Midsummer Scream 2026: 10th Anniversary & End of a Spooktacular Era

In 2016, what would become the world’s biggest Halloween and horror convention was launched in Long Beach, California. For 10 years, Midsummer Scream has been delighting the spooky community with awesome panels, mini haunts, vendors, and novel macabre experiences. It took place again this August at the Long Beach Convention Center breaking attendance records, yet again. The event creators also made a special announcement that changes the trajectory of the horror convention.  I’m about to break down what transpired over the course of this darkly magical weekend.

Midsummer Scream’s Big Announcement

While Midsummer Scream has been happening for a decade, 2026 wasn’t actually its 10^th event. Due to COVID and the worldwide lockdown in 2020, the organizers had to skip hosting a gathering that year. Although 2026 marks the 10th anniversary, 2027 will officially be Midsummer Scream #10. And the masterminds behind the horror con (David Markland, Claire Dunlap, Gary Baker, and Rick West) revealed big plans to celebrate the occasion—in 2027, Midsummer Scream is moving from the Long Beach Convention Center to the Anaheim Convention Center!  

Are you still processing that news? When I heard the big announcement, I was floored. The founders disclosed the details during the Halloween Horror Nights presentation, which is the final panel that closes out the event on Sunday. Unfortunately, I didn’t attend that presentation, so I didn’t get to witness the announcement in the flesh. I learned about the move from Midsummer Scream’s social media post later that evening. I was at the event while this was all happening, but I spent the last hour doing a final walk-through of everything before bidding adieu. I’m glad I did since things will look different next year.

I have to admit the sentimental part of me is very sad to see Midsummer Scream leave the Long Beach Convention Center. I know the creators expressed they feel the same. Not only is it the event’s “birth venue,” but Long Beach is a place I call home. It was amazing to say that the world’s biggest Halloween and horror con happens in my city. I’ve been attending the event since 2018 and made a lot of great memories.

Having said all that, I know this transition to the Anaheim Convention Center means Midsummer Scream is thriving. Their growing success and popularity has drawn big crowds. They sold out for the fourth time this year and had a whopping 50,000 attendees! Moving to a larger venue will allow them to make the event bigger, better, and spookier. I’m grateful for the special times I experienced while Midsummer Scream was in Long Beach and look forward to this new chapter.

However, Midsummer Scream is not completely leaving Long Beach. I’ll share more on that later, after I talk about all the amazing activities and panels that were featured over the weekend.

Midsummer Scream spans across three days—Friday evening and all day Saturday and Sunday. It was a jam-packed weekend, so I’ll focus on some highlights. Otherwise, this would be a very long blog post.

30th Anniversary Scream Presentations

Beside it being the event’s 10th anniversary, 2026 also marks the 30th anniversary of the Scream franchise. The 30th anniversary Scream panel on Saturday was a big deal, and it was the first panel in the Grand Ballroom that kicked off the weekend. Matthew Lillard, who played Stuart, moderated the panel. He was joined by castmates Skeet Ulrich (Billy Loomis), Jamie Kennedy (Randy), Roger L. Jackson (the voice of Ghostface), Lee Waddell (the original Ghostface), and Joseph Whipp (Sheriff Burke).

It was a fun panel. Lillard oozed with high energy and spent the hour walking among the audience to get questions from the crowd answered by the Scream cast. I got goosebumps when Jackson spoke as Ghostface. It was so cool seeing and hearing the person who gave this character his iconic voice.

On Sunday, I attended The Sound of Scream presentation, which featured the individuals responsible for creating the film’s eerie soundtrack, like composer Marco Beltrami. We got a beautiful live performance of “Sydney’s Lament” from the Scream score. It was interesting hearing how the song “Red Right Hand” by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds made it into the movie. I was also surprised to learn that a totally different track was intended for the end credits of Scream 2. The song that currently plays is “She Said” by Collective Soul, but it was supposed to be “Bitter Sweet Symphony” by The Verve. The song had to be dropped due to licensing reasons. They played a clip of an edited version of the end credits that featured “Bitter Sweet Symphony,” and the track worked so well. I’m happy I attended these Scream panels commemorating the 30th anniversary. What a time!

