Celebrity Halloween costumes have turned October 31 into a red-carpet event of its own. As Halloween 2026 arrives, stars from Heidi Klum to Kim Kardashian are again proving that the most talked-about outfits of the year are often the most inventive. Whether you want classic references or something viral, the best celeb costumes show how far imagination, prosthetics, and a little humor can go.
Heidi Klum: The Undisputed Queen of Celebrity Halloween Costumes
No list of celebrity Halloween costumes is complete without Heidi Klum. For the 25th edition of her annual party, she dressed as a giant, severed version of her own hand, complete with engagement ring, wedding band, veins, tendons, and even her tiny finger tattoo. She said she wanted to take something familiar and twist it into something funny and bizarre.
Her past transformations are just as legendary. In 2022 she appeared as a human-sized worm, and in 2023 she arrived as a gigantic peacock while her husband, Tom Kaulitz, went as an egg. In 2025 she became Medusa. Her yearly reveals are now an event in their own right.
Kim Kardashian and the Jenners Go All In
The Kardashian-Jenner family treats Halloween like a creative competition. Kim Kardashian dressed as her 13-year-old daughter, North West, in 2026, after becoming an albino alligator in 2024 with help from Alexis Stone. In 2022 she morphed into Mystique from X-Men using blue face paint and special effects makeup, and in 2023 she and North paired up as Cher and Dionne from Clueless.
Kendall Jenner joked about her cucumber-cutting skills with a tongue-in-cheek outfit in 2022, then wore a Martian Girl from Mars Attacks! look in 2021. Kylie Jenner chose Barbarella in custom Rabanne in 2024 and became Ariel from The Little Mermaid in 2019. Together, the family has produced some of the most imitated celebrity Halloween costumes of the decade.
2026 Brings Fresh Pop Culture Moments
This year’s looks lean heavily on viral references. Alex Consani dressed as one of the Thumb Thumbs, the thumb-shaped robotic henchmen from Spy Kids, and carried a Birkin for good measure. Benito Skinner and Mary Beth Barone recreated Dakota Johnson’s famously awkward interview with Ellen DeGeneres. Paris Hilton channelled Britney Spears’s 2001 VMAs performance of “I’m a Slave 4 U,” even posing with a live albino python.
Looking for ideas of your own? Our guide to movie Halloween costume ideas for 2026 has plenty of inspiration.
Pop Star Tributes and Cinematic Icons
Music and film have always fuelled the most memorable costumes. Hailey Bieber recreated four of Britney Spears’s most iconic looks in 2021, while Elle Fanning also paid tribute to Spears’s VMAs performance. Harry Styles hosted a special “Harryween” show at Madison Square Garden dressed as Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, styled by Gucci’s Alessandro Michele. Winnie Harlow became Grace Jones, and Lizzo wore four different costumes in a single weekend, including Baby Yoda.
Cinema inspires plenty of others. Janelle Monáe dressed as The Diva from The Fifth Element in 2022 and ET in 2024. Maya Jama became Beetlejuice for her London party. Tracee Ellis Ross took on Lupita Nyong’o’s Red from Us, and Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker played Sally and Jack Skellington from The Nightmare Before Christmas. Horror fans can keep the mood going with our list of cult horror movies for Halloween.
Why Celebrity Halloween Costumes Keep Going Viral
Celebrity Halloween costumes work because they combine nostalgia, humor, and shock. Stars use the holiday to poke fun at themselves, honour their idols, and show off the craft of makeup artists and designers. Social media then does the rest, turning one Instagram post into a global conversation within hours.
If this season has you in a spooky mood, check out our ranking of the best horror movies of 2026 for more inspiration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is known as the queen of Halloween?
Heidi Klum holds the title thanks to her elaborate annual party and transformations such as the giant hand, Medusa, the worm, and the peacock.
What was the most talked-about celebrity Halloween costume of 2026?
Several looks went viral, including Kim Kardashian as North West, Paris Hilton as Britney Spears, and Alex Consani as a Thumb Thumb from Spy Kids.
Why are celebrity Halloween costumes so popular?
Fans love seeing stars play with their image. Clever references and standout makeup also make the looks easy to share online.
What are some easy celebrity Halloween costume ideas to copy?
Try Carrie Bradshaw, Cher from Clueless, Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, or Ariel. All are recognisable and easy to recreate.