The Top Haunts
of 2026
Exceptional Haunted Attractions.
Recognized for Doing Fear Right.
Each year, FearCast recognizes a select group of haunted attractions that represent the best of the industry—experiences distinguished by atmosphere, originality, execution, entertainment value, and an unwavering commitment to the art of the scare.
Meet the 2026 Inductees
Certified Terrifying
Not Every Haunt Earns the Mark.
The FearCast Certified Terrifying designation recognizes haunted attractions that deliver exceptional experiences both inside and outside the attraction. From scenic detail and character performance to storytelling, atmosphere, originality and overall guest experience, each inductee represents a standard we believe deserves recognition.
What Makes a Top Haunt?
Atmosphere & Immersion
Does the attraction create a convincing world from the moment guests arrive?
Creativity & Originality
Unique concepts, memorable characters and ideas that distinguish the experience.
Show Quality & Execution
Scenic design, lighting, sound, effects, costuming and the craftsmanship behind the production.
Performance & Scares
The actors, timing, energy and ability to create genuinely memorable moments.
The Complete Experience
From anticipation to exit, does the attraction deliver an experience guests will talk about afterward?
FearCast selections are editorial recognitions, based on firsthand industry experience, knowledge of the attractions, and our assessment of the complete guest experience.
The Top Haunts are not ranked against one another—every 2026 inductee has earned the same Certified Terrifying distinction.
The 2026 Inductees
The 17th Door
Known for its relentless creativity and boundary-pushing approach to immersive horror, The 17th Door transforms every room into a new and unpredictable encounter.
The Bates Motel
& Haunted Hayride
A true institution in the haunted-attraction industry, The Bates Motel & Haunted Hayride combines generations of experience with elaborate environments, large-scale effects and unforgettable performances.
Brighton Asylum
Brighton Asylum delivers a high-tech assault on the senses through innovative effects, an intense atmosphere and an exceptional cast of dedicated performers. Its combination of technology, energy and committed character work creates an experience that feels dangerously alive.
Brimstone Haunt
Brimstone Haunt turns its sprawling rural setting into a relentless journey through darkness. Intense scares, unsettling environments and the isolation of the surrounding countryside create an experience where danger feels like it could emerge from anywhere.
Devil's Dungeon
Devil’s Dungeon delivers an unapologetically intense experience through claustrophobic environments, aggressive pacing and relentless scares. Its gritty atmosphere and confrontational energy create the feeling that guests have descended somewhere they were never meant to enter.
Fright Kingdom
Fright Kingdom surrounds guests with richly detailed environments that feel complete, convincing and alive. Its layered scenic design, committed characters and seamless transitions create a deeply immersive journey through one terrifying world after another.
Frightworld
Frightworld delivers an enormous night of horror through multiple attractions, elaborate environments and a relentless variety of scares. Its impressive scale, energetic cast and polished production make every turn feel like the beginning of another nightmare.
Headless Horseman
Headless Horseman has earned its legendary reputation through ambitious storytelling, theatrical performances and extraordinary scenic environments. Its iconic hayride and expansive attractions transform timeless folklore into an unforgettable night of horror.
The Mortuary
The Mortuary transforms its imposing historic setting into a fully realized theatrical nightmare. Elaborate environments, atmospheric storytelling and characters woven into every scene immerse guests in a world where the building itself feels alive.
Pennhurst Asylum
Pennhurst Asylum draws guests deep into the darkness of its imposing historic property. Authentic surroundings, elaborate production and intense performances blur the line between haunted attraction and reality, creating an experience that is impossible to separate from its location.
ScreamTown
ScreamTown has built a legendary reputation by transforming its sprawling grounds into an entire world of Halloween entertainment. Massive attractions, unforgettable characters and an atmosphere alive with energy create far more than a haunt—it is a complete night of scares and fun.
Thirteenth Hour
Thirteenth Hour pushes haunted entertainment forward through imaginative storytelling, original characters and meticulously designed environments. Its inventive concepts connect each attraction into a larger world that rewards guests for looking beyond the next scare.
Woods of Terror
Woods of Terror has become a legendary Halloween destination through its massive scale, iconic attractions and unmistakable atmosphere. Its combination of dark wooded trails, elaborate environments and nonstop entertainment creates an experience that has defined generations of scares.
