You don't have to blindly guess what everyone will be wearing on Oct. 31. Google has released its 2026 Frightgeist list, which uses Google Trends data to predict costumes that are surging in searches ahead of Halloween. This year's list is eclectic, to say the least — No. 1 is Buddy the Unicorn, the cheerful-looking nightmare from the 2026 horror movie "Buddy," while NeeDoh (yes, the squishy toy tweens are obsessed with) landed at No. 2.
Other 2026 trends include characters from popular movies and video games. "Obsession" makes the list, as do Minecraft and, unsurprisingly, "The Odyssey."
Some of the top trending looks have full costumes you can buy, but others are the kinds of deep cuts you'll need to assemble yourself with individual pieces. To help you get started, we rounded up some costume options for the top 10 below.
Google’s No. 1 trending costume comes from "Buddy," a horror movie where a seemingly cheerful unicorn takes a dark turn. Searches for "Buddy unicorn costume" surpassed "kids unicorn costume" for the first time in September, according to Google. This ready-made costume gives you the character's complete look.
NeeDoh, the viral squish toy kids love, has officially escaped the toy aisle. This handmade costume available on Etsy recreates a Super NeeDoh packaged as a wearable box — perfect for kids (and adults) who are obsessed with the brand.
"Obsession" turned Nikki's wardrobe into one of 2026’s most copied movie looks. Google says her red zebra halter top has had a particularly high search volume, so make sure to grab one if you're assembling the perfect Freaky Nikki ensemble.
Christopher Nolan’s "The Odyssey" ushered in all of our mythology phase this year, so it's no surprise that Agamemnon made the trending costume list. Searches for his costume are running three times higher than Penelope costumes, according to Google, and this set provides the cloak, skirt and arm pieces needed to dress as the Greek warrior.
Lily Love Braids from Poppy Playtime
This isn't the first year that viral horror video game Poppy Playtime has produced a popular Halloween costume. This year's breakout character is Lily Love Braids. This kids' costume set comes with a dress and pants (perfect for cold-weather trick-or-treating), recreating her colorful, star-accented look.
Singer and comedian Oliver Tree was killed in a helicopter crash over the summer, sparking international headlines. His eclectic, retro styling makes for an excellent costume, and this color-blocked windbreaker will get you part of the way there — just add a wig and oversized accessories.
Verity lands at No. 7 on Google's list, thanks to the viral Minecraft horror world that turned the smiling yellow character into an internet obsession. Google says "Verity mod outfits" is the top search related to the character, and while there are Verity T-shirts and hoodies available, this is also a pretty DIY-friendly costume.
Carl from Dungeon Crawler Carl
The cult-favorite "Dungeon Crawler Carl" series made Google’s top 10 with Carl at No. 8. His stripped-down look is also pretty easy to recreate: This set supplies the black vest and shorts that make up most of the character’s outfit.
Google says searches for "green and red disco outfit" have been peaking so far this year, and that's clearly a nod to "Scooby Doo 2" and people trying to recreate Scooby's disco look. While it's tough to find an exact match for the jumpsuit, this one is pretty close. Add some face paint, a Scooby collar and an afro wig and it should be pretty recognizable.
Rounding out Google’s top 10 list is Hazel Hook from Disney’s "Descendants". Her pirate-inspired look is perfect for Halloween, and this red-and-black set captures the layered top, dramatic skirt, belt and pants that bring the character to life.
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