Dungeons & Dragons returns to Universal Fan Fest Nights 2026

Universal Studios Hollywood announced Jan. 15 that Fan Fest Nights 2026 will bring a slate of sci-fi, fantasy, gaming and anime activations back to the park for a 12-night after-hours event, and Dungeons & Dragons: Secrets of Waterdeep is among the highlighted experiences returning with enhancements.

The walk-through D&D experience invites guests to explore Waterdeep alongside the Harpers, foiling a plot by the beholder Xanathar. The attraction promises interactive scenes and a face-to-face encounter with Xanathar, realized by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop puppeteers. Organizers say all five activations and experiences are included in each ticket for all guests to enjoy, and fans can expect in-person character interactions, cosplay photo opportunities, themed food, beverages and exclusive merchandise.

Universal is expanding the Fan Fest Nights lineup beyond D&D. New for 2026 is Scooby-Doo Meets The Universal Monsters: Mystery on the Backlot, a live-action mystery that places guests on the Studio Tour tram alongside Scooby and the gang to confront classic Universal Monsters. Super Nintendo World returns with a Yoshi hunt, sending guests across the Mushroom Kingdom to find multi-colored Yoshis. Other featured worlds include One Piece and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, with select park rides operating during the after-hours event, such as Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and Flight of the Hippogriff.

“Universal Fan Fest Nights is an after-hours, separately ticketed event that celebrates the exhilarating world of fandom through immersive and interactive in-world experiences created by the theme park’s renowned and highly creative entertainment team in collaboration with esteemed industry experts,” park officials wrote in a press release shared with PEOPLE.

For D&D players and dungeon masters, Secrets of Waterdeep offers a chance to experience production-level set design, puppetry and role-driven moments that translate tabletop staples, spy networks, urban intrigue, monsters with personality, into a live, cinematic walkthrough. Expect tighter queue storytelling than a typical ride and opportunities for cosplay and group play photos that lean into character roles like a Harper agent or a Xanathar cultist.

Tickets are available now for the limited run: April 23-25, May 1-3, May 7-9 and May 14-16, 2026. Plan to buy early, pick weeknights for smaller crowds, and build your schedule around the specific activations and ride availability you want to hit. If you run a campaign, consider scouting the walkthrough for set inspiration or running a Waterdeep session afterward using scenes you experienced.

This return cements Waterdeep as a recurring live attraction and gives the D&D community a hands-on, social way to engage with setting, monsters and theatrical puppetry; watch ticket inventory and calendar your table nights around these limited dates.