9 Viral Pop Culture Costumes for Halloween 2026

Courtesy of Etsy/Youtube/HBO

Are you ready for the spookiest holiday of the year? Don't worry, we won't judge if not. In fact, we're here to help!

This year’s most memorable costumes happen to be references to pop culture's most iconic moments of 2026. We're celebrating our favorite stars by recreating some of the year's best—and craziest—stories. For example, Jordyn Woods made headlines with her lucky purse, which is easy to pay homage to with Knicks gear and an orange handbag. 

• Funny Viral Moment: QVC’s Famous Wig Moment
• Costume With a Cause: Daisy Chain Fields Music Festival
• Screen-Accurate Movie Costume: Killer Girlfriend Set

Film fans have "Freaky Nikki's" unhinged transformation in Obsession—complete with the top she wore onscreen and an official costume kit with scene-stealing props. Music fans have plenty of fun options to get inspired by, like Olivia Rodrigo's Daisy Chain Fields music festival or Zara Larsson's fairy-to-mermaid fantasy from her new “Blue Moon” music video. 

Rosalía fans can easily recreate her character's look from Euphoria with a DIY bedazzled neck brace. Or, for something more recognizable, everybody watched Toni Brattin's viral wig fiasco, which can easily be re-created with a short wig and "blowout sale" signage.

Ahead, our editors compiled the funniest and most relevant celebrity moments of the year. We got creative to lower the risk of someone else showing up in your same costume. And if the party's costume contest awards points based on creativity and recognizability, these could earn you first place.

Pick the one that best fits your pop-culture obsessions, then let the details do the explaining.

Bedazzled Country Music Legend

Dolly Parton’s legacy will be on plenty of minds this Halloween, following the country star’s passing in August. For a costume that celebrates her unmistakable stage persona, pair a voluminous blonde wig with a sparkly pink set, bedazzled accessories and a prop microphone.

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The Morning After the Met Gala

We won't name names of whose "walk of shame" this was, but it was an iconic morning-after moment by the Heated Rivalry star.

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Daisy Chain Fields Festival

Olivia Rodrigo's women-led music festival raised $20 million for 10 nonprofits supporting women and girls, and that's something to admire and commemorate. For this, an outfit that feels Stevie Nicks-inspired (The Fleetwood Mac icon was a special guest) would convey the vibe, like flowing skirts, lacy shawls, and layered jewelry. Or support the cause financially with its special-edition merch, including covetable collaborations with Wildflower Cases and a bridal designer on Etsy for Rodrigo's own flower crown.

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The Lucky Purse That Won the Championship

The Knicks made history this year, winning their first NBA championship in 53 years, and the key players credited the purse as a good luck charm. The museum-displayed handbag is from Jordyn Wood's eponymous label, Woods by Jordyn. Though the actual bag is sold out (get the matching heels while they're still in stock!) dupes in a similar orange leather with ostrich texture would work just as well. As for the outfit, celebs like Woods were often seen courtside in a pair of casual jeans, a tee, and a cap, making this an easy costume ideal for low-lift trick-or-treaters.

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Magick from Euphoria

The final season of Euphoria closed with a bang, and notable celeb cameos as well. Rosalía's character, a dancer named Magick, donned a bejeweled neck brace that quickly became one of the season's most memorable looks. It's easy to re-create with a shiny silver top, hot-pink press-on nails, a smoky eyeshadow look and, of course, a soft cervical collar covered in jewel stickers.

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The Red-Flats Assistant at the Met Gala

While the stars arrived in couture, Tory Burch VIP PR assistant Erin Gillman became the Met Gala’s breakout star when clips of her directing traffic amid the chaos went viral. Easily re-create her look with basics: a simple black midi dress, yellow crossbody bag and red ballet flats are integral. For bonus points, an earpiece and a clipboard in hand would seal the deal. It's an especially fitting costume idea for the responsible friend who'll be wrangling everyone all Halloween night.

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Zara Larsson’s New “Blue Moon” Single

The single "Blue Moon" from Zara Larsson's Midnight Sun album got a new music video recently and the star says it indicates the aesthetic of her next era: mermaids, sirens, and all things water. Wear an iridescent sequined top and skirt set, then add hair accessories, like blue tinsel and beachy clips, to beachy, wavy hair. A little moon prop, like a handy crossbody bag, can make the reference even clearer. If the costume contest is based on creativity, you'll win. 

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The Viral QVC Wig Moment

During an Aug. 5 live QVC segment, wig designer Toni Brattin accidentally said something NSFW instead of “blowout” while demonstrating a wig, and the rest is history. The clip went viral when she realized her mistake, then freezing and sinking to the floor out of frame as her cohost tried to keep the show moving.

It got so famous, that Brattin later appeared on The Tonight Show to give Jimmy Fallon a wig and laugh about the mishap. Re-create the moment with a voluminous wig, a polished blouse, a “Blowout Sale” sign, a second wig to gift like Fallon's and your best mortified-on-air reaction.

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Cinematic Killer Girlfriend

A24's film Obsession became a breakout horror hit, making it the first original 2020's movie to gross over $500 million worldwide. For a "Freaky Nikki" look, wear the exact zebra-print halter top that Inde Navarrette wore in the film with leather micro shorts. NBCUniversal's official Nikki kit, based on her final look, includes temporary tattoos, soft foam bricks to recreate that scene, and, of course, a One Wish Willow itself.

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If you're refusing to purchase a Halloween costume this year, we came up with the best Halloween Costumes Made From Clothing You'll Actually Wear IRL. 

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