you recognize someone but can't quite place where you've seen them before. With so many guests attending, I definitely recommend taking some time to look through the full lineup before the weekend and deciding who you want to prioritize.

If meeting your favorite guests is at the top of your list, photo ops are already available to purchase online. Photo op tickets are separate from convention admission, so you'll need a valid HorrorHound Weekend ticket in order to participate. Each photo op ticket allows up to two adults and three children under 15 to be included in the photo. If you have a larger group, you'll need to purchase an additional photo op ticket. Photo op times will be announced closer to the event, so keep an eye on the schedule as the weekend approaches.

And if you've ever wanted to meet a favorite actor in one of their iconic looks, keep an eye on the individual photo op offerings. HorrorHound has had guests offer special photo experiences in character or in looks inspired by their films, which can make an already memorable photo op even more fun.

Photo ops aren't the only way to meet your favorite guests throughout the weekend. Guests will also have tables on the convention floor where fans can stop by, get memorabilia signed, snap a selfie, and, depending on how busy they are, have a little more time to chat one-on-one. 

If autographs and guest interactions are high on your list, make sure to bring some cash with you. Most guest tables are typically cash only, so having some on hand will make things much easier when you're ready to grab that autograph or selfie.

Of course, celebrity guests are only one part of what makes HorrorHound Weekend so much fun.

The HorrorHound Film Festival will once again be part of the event, giving fans an opportunity to check out films and discover new voices in the horror community. Your HorrorHound Weekend admission also includes access to the HorrorHound Film Festival and the HHW Q&A Panel Room, so fans can pack even more into their weekend without needing separate admission to those areas.

The tentative weekend schedule is already available, and several of the Q&A panels announced so far are focused on some major horror franchises and fan-favorite properties, including A Nightmare on Elm Street, Mortal Kombat, American Horror Story, Demons, and Silent Hill.

The Q&As are always one of my favorite parts of conventions like HorrorHound. They give fans the opportunity to hear stories from the people who actually worked on the films and shows they love, learn more about what happened behind the scenes, and, of course, ask those burning questions you've been waiting years to have answered. The schedule is still subject to change, but having a tentative schedule available this early makes it much easier to start figuring out how you want to spend your weekend.

Another major part of the HorrorHound experience is the vendor floor, and if you're anything like me, you may want to leave some extra room in your car.

There are always so many incredible vendors, artists, and creators throughout HorrorHound Weekend, with everything from horror memorabilia and collectibles to artwork, T-shirts, posters, handmade items, and plenty of things you probably didn't know you needed until you saw them sitting on a vendor's table. I've personally picked up enough memorabilia at HorrorHound over the years that my house is basically becoming a shrine to all things horror.

One booth I always recommend keeping an eye out for is Halftone Horror, which has previously had exclusive shirts inspired by some of the horror franchises featured at HorrorHound Weekend. If you're looking for something unique to take home, the vendor floor is definitely worth setting aside some time to explore.

If shopping isn't enough to convince you to spend the entire weekend at HorrorHound, there are plenty of other activities happening throughout the convention.

Ink Fusion Empire will be bringing tattoo artists to the convention, giving attendees the opportunity to get some new ink while they're there. With a range of artists and styles to choose from, this could be a fun option for anyone who has been waiting for the right opportunity to add a little more horror to their collection.

Then there's The Horrors of Cosplay, which is one of the events I'm personally most excited to see return.

If you've attended HorrorHound in the past, you already know just how incredible the cosplay can be. Fans put so much time, creativity, and craftsmanship into their costumes, and some of the creations I've seen at previous HorrorHound events have been seriously impressive. Walking around the convention floor and seeing everyone's interpretations of their favorite horror characters is one of those little things that makes the weekend so much fun.

I cannot wait to see what everyone comes up with this time!

If you've been working on a costume and want to compete, registration is currently open. So if you've been waiting for an excuse to finally show off that costume you've been working on, this is it.

HorrorHound is also bringing the party into the evening with Night Terrors, an after-hours concert and party giving fans another way to keep the weekend going after the convention floor closes. More details about the evening event and entertainment are worth watching for as the weekend gets closer.

Tickets and Weekend Information

If you're planning to attend, there are several admission options available depending on how much of the weekend you want to experience.

Friday: 5–10 p.m.$30 online | $40 at the door

Saturday: 11 a.m.–7 p.m.$40 online | $50 at the door

Sunday: 11 a.m.–5 p.m.$30 online | $40 at the door

Weekend Pass: $70 online | $80 at the door

VIP and Platinum passes for Fall 2026 are already SOLD OUT, but general admission tickets are still available online and at the door.

One of my favorite things about HorrorHound is actually its ticket policy. Discounted presale tickets are non-refundable, but if something comes up and you aren't able to attend the event you originally purchased your ticket for, HorrorHound allows you to hold onto that unused ticket and use it at the next available HorrorHound Weekend event.

That is something I don't see offered at many conventions, and I absolutely love it. It's especially helpful if you purchase tickets ahead of time and a guest you were hoping to meet ends up canceling. Instead of feeling like you've completely lost the money you spent on your ticket, you can hold onto it and use it at the next event, particularly if that guest is rescheduled.

The ticket does have to be used for that next available event or it will expire, so be sure to check the full ticket policy before making plans.

With so much happening throughout the weekend, I highly recommend looking over the tentative schedule before heading to the convention. Even if you're someone who normally likes to wander around and see where the weekend takes you, having a general idea of the panels, events, photo ops, and other activities you want to attend can save you from missing something you really wanted to see.

HorrorHound Weekend has always been one of those conventions where you can show up with a short list of things you want to do and somehow leave having experienced something completely different. Maybe you'll find a piece of memorabilia you've been hunting for, discover a new favorite artist, meet an actor you've loved for years, stumble into a panel you didn't expect to enjoy, or spend half the afternoon taking photos of some of the incredible cosplay walking around the convention floor.

HHW Fall 2026 is already shaping up to be another packed weekend, and with more guests and details still potentially to come, there is plenty to look forward to. Whether you're a lifelong horror fan, a collector, a cosplayer, a filmmaker, or someone who simply loves a good scary movie, HorrorHound Weekend is worth adding to your fall plans.

For tickets, the full guest lineup, photo ops, schedule, hotel information, and additional details, visit the official HorrorHound Weekend website.