USJ Zombies 2026: High-School Zombie Types & Locations, Zombie de Dance, Street Zombies, and Final-Show Favorites

Universal Studios Japan’s zombies are scheduled to appear from Friday, September 11 through Sunday, November 8, 2026.
Street Zombies runs from 6:00 p.m. until park close. It takes place park-wide, although some areas are excluded.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of Halloween Horror Nights.
Street Zombies will feature the largest number of zombies ever, while Zombie de Dance will get the crowd moving to King Gnu’s “SO BAD.”

The final performance of each day will also feature a special medley of past fan-favorite songs, including Ado’s “Show” and J SOUL BROTHERS III’s “Rat-tat-tat.”
A new show, “Halloween Horror Night Academy: 15 Years of Screams,” will also be held at Gramercy Park.

For information on all Halloween Horror Nights attractions, see here

USJ Halloween Horror Nights 2026 dates and full program lineup

For the Biohazard Requiem horror attraction, see here
USJ Resident Evil Requiem x Halloween Horror Nights 2026: Preview the 30th-Anniversary CollaborationPublished: 2026.07.26

Zombie Types and Where They Appear

Food themed around “high-school zombies holding a school festival” has been announced.
That suggests zombies may appear in each area grouped by school clubs, such as sports or cultural clubs.

Zombie Cheerleading Club

The stars of the school: the Zombie Cheerleading Club. Even as zombies, they still love over-the-top decoration.

Zombie Science Club

Did they turn into zombies in the middle of an experiment?

Zombie American Football Club

Even after becoming zombies, they’re still worried about boosting their stamina!
Could this produce another memorable character like the Muscle Zombie from past years?

Zombie Go-Home Club?

A menu item called “Zombie Banana Ice Cream: Does a Banana Count as a Snack?”—themed around a zombie infected before a school trip—will be sold.
Because its description doesn’t introduce a specific club, there may even be zombies from the “go-home club.”

Zombie Bar

Zombie-fied crew members have taken over Wharf Cafe, a takeout cafe in the San Francisco area.
At the “Zombie Bar,” you can order cocktails inspired by zombies from past years from the zombies themselves (nonalcoholic options are also available).

・Cutie Zombie’s Sweet Temptation — Strawberry Milk
・Circus Zombie’s Madness — Lychee Nonalcoholic Sour
・Chainsaw Zombie’s Rampage — Blood Orange & Lemon Sour

When Do USJ’s 2026 Zombies Start, and What Time Do They Come Out?

Street Zombies 2026 is scheduled to run from Friday, September 11 through Sunday, November 8.
Hours are from 6:00 p.m. until park close.

The event takes place park-wide.
However, some areas have been announced as excluded.

• Dates: Friday, September 11–Sunday, November 8, 2026
• Hours: 6:00 p.m. until park close
• Location: Park-wide (excluding some areas)
• 2026 feature: The largest number of zombies ever

One mistake first-time visitors can make is assuming every area will look the same right at 6:00 p.m.
In reality, visibility varies depending on each area’s staging, crowds, and pedestrian flow.

Around 6:00 p.m., people waiting for zombies, moving between areas, and heading to attractions all converge at once.
If you want to take photos, it helps to allow separate time for moving and waiting in addition to the experience itself.

Street Zombies 2026 Will Have the “Most Zombies Ever”! What’s Changing?

For the 15th anniversary of Halloween Horror Nights, Street Zombies 2026 has been announced as featuring the largest number of zombies ever.
The new story packs 15 years of fear into a park-wide outbreak as hordes of zombies devour the park’s everyday scenery.

This year’s keyword is “everyone infected.”
The more familiar you are with past Horror Nights, the more you’ll want to know what kinds of zombies will appear in each area.

Watch for High-School Zombies and the “Academy” Theme

Additional information indicates that new high-school zombie characters will be central to the story, spreading infection throughout the park.
The title “Halloween Horror Night Academy” also puts school and academy-style motifs in the spotlight this year.

Published concept imagery shows visuals resembling a school entrance, blood-smeared lockers, and what appears to be a teacher’s podium at the center.
Rather than simply watching more zombies appear, imagining “where did the infection start?” and “who is leading the zombies?” may be a particularly 2026-style way to enjoy the event.

