If you were looking for an excuse to head back to Pairi Daiza this fall, one has just arrived with a giant werewolf, a ghost train, and a few hundred artists in tow. About 1.5 hours from Lille, the Belgian park is preparing 23 days of Halloween, with a 2026 edition announced as the most ambitious in its history.
For 23 days, all of Pairi Daiza switches to Halloween mode
From October 17 to November 8, 2026 inclusive, Halloween will take over the ten Worlds of Pairi Daiza. And this year, there's no packing away the pumpkins at 6pm: the Garden will stay open every day until 10pm, with 23 consecutive nights to discover the décor once darkness falls. Across the park's 75 hectares, 75 specially created scenographies will appear between the different universes, including 26 legendary creatures. Over 1,000 pumpkins and chrysanthemums will complete the display
e;cor automnal.
246 artists and 30% more shows
When it comes to entertainment, Pairi Daiza has clearly decided to shift into high gear. 246 artists will participate in the 2026 edition, compared to 172 last year. In total, 55 shows and performances are scheduled, featuring theater, dance, circus, aerial acrobatics, concerts, street performances and video projections. The artistic offering thus increases by 30% compared to 2025, with around 40% new acts. The park itself claims to have "Belgium's biggest Halloween", with programming intentionally designed to be spectacular without veering into pure horror.
A 50-meter water screen telling the legend of the Moon Dragon
Among this year's major highlights, it's hard to miss The legend of the Moon Dragon
Moon. As night falls, a monumental new mapping will be projected onto a 50-meter water screen installed on the lake. The show will tell the story of a guardian born in the heart of the Moon and mysterious forces awakened in the depths. Four mappings will be offered during Halloween, including another, lighter one projected onto the roof of the Mini-Farm. Suffice it to say that a visit at 11 a.m. and an evening stroll at 9 p.m. might not quite give you the impression of being in the same park.
Even the steam train will become a ghost train
The novelties don't stop at projections. During Halloween, one of Pairi Daiza's steam trains will be transformed into a Ghost Train. Characters will appear gradually during the journey and a strange creature will await visitors upon arrival. The detailed program notably mentions a giant werewolf. The lake will also fill with funny inhabitants: Kraken, Loch Ness Monster and other giant creatures will emerge from the waters at nightfall. We came to see pandas. We end up being chased by a werewolf on a steam train. October.
A voodoo village and a giant skeleton 3.50 meters tall
Another quite spectacular: the Lakeside Village will take on the appearance of a true voodoo village, inspired by Beninese traditions. In the Dome, concerts will be organized in the heart of the Grotto of Moon Dragons, while Edenya will host Viva Los Muertos, a procession blending song and music accompanied by a giant skeleton 3.50 meters tall. Several animations already familiar to regulars will also return: the Coffin Dance, the Pandalloween, Fiesta de Muertos, the Dollies, Jack'O and the Lanterns, and the Ghost Horses.
Even the animals will get pumpkins
Because Halloween at Pairi Daiza is still organized in the middle of thousands of animals, some will participate in their own way in the festivities. Elephants, hippos, and gorillas will be able to receive pumpkins, while other species will enjoy treats adapted to their diet: mealworms for meerkats or meat for certain felines, for example. The park nevertheless clarifies that the schedules and locations of activities are planned with the zoological teams to respect the animals' rhythm. Some will therefore return to their indoor spaces in the evening as usual and can withdraw from the public if they wish.
Halloween yes, traumatizing children no
A small warning for those planning to arrive covered in fake blood with a chainsawplastic pumpkin – you might want to save that for another evening. Pairi Daiza is going with a family-friendly version of Halloween. No haunted houses or horrifying scenes here – the park prefers witches, fantastic creatures, pumpkins, and gentle thrills. Visitors are invited to come dressed up or made up, but bloody costumes, overly scary ones, or those with accessories evoking violence (fake weapons, cleavers, chainsaws, or creepy clown masks) are strictly forbidden. A costume contest will be held daily throughout the 23-day event, with park entries and membership cards up for grabs.
Decorations will be visible before the festivities even begin
And here's some good news for the impatient ones. While shows and activities officially kick off on October 17th, the first Halloween decorations will be visible froalready installed from October 10th in the pathways. Monumental sculptures, creatures, giant pumpkins and artistic installations will begin to make their appearance a week before the official launch. But to enjoy the complete experience: entertainment, light projections, ghost train and the park open until 10pm, you'll have to wait until the 17th. About 1.5 hours from Lille, it's honestly hard to find anything more over-the-top to kick off the Halloween season.
Halloween at Pairi Daiza
Pairi Daiza - Domaine de Cambron, Brugelette, Belgium
From October 17th to November 8th, 2026 inclusive