Las Vegas haunted houses and ghost tours: the 2026 guide
By the ThingsVegas Editorial Team | Published 2026-10-10 | Last reviewed October 2026
Las Vegas does Halloween bigger than almost any city in America, and uniquely, the scares here run all year. You can walk through movie-quality haunted houses in July, tour a genuinely haunted mansion downtown, or spend an evening hunting ghosts with real detection equipment at the places where Vegas legends lived and died. Whether you want maximum fright, real paranormal history, or a free night of Halloween chaos, there is an option that fits.
This guide ranks the best haunted houses and ghost tours in Las Vegas for 2026, with prices and ratings checked this week. One honest flag up front: Fear Dome, the big seasonal haunt at Circus Circus, has not announced 2026 dates yet. Below, we tell you exactly what is confirmed, what is last year's information, and what to book instead if your trip is coming up soon.
The quick picks
| Attraction | Best for | When | From price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Universal Horror Unleashed (AREA15) | Scariest overall, any date | Year-round | $59 at the door |
| Fear Dome (Circus Circus) | Halloween season spectacle | Seasonal; 2026 dates not yet announced | 2025 was $79 (not 2026 pricing) |
| Zak Bagans' The Haunted Museum | Real haunted artifacts | Year-round | $54 |
| Haunted Vegas Tour and Ghost Hunt | Best ghost tour | Nightly | $125 |
| Shadows of Sin City Walking Ghost Tour | Budget downtown walk | Nightly, 9 PM start | $35 |
| Fremont Street party and Mob Museum party | Free Halloween night | October 31 only | Free |
Prices last checked: October 10, 2026.
Universal Horror Unleashed at AREA15: the scariest pick, open all year
Universal Horror Unleashed is the headline haunted attraction in Las Vegas right now, and it is permanent. Open year-round at AREA15 (3051 S Rancho Dr), it packs four full haunted houses into one venue: Universal Monsters, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Scarecrow: The Reaping, and Blumhouse's The Exorcist: Believer. The production quality is movie-studio level, with detailed sets, live scare actors, themed bars and entertainment areas, and a self-paced layout that lets you tackle the houses in any order.
Two rules to know before you go. Costumes and costume masks are not allowed, so save the outfit for the downtown parties below. And the experience is intense: it is not recommended for children under 13. Regular hours are Thursday to Sunday, 4 PM to 10:30 PM, with Wednesdays added through October.
Tickets start at about $59 at the door, with date-based pricing that climbs on peak October nights. Prepaid admission on Viator starts at about $68 and skips the ticket line, but note that the Viator ticket is non-refundable, so lock in your date first.
Book Universal Horror Unleashed admission on Viator
Official site and calendar: universalhorrorunleashed.com.
Prices last checked: October 10, 2026.
Fear Dome at Circus Circus: what we know about 2026
For 15 years, Halloween in Las Vegas meant Fright Dome, the massive haunted takeover of the Adventuredome at Circus Circus. It closed in 2018, and the dome sat quiet every October until 2025, when South of Heaven Productions brought the tradition back as Fear Dome. The 2025 edition ran four haunted houses: Deep Containment, Hillbilly Hollow: No Way Out, The Birth of Glass Eyes, and Cotton Candy Carnage, plus scare zones, roaming live actors, and a coaster ride in total darkness.
So, is Fear Dome open in 2026? As of October 10, 2026, 2026 dates and prices have not been announced. The event's own website is currently offline, and Circus Circus is still showing last season's listing, so there is nothing to book yet. For reference only, the 2025 season ran September 26 to October 31 on select nights, priced at $79 for general admission, $129 for a Fast Pass, and $199 to $299 for VIP. Do not budget around those numbers for 2026: they are last year's prices, not confirmed rates.
If your trip falls in October 2026, plan around Universal Horror Unleashed above, and watch the official Circus Circus Adventuredome page for a Fear Dome announcement.
Zak Bagans' The Haunted Museum: real artifacts, real dread
Not every Vegas scare is actors and fog machines. Zak Bagans' The Haunted Museum, in a 1938 mansion downtown at 600 E Charleston Blvd, is a guided tour through more than 30 rooms of objects tied to hauntings, curses, and dark true stories. It is rated 4.1 stars, and the fear here is psychological: the dread comes from the artifacts and the stories behind them, not jump scares. For many visitors, it is the most unsettling attraction in the city.
The museum is open year-round, Wednesday to Monday, 10 AM to 8 PM (closed Tuesdays). General admission is $54, and the RIP all-access tour is $88. The Viator listing for the museum was out of stock when we checked on October 10, 2026, so book direct on the official site: thehauntedmuseum.com.