However, individual zombie names, area-by-area appearance locations, and detailed story elements have not yet been announced.
As of publication, it is best to distinguish confirmed official information from the editorial team’s expectations.

2026 Zombie Types and Appearance Locations Are Still Awaiting Announcement

In past Horror Nights, different themed zombies appeared in different areas.
Depending on the location, the style of fear varied—from chainsaw-wielding zombies to elegant vampire-like zombies and clown-like circus zombies.

For 2026, zombie types and an area-by-area map have not yet been announced.
The published key visual shows high-school zombies in uniforms as well as prisoner zombies.

Zombie de Dance 2026 Uses King Gnu’s “SO BAD”! Final Show Features a Past-Song Medley

USJ’s Zombie de Dance is a popular Horror Nights performance where zombies do more than attack: guests can dance along and join the excitement.
For 2026, it has been announced as a high-energy experience set to King Gnu’s “SO BAD.”

Regular Performances Take Place Park-Wide

Zombie de Dance takes place park-wide.
Like Street Zombies, it runs from 6:00 p.m. until park close.

However, the number of performances, each start time, and how the show can be viewed at each location may vary by day.
On the day of your visit, check the official app and show schedule before deciding where to go.

Don’t Miss the Final-Show-Only “Playback Zombie de Dance”

One of the biggest 2026 highlights is “Playback Zombie de Dance: Halloween Horror Nights 15th Anniversary,” performed only during the final show of the day.

Past popular collaboration songs return in a special medley, including Ado’s “Show” and J SOUL BROTHERS III’s “Rat-tat-tat.”
For longtime Horror Nights visitors, this should be an especially nostalgic and exciting performance.

In shows through last year, there were also finale-like moments that seemed to bring the confrontation with the zombies to a close.
The 2026 Playback performance may likewise be more than just extra songs, with a special celebratory finish worthy of the 15th anniversary.

Where Should You Watch? Street vs. Gramercy Park

Zombie de Dance is held park-wide.
Meanwhile, Gramercy Park hosts “Halloween Horror Night Academy: 15 Years of Screams.”

This is an easy point to mix up.
Planning becomes easier if you treat the street-based Zombie de Dance and the 15th-anniversary show at Gramercy Park as separate experiences with different goals.

• Want zombies up close on the street: prioritize Zombie de Dance
• Want past characters and a full 15th-anniversary show experience: prioritize the Academy
• Want to hear the past-song medley: check the final Playback performance

Details have not yet been announced on how past-song performances will be incorporated at Gramercy Park.
Both “Academy” and “Playback” are distinctly 15th-anniversary experiences, so once your visit date is set, watch for overlapping show times.

What Is “Halloween Horror Night Academy: 15 Years of Screams”?

The new 2026 show “Halloween Horror Night Academy: 15 Years of Screams” will be held at Gramercy Park.
It is a special show condensing 15 years of fear and madness, bringing together zombies and horror legends from across the event’s history.

Show times vary by day.
Because it takes place at Gramercy Park, visitors who want a good viewing spot should plan to arrive earlier than they would on a night focused only on Street Zombies.

Past Characters to Watch: DJ X, Dr. Chaos, and Hamikuma

The 15th-anniversary Academy is especially notable for returning popular characters from past years.
Additional information indicates that DJ X, who appeared in 2021, Dr. Chaos, who appeared in 2019, and Hamikuma, a symbol of today’s Horror Nights, are expected to appear.

Along with Hamikuma, the names DJ X and Dr. Chaos should feel very nostalgic to visitors who have followed Horror Nights over the years.
Because this is the 15th anniversary, the show looks set to give longtime fans and first-time 2026 Horror Nights visitors a chance to get excited together in the same place.

However, the performances in which each character will appear, their scenes, and their roles in the show have not yet been announced.
If your goal is to see a particular character at a particular time, check additional announcements and on-site reports after opening day.

【Video】 Dr. Chaos
Stage Show

【Video】 DJ X
Stage Show

【Video】 Hamikuma
Stage Debut Year

What About Deathbringer? Not Seen in the Current Announcement

Meanwhile, the current announcement does not mention Deathbringer, who has had a powerful presence as a zombie boss.
As an entity parasitizing Hamikuma’s body, how Deathbringer might be handled in future performances is an intriguing question.

