Disney fans planning a fall trip to Disneyland now have the dates they need. The Haunted Mansion at Disneyland will close on August 8, 2026 and reopen on August 21, 2026 as Haunted Mansion Holiday, the beloved Nightmare Before Christmas overlay that transforms the attraction each year for the Halloween and holiday season.
What Is Haunted Mansion Holiday?
Haunted Mansion Holiday is a seasonal overlay of the Disneyland original that reimagines the attraction through the lens of Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. The overlay has run annually since 2001, making 2026 its 25th anniversary. Jack Skellington serves as the “Holiday Ghost Host” throughout the ride, and new scenes, props, and decorations replace or supplement much of the original attraction’s content for the season. The stretching room portraits are updated, the attic gets a Nightmare Before Christmas makeover, and the graveyard finale features characters from the film celebrating alongside the classic 999 happy haunts. You can see the official overlay details on the Disneyland Resort website.
The overlay runs through early January, giving guests both the Halloween and Christmas seasons to experience the version. The 13-day closure from August 8 through August 20 is the standard turnaround window Imagineers use to install the seasonal set elements and update the projection and lighting systems for the overlay.
A Big Fall For Disneyland
Haunted Mansion Holiday returning on August 21 puts it in place well before the official Halloween season kicks off at Disneyland. It is just one piece of the resort’s expansive fall and holiday programming, which also brings back It’s a Small World Holiday, the classic boat ride reimagined with holiday music and decorations, along with a wide range of Halloween and Christmas-themed entertainment, food, and merchandise. Combined with other fall announcements already confirmed for the resort, including the return of Halloween Time across Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, 2026 is shaping up as a strong fall season for Southern California Disney fans.
For guests planning a visit around the overlay, keep in mind that the first weeks after the August 21 reopening tend to draw significant crowds from fans eager to experience the fresh seasonal version. In the United States, the overlay is exclusive to Disneyland and does not run at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. Internationally, Tokyo Disneyland offers its own version of the overlay, known as Haunted Mansion Holiday Nightmare. For more Disneyland news, check out our coverage of the full slate of Disneyland 2026 holiday overlays.
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