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Halloween in Nottingham 2026: Where to Go, What’s Free and What’s Properly Scary

Halloween in Nottingham 2026 brings giant rooftop monsters, a free ghost parade and fright nights in an old gaol. Get the dates, free spots and a free walking tour to pair it with.

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Nottingham Halloween Festival 2026

October 26 to November 1, 2026

  • Dates: Monday, October 26 to Sunday, November 1, 2026, across the whole October half-term week
  • Time: Monsters can be spotted all week, while the Halloween Parade runs at 1pm, 3pm and 5pm on Wednesday, October 28
  • Price: Free. Spotting the monsters, the parade and the creepy crafts cost nothing, though the special spooky bus tour is already sold out
  • Place: Nottingham city centre, with the parade starting and finishing at Nottingham Central Library
  • Bring: A festival map from the Tourism Centre on Smithy Row, a warm coat, comfortable shoes and a camera for rooftop monster photos

The Nottingham Halloween Festival is one of the best free Halloween events in Nottingham for families. It is organised by the city’s Business Improvement District, It’s in Nottingham, and turns the city centre into a monster playground for half-term. Inflatable creatures lurk on rooftops above the shoppers, with old favourites Howler and Snapper returning with a makeover and a brand-new beast called the Rombald Rock Giant joining the gang for 2026.

This year also brings the first Nottingham Halloween Parade, called the Family of Phantoms. Ghosts draped in glowing, flowing capes chase the Ghost Rider through the streets to ethereal music, leaving Central Library and drifting along Lister Gate, St Peter’s Square, Bridlesmith Gate and Low Pavement before finishing back at the library. It was produced by Walk the Plank with performers from Nottingham College and FSD Dance.

Pick up the free Halloween Festival Map to hunt down every monster, or download the digital copy from the It’s in Nottingham website. Little ones can make a ghostly stick puppet to wave at the parade at the Creepy Crafts sessions in Central Library from 3 to 5pm on Tuesday, October 27, and all day on Wednesday, October 28.

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Fright Nights at the National Justice Museum

October 22 to October 31, 2026

  • Dates: Selected evenings from Thursday, October 22 to Friday, October 30, plus The Killer Chronicles on Saturday, October 31
  • Time: The Killer Chronicles plays at 6pm and 8.30pm on Halloween night, and Kids’ Ghost Hunter Tours start at 5pm, so check the booking page for the rest
  • Price: Ticketed. Fright Nights is £21, The Killer Chronicles is £20 or £25, Ghosts of the Gaol is £16 or £15 concessions, and Kids’ Ghost Hunter Tours are £8.95 for children and £7.95 for adults
  • Place: National Justice Museum, High Pavement, Nottingham NG1 1HN, set in the old County Gaol and Shire Hall
  • Bring: Your booking on your phone, a brave heart, and a check of the age limits first, since Fright Nights is strictly 18+

The National Justice Museum has been voted one of the most haunted buildings in the UK, so it is no surprise that Halloween is a big deal here for anyone visiting Nottingham. Its real courtrooms, cells and gaol corridors set the stage for four very different experiences, from gentle spooky fun for children to proper horror for grown-ups.

The big scare is Fright Nights: Dead Man Walking, back for a second year and open to over 18s only. Set in 1844, it begins in the Criminal Courtroom at the end of a gruesome murder trial before leading you down into the cells of the Georgian gaol, with live actors, jump scares and flashing lights. New for 2026 is The Killer Chronicles, a one-night-only show for over 16s in the candlelit Civil Courtroom, telling true crime stories through drama and song.

If you prefer your ghosts friendly, Kids’ Ghost Hunter Tours let children aged 5 to 11 help catch the pesky ghosts with games and crafts, and the refreshed Ghosts of the Gaol tour suits visitors over 14. Because this is the one part of the week that needs tickets, book early, especially for Halloween night.

