Spirit Halloween Is Already Opening Stores for 2026
Halloween may still be nearly three months away, but Spirit Halloween is already opening its doors for the season. The retailer says it plans to open roughly 1,500 pop-up stores across the United States and Canada this year, with locations setting up in strip malls and shopping centers throughout both countries.
Alongside the store openings, Spirit Halloween is looking to fill more than 52,000 seasonal positions. "Spirit Halloween provides a dynamic and fun work environment where associates can be part of something truly special each season," said Steven Silverstein, CEO of Spirit Halloween.
A Long History of Seasonal Retail
Spirit Halloween bills itself as the world's largest specialty Halloween retailer, offering costumes, accessories and decor alongside what the company describes as an interactive in-store retail experience each fall. The seasonal store model, opening temporary locations in vacant retail spaces for a few months each year before closing again after Halloween, has become a hallmark of the brand and a recognizable sign that the holiday season is approaching.
In New York alone, the chain is opening more than 75 locations for the 2026 season, according to AOL, giving a sense of the scale involved in reaching its overall 1,500-store target nationwide.
When Will Stores Open Near You?
Rather than opening all at once, Spirit Halloween's roughly 1,500 pop-up locations are rolling out on a staggered schedule through the end of summer. The flagship store in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, kicked things off Aug. 1 with a free public grand-opening celebration, complete with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, games, food and entertainment.
For everywhere else, timing depends on the individual location. The earliest stores, typically in high-traffic markets and mall locations, are opening now through mid-August, with the bulk of the 1,500 locations coming online by late August. A handful of stragglers, often smaller in-mall pop-ups tied to back-to-school season, won't open until early September.
Exact dates vary from store to store depending on when each location's lease is finalized and setup is complete. Spirit Halloween's online store locator, which went live July 29, lets shoppers search by ZIP code to find the nearest location, though most stores currently show a status of "Opens August" or "Coming Soon" rather than a specific date.
How to Apply
Those interested in seasonal work with the company can apply by texting "REAPER" to 85000 for information on open positions for the 2026 season.
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