Three years have passed since then.
Is Deathbringer still inside Hamikuma, or will the 2026 Academy tell the story in another way?

We’ll have to wait for additional announcements and the actual show production.

Special Viewing Area Tickets Scheduled to Go on Sale July 14

A Special Viewing Area ticket will be sold for “Halloween Horror Night Academy: 15 Years of Screams.”
Sales are scheduled to begin around noon on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, with prices starting at ¥2,100 including tax.

The viewing location is Gramercy Park.
Prices vary by admission date, so if your visit date is set, check early.

Whether to use the paid area depends on who you’re visiting with and what you want from the night.
If it’s your first Horror Nights visit and you mainly want to soak up the atmosphere, focusing on the streets may still be enough to have a good time.

If you’re a repeat visitor coming specifically for Hamikuma or returning characters, prioritizing Gramercy Park may be more satisfying.

Recommended Route from 6:00 p.m. Through the Final Show

To make the most of the 2026 zombies, it helps to sketch out your evening from 6:00 p.m. through the final show.
Especially if you include the Academy at Gramercy Park, time spent walking the streets can easily conflict with time spent waiting for the show.

5 p.m. Hour: Finish Food, Restrooms, and Phone Charging First

Around 6:00 p.m., walkways tend to get crowded with guests waiting for the zombies.
If you try to eat or use the restroom at that time, it may be difficult to return to the spot you want.

During the 5 p.m. hour, have a light meal, use the restroom, and check your portable battery.
If you plan to take photos or videos, remember that nighttime shooting can drain your phone faster.

6 p.m. Hour: Start by Enjoying the Arrival of Street Zombies

At 6:00 p.m., start by taking in the atmosphere of Street Zombies.
Because 2026 will feature the largest number of zombies ever, the first appearances are likely to draw a lot of attention.

However, there was no entrance performance in 2025.
It is possible that there will be no entrance performance in 2026 either.

Mid-Evening: Decide Where to Watch Zombie de Dance

Zombie de Dance is fun not just to watch from afar but also to enjoy together with the guests around you.
If you want to dance, choose a location with a little extra space.

If you want photos, moving after the dance starts can leave you caught in the crowd flow.
It’s best to choose your position before the performance begins.

Later: Prioritize the Academy and Final-Show Medley

Decide which performance of the Academy at Gramercy Park you want to see.

Also decide where you want to experience the final-show-only Playback Zombie de Dance.
The performance you can enjoy may differ depending on the viewing location.

Both offer the kind of special atmosphere you would expect from the 15th anniversary of Halloween Horror Nights.

Crowds and Cautions: What to Know Before Seeing the 2026 Zombies

With “the most zombies ever,” the “15th anniversary,” a “past-song medley,” and a “new show” all coming together in 2026, nighttime attention is likely to be even higher than usual.
Expect crowds especially on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, dates close to Halloween, and after-school or after-work hours.

There are also many Annual Pass blackout dates, so Standard Annual Pass holders should pay close attention to the calendar.

It’s Hard to Move Around 6:00 p.m.

Around 6:00 p.m., guests waiting for zombies overlap with those heading to nighttime attractions.
If you plan to watch from a little farther away and move later, you may find it harder to relocate than expected.

If you want to see the zombies arrive, it is safer to move to your preferred area during the latter part of the 5 p.m. hour.
If you dislike crowds, another option is to avoid the period immediately after 6:00 p.m. and head into the streets once things settle slightly.

Watch the Crowd Flow Around Gramercy Park Before and After Shows

The Academy is held at Gramercy Park.
Before the show, the area fills with people looking for viewing spots; after it ends, many people move away at once.

Even with a Special Viewing Area ticket, arriving at the last minute can make moving through the surrounding crowds stressful.
Use the restroom and get drinks before heading to Gramercy Park.

Families and Horror-Sensitive Guests Should Plan an Escape Route

Street Zombies takes place outdoors on the park’s streets, so zombies may suddenly approach and loud sounds may occur nearby.
Children who scare easily and guests sensitive to loud sounds should move to a safe area (Super Nintendo World or Universal Wonderland) by 6:00 p.m. or leave the park.

