Best Pop Culture Halloween Costumes
The Best Pop Culture Halloween Costume Ideas For 2026
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Halloween is almost here, and fortunately, the past year has been a great one for movies, TV, and pop culture on the whole. There's been a huge variety of iconic cultural touchstones in 2026, from "Wicker," "Heated Rivalry," and our own "Off Campus" cover stars to Bad Bunny's unforgettable Super Bowl Halftime show, and all this means that there are a lot lot of options choose from if you're looking for a timely, relevant, and fun Halloween costume.
Of course, sometimes there's nothing like an iconic Halloween costume to get into the spirit of spooky season, and a good old-fashioned witch, ghost, or black cat costume is always a good choice. Other times, you can go all out with your Halloween makeup and keep the rest of your costume simple — especially if you waited until the last minute. There's also always the option to dress up in a Taylor Swift Halloween costume, drawing from one of her music videos. There are more options than you think.
Read on to discover the best pop culture Halloween costumes of 2026. And if you're really into the spooky spirit, be sure to check out our picks for the best Halloween home decor right after.
Taylor Swift's "Reputation" Outfit From Her Eras Tour
Taylor Swift's unique and beautiful Eras Tour outfits pay tribute to each of her albums, and all of them will make for great costumes, but her "Reputation"-era outfit might be the most immediately recognizable of the bunch. For this one, you'll want to get a one-legged, one-armed tight black jumpsuit (or cut off one the leg and arm of an ordinary jumpsuit if you feel like getting a bit crafty), and then buy or make some bedazzled red snakes and layer them across your body.
Barbie and Ken From "Barbie"
"Barbie" is an obvious pick for Halloween this year. The instantly iconic film has given us plenty of amazing "Barbie" movie costumes to choose from, but Barbie and Ken's cowboy-themed outfits from the "real world" will make for an immediately recognizable, extremely fun couples' costume.
Rihanna at the Super Bowl Half Show
Rihanna's Super Bowl halftime show was a history-making achievement, and Rihanna upped the drama to entirely unexpected heights at the Feb. 12 event by revealing her pregnancy during the show. To pull off her look, you'll need red cargo pants, red shoes, and a red bomber jacket. Unfortunately, this costume won't guarantee you Rihanna-level charisma.
Elvis and Priscilla Presley
Elvis and Priscilla Presley's love story has also been at the center of not one but two major recent movies — Austin Butler's "Elvis" netted him an Oscar nomination in 2022, and the forthcoming biopic "Priscilla" will share Priscilla's side of the story. The pair are, therefore, a perfect pick for this Halloween, and their timeless style just might work for certain occasions year-round.
For Priscilla, you'll definitely want to copy her elevated '60s style hairdo, either on your own or with a black wig. You'll also want to locate a retro short wedding dress or any sort of semi-formal, chic '60s-style dress or outfit you can find in your closet, and whatever you do, don't hold back on the cat eyes. For Elvis, a bedazzled bell-bottom jumpsuit, any kind of flashy, bejeweled suit jacket, or a simple leather jacket over black pants with shades will do, and don't forget to grab some grease and hairspray and copy his coiffed, slicked-back locks.
J. Robert Oppenheimer From "Oppenheimer"
You might not have to look too far to find what you need to dress as the "father of the atomic bomb," J. Robert Oppenheimer, played by Cillian Murphy in Christopher Nolan's biopic. To embody the film's titular physicist, you'll want to obtain Oppenheimer's signature brown fedora as well as a vintage, professorial suit or trench coat. If you want to make an "Oppenheimer" costume into a joint effort, Albert Einstein also makes for a fun and easy choice; just locate a flowing white Einstein-style wig and you're all set.
Cocaine Bear From "Cocaine Bear"
"Cocaine Bear" is a wild ride of a movie, and now you can bring some of its unruly spirit to Halloween. A Cocaine Bear costume at its simplest could include an all-brown outfit — perhaps including a fur coat — with a pair of bear ears, though of course you could go all out and order a bear mask or even a full-body bear suit to embody this terrifying creature. Splash a pinch of flour somewhere on yourself, and you'll be all set to pull this one off.
