Today Show to Air Annual Halloween Special October 30
The NBC morning program is set to host its festive, costume-filled broadcast for viewers across the country.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Fashion
Live Poll
Do you still enjoy watching elaborate holiday-themed episodes of your favorite morning television shows?
The Today show will broadcast its signature annual Halloween episode on October 30, 2026. The morning show features elaborate costumes from its hosts, continuing a tradition at the NBC program.
Why it matters
The program distinguishes itself in the morning television landscape by maintaining a high-production Halloween special while competitors like Good Morning America and CBS Mornings have moved away from on-air costumes.
The show is scheduled to begin its themed broadcast at 7 am/6c on October 30, 2026. Previous iterations of this annual special have showcased costumes inspired by Star Wars, fairy tales, the Peanuts crew, and Saturday Night Live sketches.
The players
Sheinelle Jones
Sheinelle Jones is a host on the Today show who has previously taken home one of her elaborate Halloween costumes.
Today
The Today show is a long-running morning television program on NBC that is known for its recurring holiday specials.
Janet Jackson
Janet Jackson is an iconic musical artist whose Rhythm Nation music video look was replicated by Jones for a past Halloween episode.
The details
Cast member Sheinelle Jones confirmed she previously kept her Janet Jackson costume after wearing it on the show. The costume was inspired by the artist's iconic Rhythm Nation music video and was taken from the 30 Rock studio following the broadcast.
Timeline
October 22, 2026: Jones admitted to taking a previous costume home.
October 27, 2026: Jones discussed fan questions regarding the upcoming 2026 costumes.
October 30, 2026: The Today show will air its annual Halloween episode.
Culture Shift
The Today show maintains its tradition of host costumes, standing in contrast to the trend seen at Good Morning America and CBS Mornings, where hosts have stopped dressing up for Halloween. This decision highlights the show's strategy to preserve legacy television variety formats.
Viewers can tune in at the standard morning broadcast time to see the costume reveal, which serves as a seasonal staple for the show's audience. The episode provides a predictable viewing experience for families following the program's long-running holiday traditions.
The takeaway
Maintaining long-standing holiday traditions can help differentiate programs in a competitive media market. Viewers interested in the show's seasonal content should set their reminders for the early morning broadcast.
What happens next
The annual Halloween episode will air on October 30, 2026, at 7 am/6c.
Further reading
Learn more about evolving media trends in the Fashion section.
Live Poll
Do you still enjoy watching elaborate holiday-themed episodes of your favorite morning television shows?
