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Quick picks
- Most searchedRumi costume (girls)
- HorrorPennywise clown makeup kit
- CelebrityDolly Parton blonde wig
- Movie of the summerGreek warrior / Odysseus costume (men)
$ usually under $30 · $$ $30–60 · $$$ over $60 (Amazon US). Prices move daily, check the live listing.
Trending costumes have a short shelf life. Something peaks in September and is gone by Thanksgiving. So this list is about what is moving this October, based on retailer best-seller lists, Google Trends and Pinterest, not on what was big last year.
The big three of 2026
KPop Demon Hunters
The Netflix film came out in June 2025 and simply did not go away. HUNTR/X (Rumi, Mira, Zoey) is the group costume for girls and teens this year, and adults are wearing it too. If there is one trend costume to buy early, it is this one.
1Rumi costume (girls)
$CostumeKidsThe purple stage outfit is the most recognised of the three. Most kids sets include top, shorts or skirt and leg pieces.
Check before buying: Whether the braid wig is included. Half the listings sell it separately.
2Rumi costume (women)
$$CostumeWomenAdult cosplay sets are cut closer to the film than the kids versions.
Check before buying: Shipping date. Many adult sets ship from overseas and take two weeks.
3Jinu / Saja Boys costume
$$CostumeMenKidsGives boys and dads a way into a HUNTR/X group without wearing the trio outfits.
Check before buying: Whether the hat is included. It is the part people recognise.
More in KPop Demon Hunters costumes.
Toy Story 5
Released in June. The family costume of the year, because there is a character for every size from toddler to grandpa.
4Buzz Lightyear costume (kids)
$$CostumeKidsThe one every kid asks for. Deluxe versions have wings that pop out.
Check before buying: Wings attachment. Elastic straps beat velcro on a jacket that moves.
5Bo Peep costume (women)
$$CostumeWomenThe blue jumpsuit version from Toy Story 4 is easier to move in than the dress.
Check before buying: Whether the crook is included. It usually is not.
6Inflatable Rex / dinosaur
$$CostumeAdultsKidsFunny in a group photo, and it hides whatever you wear underneath.
Check before buying: Battery pack type (usually 4×AA) and fan noise.
More in Toy Story costumes.
The Odyssey
Christopher Nolan’s July release made Greek mythology a real costume category again. Odysseus, gods, Medusa. It photographs well and it is easy to build from parts.
7Greek warrior / Odysseus costume (men)
$$CostumeMenTunic and chest armour gets you Odysseus without a full replica.
Check before buying: Armour material. Printed fabric looks flat; moulded foam looks right.
8Medusa snake headpiece
$AccessoryWomenKidsMedusa is the strongest women’s look in the mythology cluster this year.
Check before buying: How the snakes are attached. Wired snakes hold shape, glued ones droop.
More in Greek mythology costumes.
Horror: Pennywise is back
IT: Welcome to Derry put Pennywise back in front of a new audience. My advice: skip the mask. A makeup kit plus a cheap ruffled clown suit looks scarier and costs less. Ghostface is still the fastest horror costume there is.
9Pennywise clown makeup kit
$MakeupAdultsHalf the impact of the costume is the face.
Check before buying: Cream vs water-activated paint. Water-activated cracks less.
10Pennywise costume (adult)
$$CostumeAdultsMenWelcome to Derry put Pennywise back in the top searches.
Check before buying: Mask vs makeup. Makeup looks far better and costs less.
11Ghostface mask + robe
$CostumeAdultsKidsThe fastest horror costume that still reads instantly.
Check before buying: Officially licensed robe. Unlicensed ones are thin.
Celebrity and movie looks
These are mostly closet costumes with one bought piece.
- Dolly Parton. Big blonde wig, rhinestones, denim. The wig is the costume.
- Miranda Priestly. The Devil Wears Prada 2 came out in May. White bob, dark sunglasses, a long coat. Unimpressed face is free.
- Wednesday Addams. Still in the top ten, still works for kids and adults.
- Y2K “It Girl”. Low-rise, butterfly clips, tinted sunglasses. Buy accessories, not a full set.
12Dolly Parton blonde wig
$WigWomenAdultsBig blonde wig plus rhinestones = Dolly. One of the easiest celebrity looks.
Check before buying: Volume. Go bigger than you think.
13White bob wig (Miranda Priestly)
$WigWomenDevil Wears Prada 2 is out, and Miranda is a bob, sunglasses and a coat.
Check before buying: Silver-white, not platinum blonde.
14Wednesday Addams dress
$CostumeKidsWomenBlack dress, white collar, braids. Still a top-ten look.
Check before buying: Collar quality. It is the whole costume.
15Y2K pop star outfit
$CostumeWomenThe “It Girl” trend is a closet costume with one or two bought pieces.
Check before buying: Buy accessories, not a full set. Full sets look costume-y.
Also on the lists
Mario, Luigi and Princess Peach (great as a group). Aunt Gladys from Weapons, which is mostly a red wig and a lot of makeup. Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl “grass people”, which are DIY and a bit of an inside joke. He-Man for the dads who grew up with it.
16Mario & Luigi costumes
$CostumeAdultsKidsBest two-person costume for people who hate costumes. Overalls and a hat.
Check before buying: Moustache adhesive. Bring spare tape.
17Princess Peach dress
$CostumeWomenKidsCompletes the Mario group.
Check before buying: Crown size and how it attaches.
Trends cost more because everyone wants them the same week. Recreate the vibe from the thrift store instead: homemade costume ideas.
Trend or classic?
If the costume is for one party and lots of photos, go trend. If it needs to last two Halloweens or be handed down to a younger sibling, go classic. Witches, vampires and Spider-Man will still be on the list in 2027. See the best costumes of 2026 for the classics.