Carmy From "The Bear"
This has to be one of the easiest costumes to find in your own home, and you'll also have an excuse to yell "yes, chef" or "behind!" whenever you want. On "The Bear," when he's not in full chef's regalia, Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) generally wears a white T-shirt, black dress pants with a belt, and a dark blue chef's apron. You can also try to copy some of his (many) tattoos, which you can recreate with eyeliner, paint pens, or even your own temporary tattoo — just stay away from the Sharpies — unless you don't mind having some letters emblazoned on your knuckles for a little while.
Ted Lasso
If you're looking for a low-effort Halloween costume, look no further than Jason Sudeikis's Ted Lasso. You'll definitely want to recreate that mustache, ether by buying one or simply drawing one on (though be careful about which markers you use!). His track jacket is also one of his more recognizable pieces, so short of finding an exact replica, you can recreate that by taking a simple dark blue jacket and placing some red stripes over it. You can also opt for a polo shirt or black jacket; a soccer ball, aviator sunglasses, and whistle will complete the look.
Billy the Puppet From the Saw Movies
If you're looking to freak people out this year while also not putting too much work into your costume, Billy the Puppet from the Saw movies is a good balance of scary and simple. You can just grab a hoodie, suit jacket, white gloves, red shoes, and a red bowtie for the costume, and then use some white face paint and lipstick to draw those red circles on your cheeks. You could also be more creative by making your own mask and acquiring a tricycle.
Hailey Bieber and Her Nepo Baby T-Shirt
Hailey Bieber's nepo baby T-shirt was a particularly iconic fashion choice for the Rhode Beauty founder. To replicate this look, grab some loose jeans and a black belt, and order your own Bieber-inspired nepo baby shirt — or just write out the words on a white tee — and you'll have the perfect casual yet recognizable look for this Halloween.
Maverick From "Top Gun: Maverick"
Put yourself into the center of the action with a Maverick costume. For this costume, you'll want to acquire some type of green bodysuit, which you can either purchase or throw together with green pants, a green jacket, and some patches. A helmet will also pull things together, and don't forget your shades.
Adonis Creed From "Creed"
You might not have time to take on Michael B. Jordan's "Creed III" training routine before Halloween, but you can definitely still dress up as Adonis Creed. Grab a pair of flag-printed shorts and some white boxing gloves. You'll also probably want a robe if you plan on going out into the autumn chill.
Joe From "You"
Despite the fact that his best disguise consists of only a baseball cap, Joe Goldberg continues to evade consequences for his actions on Netflix's "You." As Joe, you may not be able to blend in or avoid scrutiny as well as he can, but fortunately, a Joe costume is quite easy to put together. Just adopt a tweed jacket if you're going for his professor era from "You" season four and grab an old book of some kind, and don't forget his signature cap.
Portia From "The White Lotus"
In a show full of memorable characters, Portia and her outfits on "The White Lotus" season two stood out and made quite a stir while the show was airing. Few of her looks were more unforgettable — and more throughly maligned — than an ensemble that consisted of a colorful, striped cutout-sleeve sweater, a zebra print-bikini, and white shorts. Grab a champagne glass, try out your best freaked-out expression, and you'll be all set.
Wednesday and Enid From "Wednesday"
Wednesday and Enid may be polar opposites, but that makes them ideal characters to dress as this Halloween. For the former, you'll want to adopt Wednesday's signature braids and an all-black look, whereas for Enid, you'll want to break out the sparkly makeup and nail polish. Their school uniforms make for an easy option — Wednesday wears a black blazer while Enid wears a blue one — but you could get creative and put your own spin on the characters. (Just make sure that Wednesday sticks to black while Enid is wearing anything but.)
Beyoncé's Bee Costume From the "Renaissance" Tour
Beyoncé's "Renaissance" tour outfits include tons of memorable looks, but perhaps none of them are more unique than her custom bee costume. Grab a black and yellow jumpsuit, over-the-knee boots, and some kind of antennae-like headpiece to complete the look.
Ariel From "The Little Mermaid"
Halle Bailey dazzled as Ariel in Disney's "The Little Mermaid" live-action remake, and her look also makes for a perfect Halloween costume. A tight, shimmery green skirt and a purple bikini top are ultimately all you need here, though you could also incorporate as many "mermaidcore" aesthetic elements as you'd like.
