Paper & Lore

We’d be scared if we didn’t see any of these costumes this Halloween.

Okay, a lot happened in pop culture this year. Like, A LOT. From Heated Rivalry to Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime performance, we’re coming close to ending 2026 with so many references that we think will surely inspire some Halloween costumes. Take a look at our list below!

1. Heated Rivalry

_{Photo sourced from Prime Video}

Expect to see at least one or two Shane Hollanders and Ilya Rozanovs at any Halloween gatherings you’ll be attending this year. If you’re willing to spend $200 on the official Heated Rivalry site, you can even don the Montreal Metros or Boston Raiders jersey yourself.

2. Off Campus

_{Photo sourced from Prime Video}

On the topic of hockey players, there will surely be plenty of Briar U jerseys haunting your Halloween night. Picture it: Garrett Graham here, Garrett Graham there. But let’s not forget about the men’s Top Gun jumpsuit and JLO dress that Dean and Allie wore. Believe it or not, there are countless Off Campus costumes being sold at Spirit Halloween this year.

3. Sinners

_{Photo sourced from HBO Max}

Ok, so Sinners didn’t come out in 2026. BUT we’re including it on this list because it was recently added to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando. It’s kind of a big deal that you can be scared by a Michael B. Jordan look-alike. You might be seeing some look-alikes this Halloween, fingers crossed!

4. Bad Bunny

_{Photo sourced from The New Yorker}

Bad Bunny’s halftime performance was monumental for 2026. It demanded the world’s attention and said, Look, we’re here, and we’re not backing down! So what better way to commemorate this powerful moment than to dress as Bad Bunny for Halloween? Or perhaps you might pull inspiration for the many other celebrities included in the performance, like Lady Gaga’s Latin-inspired dress or Ricky Martin in all white. Maybe even a little Cardi B action or Pedro Pascal. If none speak to you, perhaps you might be interested in dressing up as a bush. Yup, a bush. It quickly became a meme when the Internet learned that the bushes during the performance were actual people. Just look at this Spirit Halloween-inspired costume. (Unfortunately, it’s not real.)

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5. Fourth Wing

_{Photo sourced from Goodreads}

Spirit Halloween is really pulling in the work this year. They’re selling the costume, wig, and dagger of Violet Sorrengail, the protagonist of Fourth Wing. Although the first book was originally published in 2023, there has been so much talk of the Fourth Wing series in 2026.

6. Hannah Montana

_{Photo sourced from Disney Plus}

If watching the Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special made you emotional, you’re not alone. We still can’t believe that 2026 marked two decades of the show’s premiere. Therefore, this Halloween is the perfect year to dress up in a blonde wig and sing your heart out. Spirit Halloween already has you covered. It’s selling Hannah’s iconic zebra print dress. But if you’d prefer to DIY a costume, you can pull it together with a Y2K top, a glittery skirt, and a headset mic.

7. Honouring Dolly Parton

_{Photo sourced from The RollingStone}

This one is still a hard topic for us to discuss, which is why we put it further down on the list. Many of us on the cusp of Millennial and Gen Z most likely were introduced to Dolly Parton on Hannah Montana. She even made an appearance in the 20th Anniversary. But of course, Dolly stood for so much more than being Aunt Dolly. She taught us what it meant to spread kindness all around, live like no one is watching, and, of course, get dolled up! What better way to honour her legacy than to channel her this Halloween?

8. Practical Magic

_{Photo sourced from Hard Feelings}

Lastly, we rounded up the list with inspiration from Practical Magic. C’mon, no Halloween is complete without a midnight margarita. Whether you dress up as the Owens sisters or just as Sally running towards Michael, there’s no doubt that Practical Magic will show up in some form this Halloween. We’ll be playing Faith Hill’s This Kiss at some point throughout the night.

Thanks for reading this far. Be sure to let us know below what costume you’re planning to wear this Halloween. We’d love to know!