The scare level is not suitable for small children.
Avoid using a stroller because collisions in the crowd could cause a fall.

On Rainy Days, Check the Same-Day Schedule

Street Zombies and Zombie de Dance are primarily outdoor performances.
Rain, strong winds, and other weather conditions may lead to changes in content or start times.

On rainy days, combine indoor attractions and restaurants so you can enjoy the evening without overextending yourself.
Check the day’s operating status for the Gramercy Park show as well before making your move.

Other 2026 Horror Experiences to Enjoy Alongside the Zombies

This article focuses on zombies, but Halloween Horror Nights 2026 includes many other horror experiences as well.
Even if zombies are your main goal, adding nearby horror attractions can make a big difference to your overall night.

• “Biohazard Requiem” The Dive
• Factory of Fear: The Despair Zombie Tour
• Sadako’s Curse: Dark Horror Ride
• KATE PRESENTS “The Witch of No. 18: The Witch’s House That Plays with Emotions”
• Chainsaw Man: The Chaos 4-D

However, trying to fit zombies, Zombie de Dance, the Academy, and horror attractions all into one evening can make the night very busy with travel alone.
For first-time visitors, it is easier to avoid disappointment by setting aside zombie-viewing time and choosing just one or two must-do attractions.

If Biohazard is your main goal, check this too
USJ Resident Evil Requiem x Halloween Horror Nights 2026: Preview the 30th-Anniversary CollaborationPublished: 2026.07.26

Unannounced 2026 Details: Still Waiting for More Information

As of July 9, 2026, the broad outlines of Street Zombies and Zombie de Dance have been announced.
However, finer details that directly affect how you move around on-site still require additional announcements.

• Names of each zombie type
• Area-by-area zombie appearance map
• Best places to see the 6:00 p.m. arrival
• Start times for each Zombie de Dance performance
• How Playback Zombie de Dance looks at each performance location
• Details of Academy characters and show content

Summary: USJ’s 2026 Zombies Cap Off 15 Years of Halloween Horror Nights

USJ’s 2026 zombies appear from Friday, September 11 through Sunday, November 8.
Hours are from 6:00 p.m. until park close. The largest number of Street Zombies ever will engulf the park in a new story packed with 15 years of fear.

Zombie de Dance is set to King Gnu’s “SO BAD.”
The final performance of each day also features a medley of past songs including Ado’s “Show” and J SOUL BROTHERS III’s “Rat-tat-tat.”

Gramercy Park also hosts the new show “Halloween Horror Night Academy: 15 Years of Screams.”
If Hamikuma and returning characters are your priority, consider the Special Viewing Area ticket as part of your plan.

Zombie types and the area map are still awaiting detailed announcements.
As your visit approaches, check the day’s show schedule and official app, then decide how you’ll move around after 6:00 p.m.

Frequently Asked Questions

When Do USJ’s 2026 Zombies Start?

They are scheduled to appear from Friday, September 11 through Sunday, November 8, 2026.
Street Zombies runs from 6:00 p.m. until park close.
However, operations may change due to same-day conditions or weather, so check the official app or schedule on your visit date.

What Song Is Used for USJ’s Zombie de Dance 2026?

Zombie de Dance 2026 is performed to King Gnu’s “SO BAD.”
The final show of each day also features a special medley of past fan-favorite songs, including Ado’s “Show” and J SOUL BROTHERS III’s “Rat-tat-tat.”

When Can I See Playback Zombie de Dance?

“Playback Zombie de Dance” is performed only during the final Zombie de Dance show of the day.
The start time varies by day, so you need to check the day’s show schedule.
If you want to hear the past songs, keep your plans open before park close.

Where Is Halloween Horror Night Academy Held?

It is held at Gramercy Park.

Start times vary by day.
For guests who want to watch up close, Special Viewing Area tickets are scheduled to go on sale around noon on Tuesday, July 14, 2026.

Have the 2026 Zombie Types and Appearance Locations Been Announced?

As of this article’s publication, the names of individual zombie types and an area-by-area appearance map have not been announced.
It has been announced that 2026 will feature the largest number of zombies ever, but additional information is still needed for detailed locations.

Can Families with Children Watch Street Zombies?

Guests age 12 and under cannot experience it.

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