What’s coming up for Universal Fan Fest Nights, basically turning Universal Studios Hollywood into a full-on fandom playground for a limited time, and if you’re even slightly into anime, fantasy, or gaming, this is the kind of event you don’t want to sleep on.
The biggest highlight right now is the brand-new ONE PIECE: Grand Pirate Show, and it’s not just a small add-on, it’s taking over the WaterWorld stage, which means you’re getting massive stunt work, explosions, and that cinematic, live-action energy. The show drops you right into the world of Luffy and the Straw Hat crew as they search for rare “Pop Greens” on a mysterious island. Of course, things spiral fast when the Marines storm in, kicking off intense battle sequences with pyrotechnics and chaos happening all around you. Then Buggy crashes the party, adding that chaotic, comedic energy before everything builds into a huge, high-stakes escape. It’s about a 20-minute show, but it’s designed to feel like you’re inside a live episode of ONE PIECE.
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But that’s just one piece of the event. The entire Universal Fan Fest Nights experience is built around immersive worlds. You’ve got a Scooby-Doo mystery happening on the actual backlot with classic Universal Monsters like Frankenstein and Dracula, where you’re literally walking through real filming locations. Over in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, there’s a Forbidden Forest experience where you’re helping find a missing Hippogriff while encountering magical creatures along the way. There’s also a Sailor Moon anime experience inside the DreamWorks Theatre, plus a returning fan-favorite, a Dungeons & Dragons adventure where you help stop Xanathar in Waterdeep, featuring a creature created by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, which is a pretty big deal.
And if that wasn’t enough, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD is leveling up too with a colorful Yoshi celebration, so you’ll get to interact with different Yoshis throughout the land, which is honestly going to be a huge hit for fans and photo ops.
Now here’s the part people always want to know, it’s a separately ticketed, after-hours event, and it’s only running for 12 nights total, April 23–25, May 1–3, 7–9, and 14–16, 2026. So yeah, very limited window. There are a bunch of ticket options too, depending on how you want to experience it, general admission, Express passes so you can skip lines, day and night combo tickets if you want to stay in the park all day, even a VIP tour with guided access, dinner, and valet parking. There’s also an Ultimate Fandom Pass if you’re trying to go multiple nights, plus early access add-ons to get into select experiences before the crowds.
On top of all the event-specific stuff, some of the regular rides will still be open during the night, like Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Jurassic World The Ride, Transformers The Ride 3D, Revenge of the Mummy The Ride, and The Simpsons Ride, so you’re really getting a mix of both the special event and classic park attractions. Overall, the vibe feels like a mix of Comic-Con, immersive theater, and a full theme park takeover, all happening at night. And because it’s limited to just a handful of dates, it definitely feels like one of those “you had to be there” experiences.
