Universal Fan Fest Nights Returns to Hollywood for 12 After-Hours Evenings

Universal Fan Fest Nights is coming back to Universal Studios Hollywood for a second annual run of after-hours events that promise immersive, fandom-first experiences across sci‑fi, fantasy, gaming and anime. The after-hours festival runs for 12 select nights between late April and mid‑May 2026, and tickets are on sale now as a separately ticketed offering from regular park admission.

The marquee return is Dungeons & Dragons: Secrets of Waterdeep, billed as an “epic walk-through experience” that lets guests step into the streets of Waterdeep and play an active role in the story. Universal’s materials detail that guests will “join the Harpers, a heroic spy network, to foil a plot by the legendary beholder Xanathar and save the city of Waterdeep.” The production will feature a puppet Xanathar created by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop; Universal notes the shop has been “a world‑renowned innovator in puppetry, animatronics and digital animation” for over 40 years. Critics and outlets have ranked the attraction highly, with one calling Dungeons & Dragons “one of the absolute best fan experiences ever.” Polygon reports the experience “has been upgraded for 2026,” though Universal is not revealing what those enhancements are, and has compared the attraction to “basically a D&D‑themed Halloween Horror Nights maze.”

New activations join the returning Dungeons & Dragons walk-through. Universal lists Scooby‑Doo Meets The Universal Monsters, ONE PIECE, all‑new experiences in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™, and all‑new experiences in SUPER NINTENDO WORLD™ among the first wave of reveals, with more to be announced. The Scooby‑Doo element has an operational twist: guests will travel by Studio Tour tram to a backlot area where they walk alongside Scooby‑Doo, Fred, Daphne, Velma and Shaggy as part of a live mystery playthrough.

Universal’s press materials emphasize that “All experiences and activations are included every event night for guests to enjoy.” The festival schedule concentrates on weekend evenings - April 23–25; May 1–3; May 7–9; and May 14–16, 2026 - and Universal reiterates that Fan Fest Nights is exclusive to Universal Studios Hollywood. The event lineup is designed to blend character interactions, cosplay opportunities, photo ops, curated food and beverage offerings, and themed merchandise into a single after‑hours experience.

Practical details remain sparse in public materials: Universal confirms tickets are on sale and that a variety of ticket offerings are available, but it has not released pricing, start and end times for each night, capacity or VIP tier breakdowns. Verify ticket prices, start times, accessibility and any presale or passholder benefits on the Fan Fest Nights website before purchasing.

For Dungeon Masters, cosplayers and convention regulars, Fan Fest Nights is a chance to see a high-profile D&D production evolve, meet immersive performers, and test run campaign aesthetics for seasonal tables. Expect additional announcements in the weeks ahead; for now, plan tickets early if you want to secure an after-hours evening to explore Waterdeep, chase mysteries with Scooby‑Doo, or sample limited‑time wizarding and gaming activations.