Between ECHC in April and the fall haunt season in late September, one major convention belongs on every Texas-region haunt operator’s calendar: Texas Haunters Convention 2026, running July 18–19 at the Irving Convention Center in Irving, TX. THC bridges a critical gap — it comes after the big spring trade shows but before opening weekend, giving operators the last clear opportunity to source new props, attend focused seminars, and finalize the season plan while still having time to implement.

Texas Haunters Convention 2026: Event Details at a Glance

• Dates: Saturday July 18 – Sunday July 19, 2026
• Venue: Irving Convention Center, 500 W Las Colinas Blvd, Irving, TX
• Hours: Saturday 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Sunday 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Projected Attendance: 4,500–5,000
• Show Floor: 84,084 square feet
• Format: Cash-and-carry vendor shopping, seminars, haunt tours, costume ball, make n’ takes
• Registration: Online open from March 1, 2026; early-bird pricing ends June 15 at midnight

What Is Texas Haunters Convention?

Texas Haunters Convention is a two-day Halloween industry and fan convention targeting haunt owners, industry professionals, home haunters, cosplay enthusiasts, families, and anyone who loves the Halloween season. Established to fill a genuine regional gap — the major national shows require significant travel investment for Texas-based operators — THC brings the same caliber of vendor, seminar, and networking energy to the Lone Star State at the optimal point in the calendar for pre-season purchasing. With 4,500–5,000 annual attendees and 84,000+ square feet of floor space, it is the largest Halloween industry convention in Texas by a significant margin.

What to Expect on the Convention Floor

The THC show floor operates on a cash-and-carry format — one of the most operator-friendly structures in the convention world. Vendors sell product directly to buyers at the show, meaning you can walk in with a budget and walk out with props loaded in your vehicle. No shipping delays, no minimum orders for most vendors.

Expected vendor categories at THC 2026:

• Pneumatic and electronic animatronics from regional and national fabricators
• Latex, foam, and silicone creature and mask makers
• Costumes and actor wardrobe
• Makeup and special effects supplies
• Haunt technology: ticketing, queue management, lighting, audio, and fog systems
• Themed decor, set dressing, and facade components
• Home haunt supplies at all budget levels

Seminars & Classes at THC 2026

THC has built one of the stronger educational programming tracks in the regional convention circuit. Expected 2026 seminar categories: haunt business fundamentals and marketing strategy, scare actor training, prop fabrication techniques (foam carving, latex application), makeup and prosthetics, lighting design and DMX control, and guest experience flow optimization.

THC also runs Make n’ Take workshops — hands-on sessions where attendees build a specific prop with instructor guidance and take their work home. These consistently sell out early. Check the THC classes page for the full 2026 schedule when published.

Haunt Tours

THC 2026 includes organized visits to professional haunted attractions in the Dallas-Fort Worth region. Texas has a dense concentration of high-quality haunts, and the DFW metroplex is home to several of the state’s most celebrated professional attractions. Official haunt tour details for 2026 have not yet been announced. Watch texashauntersconvention.com and @texas_haunters_convention on Instagram for announcements, typically dropping 4–6 weeks before the show.

Saturday Night Costume Ball & Contests

THC’s Saturday Night Costume Ball is a cosplay and costume competition bringing Halloween spirit to life in the convention hall. Judged competitions span multiple categories — best overall, best group, and category-specific winners. Beyond competition, the Costume Ball is simply one of the best networking events on the haunt calendar: hundreds of industry professionals and fans in full costume sharing a space built entirely around Halloween.

Who Should Attend THC 2026?

• Haunt owners and operators: THC is primarily B2B. If you run or are opening a professional haunted attraction in Texas, this is where you source product, attend education, and network.
• Home haunters: Product and programming for every budget level — from $20 foam carving tools to $3,000 animatronics.
• Families and enthusiasts: Family-friendly during convention hours. Kids and casual fans welcome alongside industry professionals.
• Makeup artists and fabricators: A destination for creative professionals who supply the haunt industry.

How to Get There: Irving Convention Center Travel Tips

The Irving Convention Center is at 500 W Las Colinas Blvd in Irving, TX — centrally positioned in the DFW metroplex and approximately 10 minutes from DFW International Airport by rideshare. Ample on-site parking and several Las Colinas-area hotels within walking distance make this one of the most accessible venue setups in the regional convention circuit.

Heading to the Irving area for THC 2026? While you’re there, explore the region’s top-rated professional haunted houses in Haunt Harvester’s Texas haunted house guide — or search haunted houses near you for wherever the season takes you.