From horror icons to viral toys, Halloween costumes take quirky turn in US
NEW YORK — Witches, vampires and superheroes may never go out of style, but Americans are looking to everything from horror movie characters to squishy stress toys for Halloween costume inspiration this year, as internet trends shape their choices. Topping Google's 2026 Frightgeist list of trending Halloween costume searches is Buddy the Unicorn, the seemingly cheerful but sinister character from…
Halloween costumes in the United States are taking a quirky turn this year, with internet trends shaping the choices of many Americans. While classic favorites like witches, superheroes, and princesses remain popular, especially among children, a new wave of inspiration is coming from horror movie characters, squishy stress toys, and viral internet sensations.
According to Google's 2026 Frightgeist list, Buddy the Unicorn from the horror movie "Buddy" tops the list, followed by NeeDoh, a popular line of colorful stress toys. Characters from horror films such as Nikki from "Obsession" and Agamemnon from "The Odyssey" also rank high on the trending list. The rankings indicate the fastest-growing search trends rather than the most popular costumes overall, demonstrating how rapidly evolving internet culture can influence fashion choices during the Halloween season.
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