Daisy and Billy From "Daisy Jones & The Six"
Live out your 1970s rock star dreams with a "Daisy Jones & The Six"-inspired look. For Daisy, you'll want to opt for a white lacy crop top and jeans or a flowing, sheer coverup over short shorts and a tight top. A red wig will help tie things together. For Billy, opt for a button-down and black jeans, and don't forget your acoustic guitar.
Kendall Roy From "Succession"
Kendall Roy's time on "Succession" may be over, but Kendall as a concept will definitely live on. For this costume, you'll definitely want to opt for the fanciest-looking suit and dress shoes you can get your hands on, but you can make the look a bit more recognizable by adding Kendall's signature black sunglasses and gray trench coat — and adopting a thoroughly miserable-looking expression.
Queen Charlotte From "Queen Charlotte"
Unless you have a Regency-era ballgown tucked away in your closet, a Queen Charlotte costume may involve a bit more work to make or acquire than most others on this list. Of course, it'll all be worth it when you're crowned the diamond of the Halloween season. In addition to finding a flowing, regal gown fit for a literal queen, you may also want to adopt one of young Queen Charlotte's hairstyles or large crowns — and a small Pomeranian might also hint at your royal status.
M3GAN From "M3GAN"
Not all Halloween costumes come complete with a TikTok dance, but this one most definitely does. As the titular doll from "M3GAN," you'll need a blonde wig, white tights, ballet flats, and a long-sleeved striped shirt worn under a beige dress. Just don't forget her signature large striped bow, and be sure you have those dance moves down.
Kendall Jenner and Bad Bunny
They were first linked in early February, but Bad Bunny and Kendall Jenner are reportedly still going strong — and they've already given us a fair number of fun looks to try, including their post-Met Gala outfits, pictured above. For Bad Bunny, you'll want to grab black sunglasses, a large cross pendant, a brown jacket, brown pants, and tan suede boots. For Jenner, an all-black bathing suit covered by a short, sheer romper or dress will do the trick.
The Antler Queen From "Yellowjackets"
If you want to freak people out a bit this Halloween, the mysterious Antler Queen from "Yellowjackets" makes for a genuinely creepy costume. You'll need a mesh veil, a face covering, a white cloak, and of course, that signature antler headpiece.
Lee From "Bones and All"
Timothée Chalamet might be gearing up to star in "Dune 2" and "Wonka," two massive, sure-to-be-blockbusters, but he gives a remarkable performance in A24's muted horror-romance hybrid, "Bones and All." Chalamet plays Lee, a cannibal who tries to avoid eating people until hunger gets the best of him. Lee's most recognizable look is a long-sleeved, flowing pink shirt over cutoff shorts, and you could also adopt his orange-fringed hairstyle to complete the look.
Raquel Leviss and Tom Sandoval From "Vanderpump Rules"
Raquel Leviss, Tom Sandoval, and Ariana Madix were at the center of one of the biggest dramas of the year after Leviss's affair with Madix's longtime partner, Sandoval, came to light. Sandoval will be the easiest to dress up as here — just grab a white fedora, a black shirt, and some white nail polish and you're set, though you could also consider adopting his signature mustache. Meanwhile, Leviss seems to favor short skirts, chunky sweaters, and knee-high boots, and a cropped brunette wig also wouldn't hurt. Madix is also a great option for a solo look, and Halloween makes for a great excuse to try out her revenge dress.
Kylie Jenner at Paris Haute Couture Week
Kylie Jenner's decision to bring out a gigantic lion's head to Schiaparelli's Paris Haute Couture Week show in January was a unique fashion choice, to say the least, but it also makes for a creative Halloween costume. Grab a lion plushie and wear a sleeveless black dress and a high ponytail for this look.
The Met Gala Cockroach
At fashion's biggest night this year, an uninvited guest was the talk of the town — and this guest just so happened to be the instantly legendary Met Gala cockroach. The insect sparked countless memes and reactions after it appeared on the red carpet, and a roach Halloween costume is sure to provoke some laughs as well as a few shivers. For this costume, you'll want to wear all brown as well as a headband with antennae; a few cardboard cutouts attached to your back can serve as this glamorous roach's extra limbs.
