Fortnitemares is arguably the most popular annual event in Fortnite, and this year’s edition is right around the corner. With the v42.20 update released on September 17, Epic Games finally confirmed that “Fortnitemares is coming,” although the developer still hasn’t revealed when the Halloween event starts.
According to Hypex, the most reputable Fortnite leaker, Fortnitemares 2026 begins on October 1. On top of this, Five Nights at Freddy’s and Black Clover are both reportedly coming during the event. Other leaks point to the return of Horde Rush, classic Halloween weapons, and a new haunted Reload map.
When does Fortnitemares 2026 start?
Fortnitemares 2026 will reportedly begin on Thursday, October 1, according to leaked update schedules shared by Hypex. Epic Games hasn’t announced the date yet, but the leaker’s track record this season is quite strong. In August, he listed Loot Hack refreshes for September 3, September 17, and October 1, and the first two dates turned out to be correct.
The same leaks also revealed the rest of Fortnite’s schedule for the fall. If everything goes according to plan, these are the dates that players should keep an eye on over the next couple of weeks:
| Date | Expected update |
|---|---|
| October 1 | Start of Fortnitemares 2026 |
| October 15 | Second October content update |
| November 1 | New mini-season begins |
Epic Games also confirmed that Rocket Racing will leave Fortnite on October 1, which suggests that a major update is planned for that day. Considering that the company releases major updates on Thursdays, this is another strong indication that the event will begin on that date.
Meanwhile, Chapter 7 Season 4 is scheduled to end on November 1, so Fortnitemares 2026 could run for the entire month of October. Considering that a second content update is reportedly planned for October 15, we expect Epic Games to release Halloween content in waves throughout the month.
All leaked Fortnitemares 2026 skins
Several original Halloween skins are already in the game files. Bunnybone and Osric the Uninvited were both added with the September 3 update. A third skin, Gold Punk, will reportedly be tied to a gift card promotion.
Bunnybone is a mummified rabbit wearing a sweater with a glowing skeleton print. Epic Games hasn’t revealed its price or release date, but the skin will likely come to the Item Shop during Fortnitemares 2026. Osric the Uninvited is a vampire cowboy who will be available in the Fortnite Crew pack next month.
| Skin | How to get it | Expected release |
|---|---|---|
| Osric the Uninvited | Fortnite Crew Pack (October 2026) | October 1 |
| Gold Punk | Redeem an eligible Fortnite gift card | October 2 to October 31 |
| Bunnybone | Item Shop (likely) | October 2 to October 31 |
Players can also get the Gold Punk skin by redeeming an eligible Fortnite gift card between October 2 and October 31 Epic Games hasn’t officially announced the promotion yet, but its dates line up with Fortnitemares 2026, and the skin appears to use a Halloween color scheme. This is a recolor of Chrome Punk, a skin that was available for free in 2022
Rumored Fortnitemares 2026 collabs and features
The biggest Fortnitemares 2026 leak is a crossover with Five Nights at Freddy’s (FNAF), which has never had an official collab in Fortnite. On September 13, SamLeakss said that he is 100% confident the FNAF crossover is coming this Halloween. The latest update added even more FNAF-related files, and the leaker believes that the first teaser for the collab will soon appear on the map.
Dataminer Wensoing found that the pizzeria is set to get security cameras, while Hypex reported that TVs at The Battlewoods will display camera feeds with static effects. FNAF fans will instantly recognize the reference, as watching security cameras is a core mechanic of the original games.
Five Nights at Freddy’s isn’t the only collab reportedly planned for Fortnitemares 2026. On September 17, ShiinaBR shared new information from SamLeakss claiming that Black Clover is expected to drop during the Halloween event. However, there are no leaked details about the Black Clover cosmetics yet.
A few other names have been linked to Fortnitemares 2026, but the evidence behind them is much weaker. In July, Epic Games released a short Fortnite edit of the horror film Obsession featuring the Zero Point Sprite, which may have been a hint for an upcoming collab. SamLeakss has mentioned Beetlejuice as a potential Fortnitemares 2026 collab.
Not every upcoming collab belongs to Fortnitemares, though. The Kingdom Hearts collab and its Sora skin arrived on September 17 as part of the current season, while Ironmouse and PAC-MAN are coming on September 18. Meanwhile, One Piece is reportedly planned for the November mini-season.
Fortnitemares 2026 Loot Hacks and weapons
Fortnitemares 2026 will reportedly bring back several Halloween items as Loot Hacks, which players can boost in the lobby with Sprite Dust. Hypex revealed the full list in August, and all five items are set to become available when the Halloween event begins on October 1.
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Chainsaw | Melee weapon that also works as a mobility item |
| Last Call | Ghostface’s knife from the 2025 Scream collab |
| Witch Broom | Mobility item that launches players into the air |
| Dual Fiend Hunters | Pair of monster-hunting pistols |
| Wood Stake Shotgun | Vampire-themed shotgun that fires wooden stakes |
Veteran players will recognize most of these items. The Chainsaw, Wood Stake Shotgun, and Witch Broom were all part of Fortnitemares 2024, while Last Call arrived last year alongside Ghostface. It’s important to note that the knife’s return doesn’t necessarily mean a new Ghostface skin is coming to the Item Shop.
On top of this, the v42.20 update also added several unreleased Exotic items to the game files, and a few of them clearly fit the Halloween theme. These are the leaked items that could arrive during Fortnitemares 2026:
- Slap Candy Corn: Restores 25 HP/shield and grants Slap for 18 seconds.
- Rocket Ride Launcher: Fires a rideable pumpkin rocket that accelerates.
- Balloon Popper AR: Periodically causes balloon explosions.
- Accelerant Drum Gun: Increases movement speed and fire rate while firing.
- Overpowered Pump: Deals more damage with each consecutive hit.
- Overclocked 8-Bit Shotgun: Heals the player for 15% of the damage dealt.
Fortnitemares 2026 map changes and game modes
Horde Rush is reportedly returning for Fortnitemares 2026, and Epic Games may add a new twist to it. At the same time, Fortnite Reload will get a new Halloween-themed map. It appears that the map will be dark, since leakers have also discovered the Flashlight Pistol, which is used to illuminate dark areas.
Epic Games is reportedly planning bigger map changes than a few pumpkins scattered across the island. The Battlewoods will eventually be replaced by a Fortnitemares POI, and the location has already started changing with the v42.20 update. The FNAF pizzeria will also be one of the changes, according to leaks, and this POI will go through several stages.
While waiting for the Halloween event, players can use some of the best XP maps in Fortnite to level up quickly. Epic also offers a couple of free Fortnite skins that can be easily unlocked.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Fortnitemares 2026 start?
Fortnitemares 2026 will reportedly start on Thursday, October 1
Is FNAF coming to Fortnite?
Five Nights at Freddy’s hasn’t been officially announced for Fortnite, but the latest update strongly points to it.
What skins are coming in Fortnitemares 2026?
Bunnybone, Osric the Uninvited, and Gold Punk are the only leaked Fortnitemares 2026 skins so far, but we expect a few collaborations and more original skins to arrive during the event.
Will there be free skins during Fortnitemares 2026?
Epic Games hasn’t revealed any free Fortnitemares 2026 skins yet. However, judging by past events, at least one free skin should be available during the event, alongside other cosmetics.
