Fortnitemares 2026, Fortnite's annual Halloween event, started on October 1 and runs until November 1. This year's event spans the Battle Royale, Horde Rush and Reload modes. It arrives with collaborations featuring Five Nights at Freddy's, Hazbin Hotel, A Nightmare on Elm Street (Freddy Krueger), Beetlejuice and Obsession. You can find the expectations we compiled before the event began in our Fortnitemares 2026 expectations post. This page covers what has actually come to the game, according to Epic Games' official notes.
When does Fortnitemares 2026 end?
The event started on October 1 and runs until November 1, 2026. During the event, some content was unlocked on separate dates:
| Date | Content added |
|---|---|
| October 1 | Event start: Nightmare Neighborhood, Freddy Krueger, FNAF animatronics, cursed cartridges, Horde Rush |
| October 3 | Power Hours: Bounty Hunter Sprites appeared more often at certain hours |
| October 8 | Revamped Nitemare Island in Reload |
| October 15 | Honey Sprite and Obsession Sprite added |
Freddy Krueger and Nightmare Neighborhood
A new location called Nightmare Neighborhood has come to the map. Freddy Krueger waits here as a boss. The player who defeats him gets the Freddy's Nightmare weapon. This weapon lets you teleport next to your opponent and claw your next target. Going after Freddy early in a crowded match is risky. Nearby teams see the player who finishes the boss as easy prey. That's why it's smarter to clear the surrounding area first.
FNAF animatronics: defeat and control them
Thanks to the Five Nights at Freddy's collaboration, animatronics roam the map. When you defeat one, you can take it over and play as the animatronic. When the animatronic's health runs out, the shell doesn't break immediately. You take no damage for a short time, and then the shell falls apart. This brief protection window is a good opportunity to escape or make one last attack. FNAF outfits are also on sale in the Item Shop.
New and returning weapons
This year's new weapon is the Bonerattler SMG. This submachine gun shows enemies through walls. In close-range fights it gives you both damage and information. Fortnitemares classics have also returned:
- Wood Stake Shotgun (a shotgun that fires wooden stakes)
- Dual Fiend Hunters (dual pistols)
- Witch Broom (a mobility item)
- Heavy Assault Rifle
A new item called the Snack-O'-Lantern Gizmo scatters Exotic Candy around. Quack Snacks came out of the vault. Drum Gun, Ranger Assault Rifle and Tetris Rift were sent to the vault. On the Loot Hack side, Last Call, Infantry Rifle, Pumpkin Launcher, Light Machine Gun and Slap Candy Corn stand out.
On the balance side, the Rebecca's Guns SMG's damage was increased. Spread and recoil were also reduced for SMGs and assault rifles. In other words, close-to-mid-range rifles are more accurate than ever in this event.
Cursed cartridges (Overrides)
Cartridges that change the rules of the match have arrived with a horror theme in this event:
- Spooky Sprinter: you become invisible while running.
- Berserk: the lower your health gets, the more damage you deal.
- Spooky Prop Hunt: you turn yourself into a Halloween decoration and hide.
- There are also cartridges that convert shields into health and that launch a pumpkin rocket when you fire.
Cheat Codes have also been adapted to the event. For the duration of the event they're called Trick or Treat Cheats and can sometimes give an extra treat by chance.
Sprites: open Pumpkin Chests
The event Sprites come out of Pumpkin Chests: Spooky Dash, Vampire, The Deer and Dumpster Dive. Since October 15, the Honey and Obsession Sprites are in the pool as well. When you see a chest, it's worth opening. Sprites grant short-lived abilities that can still turn a match around.
Horde Rush, Blitz Royale and Reload
- Horde Rush: Teams of four fight against waves of Cube Monsters. You pick perks, use Cursed Shrines and face a boss at the end. There's also an Endless Mode.
- Blitz Royale: The Bonerattler SMG, Freddy's Nightmare and Ghost Face's Last Call knife are here too. If you eliminate the player carrying the weapon, the weapon and the role pass to you.
- Reload: A revamped Nitemare Island arrived on October 8; Elite Kado Thorne and Siphon loot are on this map as well. The Stranger Things and Squid Grounds maps were added to the rotation.
Some of the weapons vaulted and unvaulted were also applied to ranked and competitive playlists.
Tips to get the most out of Fortnitemares
- If you've found a Bonerattler SMG, check behind the walls before entering nearby buildings; it foils surprise ambushes.
- Fill your shield before going after Freddy Krueger. After getting Freddy's Nightmare, save the teleport for the final blow rather than for escaping.
- When you take over an animatronic, use the short protection window after its health runs out to switch cover.
- If your frame rate drops during the event, check the recommendations in our Fortnite PC settings guide; the fog and particle effects are heavy.
Frequently asked questions
When will Fortnitemares 2026 end?
According to Epic, the event ends on November 1, 2026.
Where is Freddy Krueger?
He's found as a boss in the new Nightmare Neighborhood location. The player who defeats him gets Freddy's Nightmare.
How do you control a FNAF animatronic?
When you defeat an animatronic roaming the map, you can take it over and play as the animatronic for a short time.
Source: Epic Games' official Fortnitemares 2026 announcement and patch notes.