Halloween falls on Saturday in 2026 for the first time since 2020, giving families more time for costumes and candy. There are no universal trick-or-treat hours, and schedules vary widely by community.
However, usually trick-or-treating hours run between 4:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Communities are usually advised to follow local guidelines if there are any set trick-or-treating times. General standard hours for toddlers are 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., standard kickoff is 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., peak hours are 5:30 p.m. and winding down is around 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. In New Jersey, there are no set hours for the state; rather, the town sets its schedule.
In towns that have posted 2026 schedules, the most frequent time slot is between 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., according to the statewide database. Some places are changing their times around: Collingswood's times are noon to 7:00 p.m.; Haddon Heights, 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.; and Medford, noon to 8:00 p.m. There are five towns in Ocean County: Toms River, Beachwood, Pine Beach, South Toms River and Island Heights, trick-or-treating one day earlier, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., in order not to conflict with the yearly Toms River Halloween Parade.
Atlanta usually follows 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Boston schedules it for 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Chicago observes 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. While in Houston it is for 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., in Los Angeles it is 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., New York City there's 3:00 p.m. and Seattle observes 4:00 p.m. starts.
Experts advised some house-to-house etiquette: a light on the porch indicates participation, a dark one means moving on, and a kid gives a good knock but does not ring over and over again. Homeowners are encouraged to allow children to pick their candies at their leisure to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone involved in the festivities.