Google’s trending costume searches for 2026 are here, and horror is running the whole show. Buddy the Unicorn, the slasher mascot from Casper Kelly’s film“Buddy,”takes the number one spot, followed by the NeeDoh sensory toy and Nikki from“Obsession,”the micro-budget horror hit that turned $750,000 into more than $500 million. Agamemnon from“The Odyssey”rounds out the top four, which means Greek warrior armor is about to be everywhere.
NeeDoh’s ranking comes with a real warning. The packaging says do not heat, freeze, or microwave, and a seven-year-old in Missouri was hospitalized after one exploded. If that’s your costume idea, build it around the look and leave the actual toy at home.
Dolly Parton leads kids’costume searches and sits second for pets, just behind centipedes, while Disco Scooby and Shaggy are the top duo. Fewer than a quarter of Americans plan to dress up this year, and most say they’re done with sexy costumes, but Gen Z and millennials are 10% more likely to go all out. What’s the most obscure costume you’ve spotted this season?
About the Author
Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.