Dolly Parton Crowned Britain's Top Halloween Costume for 2026

Late country queen Dolly Parton is crowned Britain's top Halloween costume as pop culture looks kill off ghosts and witches

THE late, great Dolly Parton is set to rule Halloween from beyond the grave after being named Britain's must-wear costume for 2026.

But Dolly isn't the only cultural figure taking over October 31, as Brits ditch tired ghosts, witches and zombies for costumes inspired by politics, music and some of the biggest shows on television.

Count Binface, the novelty political persona created by comedian Jon Harvey to contest UK elections, came second with 12% of the vote.

He was tied with Ariana Grande's Glinda from Wicked on 12%, while TV presenter Claudia Winkleman took fourth place with 11%.

A Demogorgon from Netflix hit Stranger Things followed on 9%, with Elphaba from Wicked and a Labubu both on 8%.

Eleven from Stranger Things, complete with hospital gown and bleeding nose, Liam Gallagher and Nikki from Obsession made up the top ten.

The results suggest that Britain's biggest cultural moments are now taking over Halloween, with the nation looking to television, film, music, politics and viral trends for inspiration instead of reaching for the same old broomstick or white sheet.

The research, conducted by Beavertown, found that the old-school witch - complete with pointy hat and broomstick - is now the costume most past its sell-by date, with 46% saying the look is out.

The humble ghost, AKA a white sheet with two holes cut out, was close behind on 45%.

Vampires and skeletons were also rejected by 45% of Britons, while 41% said zombies belonged in the costume graveyard.

Other Halloween staples facing the chop include Dracula on 35%, the devil on 30%, Ghostface and mummies on 27%, and clowns on 26%.

Frankenstein, the Grim Reaper and pumpkins were each dismissed by 24% of the public.

And it seems the nation has had enough of predictable fancy dress.

Almost a third of Britons, 31%, believe costumes have become more imaginative and creative thanks to social media, while 57% insist it has made people more inventive with their Halloween outfits.

That rising creativity is also making costume clashes a Halloween horror in their own right, with 32% admitting they would HATE to arrive at a party wearing the same outfit as somebody else.

Brits are even prepared to go to dramatic lengths to stand out, as 41% would use prosthetics to enhance their look and take it to the next level.

According to Beavertown's research, 19% are SICK of playing it safe with Halloween outfits.

But the nation remains sharply divided over fancy dress. While 23% LOVE getting dressed up, 44% admit they absolutely hate it.

Gen Z are the country's biggest costume fans, with 41% of 18-to-29-year-olds saying they cannot get enough of Halloween fancy dress.

Some 38% of Gen Z plan to dress up this year, compared with 21% of the 2,000 Britons surveyed overall.

This year, Beavertown is launching its Stick Your Neck Out and Stand Out Halloween campaign, encouraging Brits to ditch the predictable and embrace the unexpected. At the heart of the campaign is "The Unbecoming", a new Halloween experience where guests can book a head-turning transformation designed to take their Halloween look to the next level.

It's clear to see that Halloween has become a cultural moment for the entire nation, according to 80% of Britons.

Sophie Higgins, Marketing Director at Beavertown said: "We know Brits want to go all-out and are bored of seeing the same predictable looks each year.

"We're inviting Londoners to stick their neck out and let our team of SFX artists turn you into a work of art. It's time to stand out this Halloween."

And with 80% of Britons agreeing that Halloween has become a cultural moment for the entire nation, this year's celebrations look set to be less about things that go bump in the night - and more about the people, characters and trends that have defined 2026.

THE BEST HALLOWEEN COSTUMES TO WEAR THIS YEAR, ACCORDING TO THE NATION

1. Dolly Parton - 14%
2. Count Binface - 12%
3. Glinda from Wicked - 12%
4. Claudia Winkleman - 11%
5. Demogorgon from Stranger Things - 9%
6. Elphaba from Wicked - 8%
7. A Labubu - 8%
8. Eleven from Stranger Things (hospital gown, bleeding nose) - 7%
9. Liam Gallagher - 6%
10. Nikki from Obsession - 3%

THE HALLOWEEN COSTUMES THAT ARE OUT, ACCORDING TO BRITONS

1. Witch - 46%
2. Ghost (white sheet with holes for eyes) - 45%
3. Vampire - 45%
4. Skeleton - 45%
5. Zombie - 41%
6. Dracula - 35%
7. Devil - 30%
8. Ghostface - 27%
9. Mummy - 27%
10. Clown - 26%

The findings presented in this release are based on a nationally representative online survey conducted for Beavertown via research and insights agency Perspectus Global in October 2026.