Other Spooky Panels

Next, I have to give a shoutout to Return of the Living Drag by Peaches Christ. She and her lineup of crazy talented drag queens took the stage by storm. This year, Dragula season 2 winner Bitqch Puddin was part of the lineup. She performed to the song from the Graverobber scene in Repo! The Genetic Opera.  Peaches Christ herself also opened the show with a high-octane number that had me screaming, “I want blood!”

Speaking of Repo! The Genetic Opera, there was a panel dedicated to it featuring a few of the cast and creators. Actors Terrance Zdunich and Bill Moseley, director Darren Lynn Bousman, and co-writer/composer Darren Smith discussed the making of film. Over the weekend, I also checked out Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor presentation, which included a ton of really cool teasers of new haunts and experiences coming to the ship for Halloween season.

Those were the panels I managed to attend, but it doesn’t include the many others I missed, like the Winchester Mystery House presents Firsthand Hauntings, Terror in the Desert: Haunted Attractions of Las Vegas, and Peepshow Menagerie’s Famous Monstergirls of Burlesque. Plus, there were a variety of small presentations taking place in more intimate rooms, short film screenings, and live entertainment. A huge Halloween party in the Grand Ballroom always caps off Saturday night. I didn’t attend this one, but I’ve gone in the past, and it’s loads of fun.

Haunts, Vendors, & Familiar Faces

I traversed the Hall of Shadows, which is where guests get a sneak peek at the haunts coming to SoCal in the fall. Professional haunters set up mini versions of their attractions. I made sure to walk through all of them. I experienced some good jump scares in Straite to Hale Productions: Side Effects and Sid’s Twisted Cinema. Eulogy Collective created a striking display at the entrance to the Hall of Shadows, and Magic of the Jack O’Lanterns set up a themed bar.

As always, there were hundreds of vendors on the showroom floor. Besides shopping, this is also where you run into familiar faces. I ran into a few content creators and artists in the spooky community, like Miranda from Spooky Little Halloween, Mike from All Hallows’ Geek, Johnny Coffin, ScaredieCat Vasquez, and Ryan, the creator of the Terrifying True Stories immersive experience.

There was so much action happening on the showroom floor. Celebrity signings and photos were going on, creepy characters were stalking around, and there were really neat activations from Universal Destinations & Experiences, LVCRFT, and others. Guests were doing spooky arts and crafts and even getting tattoos. I love walking down the aisles and exploring all of the small businesses.

When it was time to depart, I had no idea it would be my last time attending Midsummer Scream in Long Beach. The horror con did not disappoint, and I had an unforgettable time. There’s nothing like it.     

The New Era of Midsummer Scream

Now, I did mention Midsummer Scream is not completely abandoning its original venue. The creators shared they’re going to host its sister event, Season’s Screamings, at the Long Beach Convention Center from December 5 to 6, 2027. A press release says, “The winter event will feature the Hall of Yuletide Spirits, spooky vendors, and other surprises to celebrate the holidays with a healthy dose of scares.” Season’s Screamings has happened in the past, but I haven’t attended it. I definitely plan to go next holiday season. It feels good knowing Midsummer Scream is still going to have a presence in the LBC.

Here’s what one of the founders behind the event had to say about the decision to change venues:

“The amazing community of Halloween and horror fans continues to grow, and we’re excited to be able to grow with it,” said David Markland, executive director and co-founder of Midsummer Scream. “It’s bittersweet to leave a venue as amazing as the Long Beach Convention Center, but we look forward to all the new opportunities awaiting us in Anaheim.”

The following is the grand announcement video that was aired during the final day of Midsummer Scream:

Dates are already set for Midsummer Scream 2027. The Halloween and horror convention will take place August 6-8 at the Anaheim Convention Center. Like the announcement poster says, “Home is where the haunt is.” The location may be changing, but at its core, Midsummer Scream is going to stay as spooky as ever. Make sure to follow them to keep up with all of the exciting news that’s to come.

Where to Stalk

Midsummer Scream official website