Prices last checked: October 10, 2026.
The best Las Vegas ghost tours
Haunted Vegas Tour and Ghost Hunt: our top pick
The Haunted Vegas Tour and Ghost Hunt is the highest-rated ghost experience in the city: 4.6 stars from 162 reviews and a Viator Badge of Excellence. It runs about 2.5 hours with groups capped at 12, and it is hands-on. You get real ghost hunting equipment, including EMF meters, temperature guns, and dowsing rods, and use it at three haunted locations while your guide covers the city's darker history: the haunts and death sites of Elvis, Michael Jackson, Liberace, Redd Foxx, and mobster Bugsy Siegel.
The tour travels by air-conditioned vehicle and meets at the Tuscany Suites Casino Valet (255 E Flamingo Rd). The minimum age is 13, and ages 13 to 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours ahead. From $125 per person.
Book the Haunted Vegas Tour and Ghost Hunt on Viator
Prices last checked: October 10, 2026.
Shadows of Sin City: the budget downtown walk
Shadows of Sin City is a 1.5-hour walking tour of haunted downtown, rated 4.5 stars from 109 reviews, and at $35 it is the best-value ghost tour in Vegas. It starts at 9 PM across from the Mob Museum (300 Stewart Ave) and stops at the Mob Museum, Binion's, and the El Cortez, mixing mob history with paranormal stories. Groups can reach 30 people, and cancellation is free up to 24 hours ahead.
One honest reliability note: in January 2026, a reviewer reported that the tour was cancelled by text less than two hours before the start time because they were the only person booked. Most reviews are strongly positive, but if you book a quiet weeknight, keep the free-cancellation policy in mind and have a backup plan for the evening.
Book the Shadows of Sin City Walking Ghost Tour on Viator
Prices last checked: October 10, 2026.
Free on Halloween night: Fremont Street and the Mob Museum
Halloween itself, Saturday October 31, is the one night downtown beats the haunted houses, and the two best parties are free. Under the Fremont Street canopy, Costumes Under the Canopy is an all-ages street party with a silent spooky disco, food trucks, and a costume contest with $8,500 in cash prizes. Contest registration runs 7 PM to 9 PM (21 and over), with the contest itself at 10 PM.
A few blocks away, the Mob Museum throws its own Halloween Party from 7 PM to midnight: free, and 21 and over. Head to The Underground speakeasy and give the password "SPELLS & SPIRITS" at the door. Event details are on the official site: themobmuseum.org.
How to choose, and how to save
- Want the biggest scare on any date? Universal Horror Unleashed. It is the only top-tier haunt that runs year-round.
- Want to actually hunt ghosts? The Haunted Vegas Tour puts real equipment in your hands. Want stories on a budget? Shadows of Sin City at $35.
- Going in costume? Not at Horror Unleashed, where costumes are banned. Fremont Street on October 31 is the costume night.
- October weekends sell out first. Book haunted houses early, and pick weeknights for shorter lines.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the scariest haunted house in Las Vegas?
Universal Horror Unleashed at AREA15 is the strongest haunted house in Las Vegas, and it runs year-round, with four movie-quality houses including Universal Monsters and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. In Halloween season, Fear Dome at Circus Circus is the big seasonal rival when it is running.
Are costumes allowed at Universal Horror Unleashed?
No. Costumes and costume masks are not allowed at Universal Horror Unleashed. If you want to wear a costume, head to the free Fremont Street Costumes Under the Canopy party on Halloween night instead.
What is the best ghost tour in Las Vegas?
The Haunted Vegas Tour and Ghost Hunt is the top pick: 4.6 stars from 162 reviews, a Badge of Excellence, groups capped at 12, and real ghost hunting equipment used at three haunted locations, from $125. The budget pick is the Shadows of Sin City walking tour downtown, from $35.
Is Fear Dome open in 2026?
Not yet. As of October 10, 2026, Fear Dome at Circus Circus has not announced 2026 dates or prices, and its website is offline. The 2025 season ran September 26 to October 31, with general admission at $79, but those are last year's figures, not confirmed 2026 pricing.
Are there haunted attractions in Las Vegas outside of October?
Yes. Universal Horror Unleashed and Zak Bagans' The Haunted Museum are open year-round, and the city's ghost tours run nightly in every season. Only the seasonal haunts like Fear Dome are limited to the Halloween period.
Can kids go to Las Vegas haunted houses and ghost tours?
Universal Horror Unleashed is not recommended for children under 13. The Haunted Vegas Tour and Ghost Hunt has a minimum age of 13. For families, the Fremont Street Costumes Under the Canopy event on October 31 is free and all ages.
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