Entertainmentupdated 3h ago2 min read
Google’s Frightgeist List Puts Buddy the Unicorn No. 1, NeeDoh No. 2
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Google’s Frightgeist ranks Buddy the Unicorn as the top-trending Halloween costume for 2026. NeeDoh is listed at No. 2 on Google's Frightgeist top costumes list.
Frightgeist picks 2026
Google’s Frightgeist list for Halloween 2026 puts Buddy the Unicorn at No. 1 and NeeDoh at No. 2, with Google Trends data used to track costume searches surging ahead of Oct. 31.
BestReviews says Google’s No. 1 trending costume comes from the 2026 horror movie “Buddy,” and it adds that searches for “Buddy unicorn costume” surpassed “kids unicorn costume” for the first time in September.
BestReviews also says “Obsession” makes the list, along with Minecraft and “The Odyssey,” as it frames the lineup as a mix of pop culture, niche lore, and “a little ridiculousness.”
BestReviews ties Nikki from “Obsession” to Google’s claim that her red zebra halter top has had a particularly high search volume, and it urges shoppers to “grab one if you’re assembling the perfect Freaky Nikki ensemble.”
What designers say
Costume designer Tamar Zaig says people “don’t necessarily want to look frightening - they want to look extraordinary,” and she links the shift to a “real appetite for escapism, glamour and a bit of dark humour.” Zaig points to major film and TV releases and pop culture trends as drivers of outfit choices, and she highlights London Fashion Week as a place where corsets, lace, and dramatic silhouettes appear.
Zaig names The Traitors as a “timely choice” for Halloween outfits, and she describes host Claudia Winkleman’s look as easy to pull together with fringe, tartan, chunky knitwear, and heavy eyeliner. Zaig also says she expects “plenty of instantly recognisable personalities,” and she specifically points to Dolly Parton with “extravagant wigs and rhinestones” as well as political figures such as Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.
DIY and cheap ideas
Canal Trece tells readers that Halloween 2026 costumes can be made “with style and without hassle,” and it argues that people can recreate recognizable characters from movie and TV without spending a fortune. Canal Trece says the character of Wednesday is an option for a dark, elegant, and easy-to-identify style, and it adds that readers can adapt the costume with items they already have at home.
Grupo Animal frames Obsession as “one of the best movies of 2026,” and it says readers can be Nikki by recreating her red top with a black zebra print, black faux-leather shorts, and boots. Grupo Animal also suggests a couple costume pairing by having a boyfriend dress as Bear in a knitted sweater with geometric patterns, and it adds that a wooden wand can be carried to become One Wish Willow.