Halloween costume ideas 2026: 10 last-minute looks that will terrify everyone (Pop Culture edition)

Halloween is only a short time away and it can be quite difficult to find a costume at short notice. Fortunately, some of the major pop culture events this year provide a lot of ideas. You can recreate these styles, ranging from those of horror movie characters through to famous singers and celebrity-inspired outfits, using only the clothes you currently have together with a few simple extras. It's still possible to put together something impressive whether you're dressing up by yourself or you're planning a costume with a friend. Inputs are taken from Yahoo and Vogue Adria.

Best Pop Culture Halloween Costumes for 2026

Nikki from Obsession


Anyone who wants to go for a horror-themed costume will find Nikki's party outfit to be a suitable choice. Begin by wearing a top with a red and black animal print, followed by black leather shorts and knee-high boots. To achieve the appearance seen in the film, attach a silver necklace and some fake blood.

The purpose of the outfit is to be noticeable, which means there's no need for it to appear perfectly coordinated.

Buddy the Unicorn from Buddy

Forget about the typical cute unicorn costume; instead, how about the orange unicorn from Casper Kelly’s comedy-horror film, which provides a far more creepy option.

The base of the costume consists of an orange hoodie and sweatpants. You then add a unicorn horn headband, a pink bandana, and a large purple heart cutout on the chest. A small amount of fake blood can make the costume appear even more disturbing.



Miranda Priestly from The Devil Wears Prada

Since the sequel to The Devil Wears Prada has brought the film back into the spotlight, Miranda Priestly is once again a figure that is readily recognized.

The essential item is a short silver wig; to achieve the full effect combine it with a purple dress, a black faux-fur coat, oversized sunglasses, sheer tights and black gloves and carry a magazine with annotated pages.

To co-ordinate with the costume, one friend could wear Andy Sachs's outfit, which consists of a blue cable-knit sweater and a brunette wig with blunt bangs.

What Celebrity and TV Costumes Are Easy to Recreate?

Kim Kardashian as North West

Kim Kardashian surprised her fans by wearing a costume of her daughter, North West, on Halloween; the outfit consisted of a turquoise wig, silver facial studs, a black grill, long nails and a T-shirt showing the cover art of North's EP.

The costume is not very difficult to make since the wig and the accessories take care of most of it. You can finish it off with a black T-shirt and some thick silver jewellery.

Rob and Maura from The Traitors

The reason this two-piece costume works is that the two appearances are so different; one person can wear a look similar to Maura Higgins in a black latex-style dress, together with long gloves and a beret, and have sleek hair and smoky eye makeup.

The second person can copy Rob Rausch’s casual look by wearing light-blue overalls, a white tank top, and a silver chain; temporary snake tattoos or designs drawn with eyeliner can then be used as a clear finishing touch.



Olivia Rodrigo and Chappell Roan

People who want a costume with a musical theme might get the idea from the collaboration between Olivia Rodrigo and Chappell Roan. Rodrigo's appearance is based on retro 1980s fashion and her sweet punk style, whereas Roan goes for a drag-inspired glamour. The use of wigs and heavy makeup is a way of bringing the two outfits to life without the need for a completely new wardrobe.

What Other Types of Last-Minute Halloween Arrangements Can You Put Together?

Madonna and Charli XCX

This combination is perfect for people who have different tastes in fashion; one person could go for pink and purple, together with a corset and a mini skirt inspired by Madonna's pop style, while the other could select leather, latex and darker items to match Charli XCX's more edgy appearance.

Outfits can become more noticeable because of the use of sequins and bold accessories.

PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson

There is a simple method offered by this pair for combining different styles; PinkPantheress is famous for her neat, British appearance, whereas Zara Larsson’s beauty style includes playful eyeshadow and a bold blush.

One individual goes for brunette hair and preppy clothing while the other chooses blonde hair and colourful makeup.

Athena and Odysseus from The Odyssey

There are two different ways of dressing oneself in a style that seems more ancient than scary, namely Athena's appearance which can be copied using an off-white sleeveless dress with a cream shawl worn over the head.

Odysseus asks for a more rugged kind of outfit, consisting of leather armour that looks worn, a helmet with a red crest, and a cloak to go over black trousers.



Michael Jackson in Thriller

The Thriller look that Michael Jackson created is still a favourite for Halloween. This basic outfit has a jacket with black chevrons, red trousers, white socks and black loafers. To copy the zombie look from the Thriller music video, use grey‑green face paint and add shading around the eyes.