Google Frightgeist 2026 Ranks Creepy Unicorns and Viral Squishies Across New York
A creepy unicorn, viral squishy toys, and a late country music legend rank among Google’s top-trending Halloween costumes for 2026. Released ahead of the October 31 holiday, the annual Frightgeist rankings track characters, celebrities, and viral sensations drawing increased search interest across New York and the United States.
Google’s regional breakdowns show that search interest varies significantly by city. In New York City, the top five trending costumes feature Marvel characters Wolverine, Black Widow, and Doctor Doom, alongside the Ringmaster and Dolly Parton. Meanwhile, Buffalo residents are searching for Beast Boy and Raven from “Teen Titans,” Doctor Doom, Coraline, and Harry Potter.
Regional Rankings Across Upstate New York Cities
Search interest shifts across different upstate regions. Rochester lists Dolly Parton, Mommy Shark, Corpse Bride, Kirby, and Beaver from “Hoppers” among its top five. Syracuse lists Oompa Loompa, Moana, Ghost Spider, Gomez Addams, and the Grinch. Albany residents show high search interest for Judy Hopps, Tinker Bell, a Clown, Buddy the Unicorn, and Michael Jackson.
Google Frightgeist data reveals the top Halloween costume trends for 2026 across the U.S. and Indiana cities. https://t.co/XpkxbOpoH0
Further west, Binghamton’s top searches include Venom, Spider-Man, Velma Dinkley, Harley Quinn, and Princess Peach. Utica features Dorothy, Spider-Man, Verity from “Minecraft,” Black Widow, and Freddy Krueger. Elmira lists Morty Smith, Disco Scooby-Doo, Poison Ivy, Hermes, and Monkey D. Luffy. Watertown rounds out its top regional searches with Selene, Princess Peach, Boo from “Monsters, Inc.,” Rumi from “KPop Demon Hunters,” and Courage the Cowardly Dog.
National Trends and Unexpected Choices for 2026
Nationwide, the Frightgeist list highlights several unconventional choices. Buddy the Unicorn—the colorful mascot from Casper Kelly’s horror film “Buddy”—tops the national list. The viral stress-relief toy NeeDoh ranks second, followed by Nikki from the supernatural horror film “Obsession.” Google’s rankings reflect costumes with the biggest increases in search interest, not necessarily the most popular costumes overall.
Children’s costume trends mix music icons with sensory items. National kids’ rankings feature Dolly Parton, country singer Ella Langley, and a Dumpling sensory toy, alongside Shakira, Ash Ketchum, Hannah Montana, Spider-Gwen, Michael Jackson in his “Thriller” era, Pomni, and Grogu. Pet costumes follow a similarly eclectic path, with top national searches including a Centipede, Dolly Parton, Bullseye from “Toy Story,” Diet Coke, Princess Donut, Lamb Chop, Pua, Baked Potato, a Roach, and Tow Mater.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2026 Frightgeist List
What does the Google Frightgeist list actually measure?
Google’s rankings reflect costumes with the biggest increases in search interest rather than the most popular costumes overall.
Which character tops the national adult costume list?
Buddy the Unicorn, the mascot from Casper Kelly’s horror film “Buddy,” takes the number one spot on the national ranking.
Are traditional costumes entirely absent from the 2026 rankings?
No, regional lists continue to feature classic choices like Spider-Man, Dorothy, and the Grinch alongside newer viral sensations like NeeDoh and Verity.
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