Knott's Berry Farm announced the full Knott's Scary Farm 2026 lineup Tuesday night at its sold-out Nightmares Revealed event in Buena Park. The 53rd season brings two new mazes, two new shows, a reimagined CarnEvil scare zone, and a new no-filming policy inside the mazes.

Knott's Scary Farm 2026 runs on select nights from September 17 through October 31. Here is everything announced, all in one place.

Two New Mazes: Unearthed and Inked

Knott's is adding two brand-new mazes this year, bringing the total to 10 mazes.

• Unearthed: Guests join a search-and-rescue team investigating an excavation site after a distress signal goes out. In Knott's words, "the discovery of the ancient tablets has awakened a malevolent force from a forgotten age."
• Inked: A 1930s cartoonist named Mortimer Morbid discovers that "when blood becomes ink, imagination becomes reality." His murderous cartoon creations come to life and pull guests into their twisted world, with a vintage cartoon look throughout.

CarnEvil Gets a Major Makeover

The CarnEvil scare zone on the Boardwalk is being reimagined for 2026. The hypnotist Mesmer, last seen in the retired Mesmer: Sideshow of the Mind maze, now controls the circus as its ringmaster.

Five scare zones fill the park's streets this year:

• CarnEvil (reimagined)
• Ghost Town Streets
• Forsaken Lake
• The Gauntlet
• The Gore-ing '20s

New Shows: Occultum and Voodoo: Bayou's Edge

Two new shows join the lineup this season:

• Occultum: A dark magic and illusion show at the Bird Cage Theatre, curated by the Magic Castle.
• Voodoo: Bayou's Edge: A musical production at the Calico Mine Stage hosted by Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau, featuring Baron Samedi.

The long-running fan favorite The Hanging also returns at Wagon Camp with a new edition, The Hanging: Noose Maxxxing, once again skewering the year in pop culture.

Eight Returning Mazes, and Two Are on Their Final Year

All eight returning mazes were confirmed at the announcement:

• Origins: The Curse of Calico
• The Chilling Chambers
• Widows
• Eight Fingers Nine: The Boogeyman
• Room 13
• Cinema Slasher
• Mary: The Haunting of Worth Home
• The Zoo

Knott's also confirmed that 2026 is the final year for Origins: The Curse of Calico and The Chilling Chambers. If either maze is on your must-do list, this fall is your last chance.

New Rule: No Filming Inside the Mazes

One of the biggest changes this year is not a maze at all. Filming will no longer be permitted inside the mazes at Knott's Scary Farm.

Knott's show director Jeff Tucker explained the change during the announcement:

We want these mazes to be a surprise for you fans, the way it used to be.

Maze walkthrough videos have become a staple of haunt season on YouTube and TikTok, so expect this one to be a hot topic among fans.

New Food and Drinks

Knott's also previewed a slate of new Scary Farm food and drink items during the livestream, including:

• Cherry After Dark
• CarnEvil IPA
• Wicked Wheat
• Ectoplasm Elixir
• The Zoo Tots
• Poison Apple Funnel Cake
• Stabbed Cheddar

Full descriptions and locations should arrive closer to opening night.

Dates, Tickets, and Prices

Here is what you need to know to plan a visit:

• Dates: Select nights, September 17 through October 31, 2026
• Single night tickets: From $65 online
• Fright and Fast Lane: From $139
• Location: Knott's Berry Farm, 8039 Beach Blvd, Buena Park, CA

Knott's notes the event is not recommended for children under 13. Tickets are on sale now at the official Knott's Scary Farm page.

What We Know So Far

That makes the 2026 count: 10 mazes, five scare zones, and a stacked show lineup, plus a no-filming policy that puts the surprises back inside the mazes. We will update this post as Knott's reveals more details, including the full food guide and any maze walkthrough previews.