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Free Walking Tour of Nottingham

Free, 2 hours, book ahead

  • Dates: Pick a date on our online booking calendar, including during Halloween week and the October half-term, so it fits around the festival
  • Time: About 2 hours, with the start time shown when you book
  • Price: Free for groups of 1 to 6 people, and booking ahead guarantees your spot
  • Place: Meets in front of the town hall in Old Market Square, between the two lions, at 1 Cheapside, Nottingham NG1 2HU
  • Bring: Comfortable shoes, a warm layer for October weather and your sense of humour

Our Free Walking Tour of Nottingham is a two-hour city tour and a great first stop for tourists and returning visitors who want the best of Nottingham in one walk. Your guides, Darren and Stephania, mix local knowledge, Robin Hood legends and plenty of humour, with stories that are funny and sometimes factual.

The route takes you through Old Market Square and the Lace Market, past Nottingham Contemporary, St Mary’s Church, the National Justice Museum and the City of Caves, then up to Nottingham Castle and the Robin Hood statue. You will see the statues of Robin Hood, Little John, Friar Tuck and Alan-a-Dale near the castle, spot the Brian Clough statue and the Royal Concert Hall, and hear about Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, which is allegedly the oldest pub in England. Curious about what lies beneath the streets? Read our blog about the caves of Nottingham.

It makes a perfect daytime plan for Halloween week: learn the real stories behind the Lace Market and the National Justice Museum, then come back after dark for the spooky events above. If you want a ghostly evening too, the Original Nottingham Ghost Walk leaves Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem every Saturday at 7pm, including Halloween night, and finishes in the haunted caves below Ye Olde Salutation Inn. Halloween walks are online booking only, so reserve through its official listing.

Book the Free Walking Tour of Nottingham

Putting the spooky week together

Start the day with our free walking tour of Nottingham, hunt rooftop monsters with the free festival map, then rest for an hour before a fright night at the National Justice Museum. On Halloween night, book the 7pm Ghost Walk or one of the two Killer Chronicles shows in advance. For more ideas, see the full Halloween guide for Nottingham.

Late October is a great time to visit Nottingham for exactly this reason. The nights are dark and the streets are full of giant monsters, glowing phantoms and ancient caves, and the city serves up family-friendly fun by day and proper chills after dark, making it one of the best things to do in Nottingham this autumn.

Nottingham Halloween FAQ

Press a question to see the answer

When is the Nottingham Halloween Festival 2026?
The Nottingham Halloween Festival runs from Monday, October 26 to Sunday, November 1, 2026, during the October half-term week, with giant monsters on rooftops across the city centre.
Is the Nottingham Halloween Festival free?
Yes. Spotting the monsters, watching the Halloween Parade and joining the Creepy Crafts sessions are all free. The special spooky bus tour has sold out, but you can still follow the map on foot.
What time is the Halloween Parade in Nottingham?
The Family of Phantoms parade runs on Wednesday, October 28 at 1pm, 3pm and 5pm. It starts at Nottingham Central Library and loops through Lister Gate, St Peter’s Square, Bridlesmith Gate and Low Pavement before returning to the library.
Where can I get the Nottingham Halloween Festival map?
Pick up a free printed map from the Nottingham Tourism Centre on Smithy Row, or download the digital version from the It’s in Nottingham website. It shows where every rooftop monster is hiding.
What is Fright Nights: Dead Man Walking?
It is an immersive horror experience at the National Justice Museum, set in 1844, with live actors, jump scares and flashing lights. It runs on selected evenings from October 22 to 30, costs £21 and is for over 18s only.
Is there anything less scary for children?
Yes. Kids’ Ghost Hunter Tours at the National Justice Museum are for ages 5 to 11 and start at 5pm on selected dates from October 22 to 30. The city festival’s monsters, parade and craft sessions are family friendly too.
Is there a free walking tour in Nottingham?
Yes. Can You Handle It? Tours runs a free two-hour Free Walking Tour of Nottingham for groups of 1 to 6, starting in front of the town hall in Old Market Square. It covers the Lace Market, the National Justice Museum, the City of Caves, Nottingham Castle and the Robin Hood statue, and you can book it for free online.
Can I do a walking tour, see the monsters and join a ghost event on the same day?
Yes. Take the daytime walking tour, spot the festival monsters around the city centre, rest, then book an evening event such as the Original Nottingham Ghost Walk on Saturday, October 31 at 7pm or a museum fright night after dark.

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