Midsummer Scream is moving. After calling Long Beach home since its 2016 debut, the Halloween and horror convention heads to the Anaheim Convention Center Friday, August 6 through Sunday, August 8, 2027. The move follows a record 2026 show that drew more than 50,000 people and 350-plus vendors, its fourth sellout in a row.
“The amazing community of Halloween and horror fans continues to grow, and we’re excited to be able to grow with it,” executive director and co-founder David Markland said, according to Haunted Attraction Network. Tickets go on sale in early 2027. Here is what is known as of September 28, 2026.
The quick version
| When | Friday, August 6 through Sunday, August 8, 2027 |
| Where | Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim (new for 2027) |
| Highlights | Horror panels and speakers, film screenings, a huge vendor floor, and the Hall of Shadows haunted maze area |
| Tickets | On sale early 2027 |
| Last year | 50,000-plus attendees, 350-plus vendors, fourth straight sellout |
| Official site | midsummerscream.org |
What to expect
Midsummer Scream is built around the “Summerween” idea: why wait for October? The show mixes several things at once:
- Panels and speakers. John Carpenter has been among the names on past stages.
- Film programming, with classic horror features and new shorts.
- The Hall of Shadows, a dark hall of haunted mazes and walkthroughs, which has included mazes from film studios such as Lionsgate and New Line Cinema.
- A shopping floor that reached more than 350 vendors in 2026.
Plan ahead: it sells out
Four straight sellouts is the headline for planners. The new building is bigger, but the organizers have not said how many tickets they will sell. A few things to do now:
- Sign up for the official newsletter on the Midsummer Scream site so you hear when tickets drop in early 2027.
- Download the official Midsummer Scream app, which the site links from its homepage.
- If you also want the winter show, Season’s Screamings tickets go on sale at the same time. That one stays in Long Beach, December 4 and 5, 2027.
A little history
Midsummer Scream debuted at the Long Beach Convention Center in 2016 with about 8,000 people. It calls itself the world’s largest convention dedicated to Halloween and horror. The winter spinoff, Season’s Screamings, returns to Long Beach in December 2027, which keeps the organization tied to the city. The rest of next year’s shows are on our 2027 Southern California convention calendar.
Still to come
Ticket prices and the on-sale date, daily hours, guests, the Hall of Shadows lineup, and 2027 policies for costumes, props, parking, and accessibility had not been announced as of this writing. The 824 Journal will update this guide when they are.
Sources
- Midsummer Scream, official site (2027 dates and venues, app, newsletter)
- Haunted Attraction Network, Midsummer Scream Moves to Anaheim for 2027 and Revives Season’s Screamings in Long Beach
- Dread Central, Midsummer Scream Announces 2027 Date and New Location
- Wikipedia, Midsummer Scream (features, Hall of Shadows)
Featured photo: Troutfarm27 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
