LGBTQ+ pop culture 2026 Halloween costumes, from Heated Rivalry to Death at Camp Miasma
Halloween LGBTQ+ Costume inspiration. (Mubi/Picturehouse/HBO)
Halloween is creeping up, so don’t wait until the last minute to plan your costume!
Here are some 2026 LGBTQ+ pop culture references that would make for brilliant Halloween costumes this year…
Chappell Roan
Your favourite singer’s favourite singer, Chappell Roan, is always putting 110% into her looks and serves as major Halloween inspiration.
The “Hot to Go” singer has so many iconic looks to choose from if you want to dress up as the 28-year-old lesbian star.
There’s her classic “Pink Pony Club” aesthetic that can be replicated with cowboy boots, a cowboy hat and lots of glitter fringe.
She’s also dressed up in a Joan of Arc-inspired chainmail suit, her Grammy after-party look of a red-wine dress and pig nose, or even her all-green Statue of Liberty look.
Or, if you really want to be out there, Roan wore a controversial dress on the Grammy’s red carpet that showcased nipple rings.
Dolly Parton
The late gay icon and legendary singer Dolly Parton died this year. She left behind an incredible legacy of LGBTQ+ advocacy and was loved by millions of queer fans worldwide.
Parton was also known for her dressed-up looks, her bright blonde hair, country cowgirl aesthetic, and love of rhinestones, which she wore with confidence. Parton has always had a playful, welcoming attitude toward people dressing up as her.
In particular, she praised drag queens who saw her as inspiration. We think Parton would be smiling down to see people dressing up and celebrating her legacy in her honour.
Elliot Page in The Odyssey
Christopher Nolan’s 2026 historical epic, The Odyssey, has lots of characters to dress up as. Though Elliot Page’s character, soldier Sinon, is a great choice.
Nolan’s adaptation of Homer’s ancient Greek epic the Odyssey sees Sinon as a majorly important Greek soldier in Greek mythology. Without Sinon, the Trojan horse plot may have never happened.
Through the film, Page’s Sinon is in full armour, a brave soldier as a sword is thrust in his face. So get ready to battle in full chest plate, and get your friends in Trojan Horse costume.
‘Evil Twink’ Pope Benedict XVI
One of the most iconic viral stories of this year was when a photo of young Pope Benedict XVI went gay viral.
The verdict landed him between “Vatican heartthrob” and “evil twink”. One commenter labelled him: “Benedictwink.”
It’s certainly a niche Halloween look, but a fantastic one. If you can swoop your hair into a little quiff, find a fringed shoulder cape and an all-white underlayer, get ready to forgive some sins this Halloween.
Hacks’ Deborah and Ava
We’re not ready to say goodbye to Hacks yet. Though the show concluded in May, you can still celebrate the iconic show with the couple costume of comedy duo, Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) and Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder).
The pair would make a great duo for a pair who have contrasting styles. Deborah’s looks are often more glamorous, with sequined dresses and leopard-print shawls. Meanwhile, Daniels is known for her more tomboy looks, including layered shirts and even her oversized sports shorts.
Heated Rivalry
How many ice hockey players will you see this Halloween? I bet a hundred times more than last year. The internet’s beloved Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie) are the perfect couple’s costume or bestie (rivals) duo.
The on-ice jerseys are obviously instantly recognisable. However, you could get more specific with an off-ice look, like Shane’s Team Canada fleece or Ilya’s leopard-print shirt from the club scene. Whatever look you go for, don’t forget the heart eyes!
Interview with the Vampire vampire
Bailey isn’t the only vampire in town. From Interview with the Vampire, you have plenty of fanged individuals to dress up as.
Based on Anne Rice’s book, across three seasons the show has introduced plenty of empires, blood and drama to invest in this Halloween. You could suit up as Louis de Pointe du Lac (Jacob Anderson) or strip down as Lestat (Sam Reid) in full rock-and-roll mode.
Or, if you’re looking elsewhere than vampires, journalist Daniel Molloy (Eric Bogosian) and his iconic spectacles are a strong choice.
Pillion biker boy
Though Heated Rivalry may have taken the gold medal for horny queer TV, Pillion is giving the show a run for its money on the big screen. Harry Lighton’s film follows an introverted gay man (Harry Melling) falling into a BDSM relationship with a biker (Alexander Skarsgård).
Skarsgård’s Ray is a hard-edged character who regularly straddles his bike in a leather-heavy look. The look is certainly a commitment, but if you’ve already got a motorcycle suit lying around, it’s a costume that, if you know, you know.
Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma
Jane Schoenbrun’s campy, slasher horror Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma features characters that make perfect Halloween costume inspiration.
There’s Gillian Anderson’s Billy Presley, the original ‘final girl’ and former acting star. However, she remains eternally glamorous in silky robes
Of course, there is also Einbinder’s filmmaker Kris whose layered look and sweetly nerdy glasses could be paired with a big bucket o popcorn.
Or, if you’re looking for a couples costume, dress up as the all-pink-wearing Billy and Kris when they’re covered in blood.
The Wicker Husband
Though he may not strictly be a queer character, Wicker’s Wicker Husband (Skarsgård) is undoubtedly a gay icon.
In Alex Huston Fischer and Eleanor Wilson’s erotic fantasy film, the Fisherwoman (Olivia Colman) commissions a husband to be made for her, resulting in the well-endowed, romantic-hearted Wicker Husband.
The Wicker Husband would make for a particularly dedicated costume-maker, but it could be just the hands and face needing wicker covering if you’re wearing the character’s full wedding suit.
However, if you’re crafty, you would weave yourself a wicker body, or even draw on a T-shirt to create the effect.
Paul Baker and Anton from Adults
Another great couples costume comes from the Gen Z sitcom, Adults. The show follows a group of twenty-somethings in New York trying to survive adulthood.
But the show’s fan favourite dynamic is the will-they-won’t-they romance of Paul Baker (Jack Innanen) and Anton (Owen Thiele).
At the end of season one, the pair got married to keep Paul Baker in the country. However, they were not officially together, despite burgeoning crushes forming. In season two, the pair continue a hilarious and touching dynamic all of inside jokes and iconic lines.
A classic Paul Baker look includes an aged graphic T or cosy-looking jumper. While Anton is often smartly dressed in button-ups or put together his neon pink marathon running look.
Or, go in matching ‘Vote Paul 4 Baker’ campaign shirts for the character’s bid to be president of the Homeowners Association.
Masters Of The Universe’s He-Man
For years, fans have claimed that Masters Of The Universe‘s He-Man (Nicholas Galitzine) has queer vibes and a gay subtext. Halloween is the perfect time to make that canon!
The film follows Prince Adam (He-Man), who returns to his home planet and must embrace his true destiny as the most powerful man in the universe.
He-Man has become known as a gay icon, particularly for his costume. With a very muscular physique, the character wears a leather harness and spandex that mirror some gay subculture aesthetics.
