Halloween weekend in Southern California comes with plenty of opportunities to trade the usual costume party for a night of live music. This year’s lineup includes massive electronic festivals, sold-out rock shows, drag performances, orchestral takes on horror classics and celebrations honoring Día de los Muertos.
From My Chemical Romance closing out its tour at the Hollywood Bowl to Escape Halloween taking over San Bernardino and the Los Angeles Philharmonic getting spooky at Walt Disney Concert Hall, here are some concerts and music events to check out this Halloween season.
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Hollywood Forever’s annual Día de los Muertos celebration returns for its 27th year on Oct. 24.
(Photo by Chris Delmas, Getty Images)
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Hollywood Forever’s annual Día de los Muertos celebration returns for its 27th year on Oct. 24.
(Photo by Chris Delmas, Getty Images)
Escape Halloween
Escape Halloween returns to Southern California for another two-day fright fest, bringing its Psycho Circus to the NOS Events Center in San Bernardino over Halloween weekend. This year’s lineup includes Benny Benassi, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Excision, Steve Aoki, NERVO and Cloonee on Friday, while Halloween night features sets from AC Slater, Alok, Galantis, Nina Kraviz and more. Rapper Ice Cube is also slated to perform Saturday. Beyond the music, festival-goers can explore Escape’s nightmarish world filled with roaming performers, art installations and multiple stages of dance music.
Where: NOS Events Center, San Bernardino
When: Friday, Oct. 30 – Saturday, Oct. 31
Admission: Single-day general admission passes start at $145.95, including fees. Two-day general admission passes start at $269.95, including fees. GA+ and VIP options are also available. The festival is 18+. escapehalloween.com.
My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance will close out its 2026 itinerary with a pair of Halloween-weekend shows at the Hollywood Bowl. The final two performances of the band’s The Black Parade Tour have been dubbed “Devil’s Night” on Oct. 30 and “Halloween” on Oct. 31, with fellow emo and post-hardcore favorites The Used joining the first night and Thrice opening on Halloween. The two concerts will also cap a five-show run at the Hollywood Bowl for My Chemical Romance this October.
Where: Hollywood Bowl, 2301 Highland Ave., Los Angeles
When: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30 and Saturday, Oct. 31
Admission: Both shows are officially sold out, although resale tickets may be available through secondary marketplaces.
Night of the Living Drag
The annual Night of the Living Drag tour heads to Los Angeles on Halloween night with an ’80s slasher-inspired show dubbed Camp Slayaway. Violet Chachki hosts the production, which features performances from fellow drag artists Laganja Estranja, Jaida Essence Hall, Raja, Nicole Paige Brooks and Salina EsTitties. The show combines drag, comedy and horror, with Chachki narrating the fictional story of the performers returning from the dead after meeting their ends at summer camp.
Where: Vault Speakeasy at Beverly Center, 8500 Beverly Blvd Ste 860, Los Angeles
When: 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31
Admission: General admission tickets start at $45. Premium seating is $75 and meet-and-greet packages are $135. vossevents.com.
Inner Wave
The Los Angeles-based psych-indie band will celebrate Día de los Muertos and Halloween with two festive shows at The Glass House in Pomona. The Oct. 30 Día de los Muertos show will feature Eleazar, while the band returns on Oct. 31 for a Halloween night performance with Pearl & The Oysters. The pair of holiday shows are part of Inner Wave’s 2026 West Coast tour.
Where: The Glass House, 200 W. Second St., Pomona
When: 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30 and Saturday, Oct. 31
Admission: Tickets start at $33.22 for each show at theglasshouse.us
Symphony Spooktacular
Pacific Symphony is getting into the Halloween spirit with Symphony Spooktacular, a family-friendly morning of spooky orchestral favorites at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Led by conductor Moon Doh, the program ranges from classical selections including “In the Hall of the Mountain King” and “Night on Bald Mountain,” to Halloween favorites such as “Ghostbusters” and “This Is Halloween” from The Nightmare Before Christmas, plus “Golden” from K-pop Demon Hunters. Families are encouraged to arrive in costume and can also enjoy Halloween-themed games, coloring stations and photo opportunities in the lobby.
Where: Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa
When: 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 24
Admission: Tickets range from $21-$54 at pacificsymphony.org.
Halloween Organ, Film & Music: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Walt Disney Concert Hall is celebrating Halloween with an afternoon pairing of gothic cinema and live organ music. Organist Clark Wilson, known for his live accompaniments to silent films, will perform a score alongside a screening of the 1920 silent horror classic “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.” Directed by John S. Robertson and starring John Barrymore, the film follows a doctor whose experiments unleash his sinister alter ego, Mr. Hyde.
Where: Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles
When: 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31
Admission: Tickets start at $39 at laphil.com
Día de los Muertos at Hollywood Forever
Hollywood Forever’s annual Día de los Muertos celebration returns for its 27th year with a full day of live music, art, tradition and remembrance. This year’s musical lineup is led by rising Mexican American singer-songwriter DannyLux and soul singer Trish Toledo, alongside psychedelic cumbia band Tropa Magica and Los Shadows. DJs Que Madre, JoaQu.N and Dro Barlo will also perform throughout the celebration. This year’s theme, Bajo Un Mismo Cielo (Under One Sky), will extend beyond the music with a ceremonial procession, elaborate altars, Aztec dancers, art exhibitions, vendors and a children’s plaza.
Where: Hollywood Forever, 6000 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles
When: Noon-midnight, Saturday, Oct. 24
Admission: Tickets range from $26.71-$46.46. The event is all ages; children 5 and older require a ticket. ladayofthedead.com.
Werewolf by Night & Headless
The Los Angeles Philharmonic is going full horror for Halloween night with a double feature led by Academy Award-winning composer Michael Giacchino. The evening opens with a first look at “Headless,” a new musical from Giacchino, Elyssa Samsel and Kate Anderson inspired by Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” After intermission, conductor Sarah Hicks will lead the orchestra in a live-to-picture performance of Giacchino’s score for Marvel Studios’ “Werewolf by Night,” the 2022 special inspired by gothic horror films of the 1930s and ’40s.
Where: Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles
When: 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31
Admission: Tickets start at $44 at laphil.com
Rocky Horror: Let’s Do the Time Warp!
Micky’s West Hollywood is bringing The Rocky Horror Picture Show to life with a drag celebration of the cult classic during the Halloween season. The show is set to bring plenty of fishnets, fog, costume reveals and campy performances inspired by the 1975 musical horror comedy. Guests are encouraged to dress the part and join in on the “Time Warp” during the late-night festivities in the heart of West Hollywood.
Where: Micky’s West Hollywood, 8857 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood
When: 8 p.m. Fridays beginning Oct. 23
Admission: $10 general admission. mickys.com/events
Thriller: An ’80s Halloween Party
Break Room 86 is turning back the clock on Halloween night with Thriller: An ’80s Halloween Party. Presented by Orlove, the 21-and-older party will feature DJs spinning ’80s pop hits and underground tracks throughout the night, along with private karaoke rooms. Guests are encouraged to lean into the decade for their Halloween costumes. A VIP ticket option also includes admission to Le Freak, a ’70s disco-themed Halloween party taking place next door at Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.
Where: Break Room 86, 630 S. Ardmore Ave., Los Angeles
When: 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31
Admission: Tickets start at $19.25. Eventbrite.com.