Pinhead Invades HHN
Universal Orlando Unveils Hellraiser Haunted House for 35th Halloween Horror Nights
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Key Points
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Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights marks its 35th year, with the Hellraiser house running Aug. 28–Nov. 1 in Orlando and Sept. 3–Nov. 1 in Hollywood.
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The Hellraiser attraction is named 'Sinners' and will feature Pinhead, with the event’s coast-to-coast lineup also including Vecna from Stranger Things, Jack the Clown, Doctor Oddfellow, and H.R. Bloodengutz.
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Hellraiser: Revival, the video game adaptation, is scheduled to release on October 8, with Doug Bradley providing voice work for Pinhead.
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Limited-edition merchandise tied to the HHN Hellraiser houses includes a T-shirt and a Pinhead acrylic figure compatible with the Infernal Carnival collectible display, with online sales starting at 9 a.m. PST on shopUniversal.com.
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For HHN 2026, Universal plans an Infernal Carnival of Nightmares with about 10 haunted houses (including Sinners, Stranger Things, MADLANDS: Caged Cannibals, Cybergoria, and an H.R. Bloodengutz house) and rumors of an It house.
For the first time in the franchise's nearly 40-year history, Pinhead and the Cenobites are coming to Universal Studios' Halloween Horror Nights. Universal confirmed today that a new haunted house called "Sinners" will anchor both its Orlando and Hollywood events this fall, with Orlando opening August 28 and Hollywood following on September 3, according to Fangoria and ClickOrlando.
The announcement lands on the same day that limited-edition merchandise — including a Pinhead acrylic figure and "Sinners" T-shirts — goes on sale at shopUniversal.com. Orlando's run spans 48 nights through November 1, a record length for the event, Dread Central reports.
Inside the Sinners House: Cenobites Meet the Juke Joint
The "Sinners" attraction is more than a straight Hellraiser adaptation. Fangoria reports it blends the 1930s juke-joint setting of Ryan Coogler's recent film with the trans-dimensional horror of Pinhead — a mashup where vampires and Cenobites collide. The house walks guests through key locations from the first three films, including Frank Cotton's attic, the Channard Institute, and the Labyrinth.
Doug Bradley, who originated the role of Pinhead in 1987, is back to lend his voice to the attraction. "To return to the Labyrinth in this dual capacity — both in the fog of the parks and the digital realm — is a homecoming for the character," Bradley told Dread Central. Clive Barker, the franchise's creator, consulted on the house to keep it true to the trilogy's themes of pain and pleasure.
HHN 35 Lineup: Jack the Clown, Vecna, and a Record Run
Halloween Horror Nights 35 is the biggest version of the event yet. Universal is staging about 10 haunted houses in Orlando, according to WESH. The coast-to-coast lineup also includes a Stranger Things 5 house featuring Vecna, a new H.R. Bloodengutz attraction, MADLANDS: Caged Cannibals, and Cybergoria. Returning icons Jack the Clown and Doctor Oddfellow will co-host the event under the overarching theme: "Infernal Carnival of Nightmares."
Universal revealed the "Infernal Carnival" theme at MegaCon Orlando in March. Lora Sauls, Universal Creative's Assistant Director of Entertainment Creative Development, described Jack the Clown and Dr. Oddfellow as an "unholy alliance." Single-night tickets run $88 to $130, while a Premium Scream Night on August 27 costs $399 per person.
Hellraiser Revival Video Game Drops During Peak Scare Season
The haunted house is only half of Universal's Hellraiser push. Saber Interactive's video game, Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Revival, releases on October 8 — right in the middle of the HHN season. The game is coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Doug Bradley is providing Pinhead's voice there too, making this his first major return to the role in years, Fox 35 Orlando notes.
The standard edition of the game is priced at $39.99 and the deluxe edition at $49.99. Industry observers say the October 8 release is no accident — Universal and Saber Interactive deliberately timed it to ride the HHN wave. If the cross-media strategy works, it could become a model for future horror IP launches tied to theme park events.
Why Hellraiser Took Nearly 40 Years to Reach HHN
Despite being a horror classic since 1987, Hellraiser has never had a full haunted house at Halloween Horror Nights until now. Industry analysts say complex licensing rights held things up for decades. Those rights were only recently streamlined as part of the deal to develop the Hellraiser: Revival video game, ClickOrlando reports. The "Sinners" house marks the franchise's true debut at the event.
Universal appears committed to Hellraiser well beyond this year. The "Infernal Carnival of Nightmares" branding signals a multi-year plan, not a one-time appearance. WESH reports that rumors of an It house are also circulating for 2026, suggesting Universal is building a long-term horror IP pipeline around the event's anniversary identity.
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