Los Angeles, Friday, 7 November 2025.
Universal Studios Hollywood released its 2026 events calendar, announced last Thursday, confirming the return of Mega Movie Summer, detailed Halloween Horror Nights (Sept. 3–Nov. 1) dates, and a new high‑speed outdoor coaster, Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, slated to open in 2026. For retail and F&B teams this calendar signals clear seasonal peaks—Butterbeer Season (March–May), Universal Fan Fest Nights (April 23–May 16), and a July 4 celebration—designed to drive shoulder‑season demand, lift per‑capita spend, and deepen passholder engagement through expanded Pass Member benefits and collectible giveaways. Operational planning must address capacity surges, temporary labour scaling, IP‑aligned product rollouts, and queue‑management to protect guest flow and conversion. Strategically, the mix of limited‑time overlays, event merchandise, and member exclusives helps diversify revenue and strengthen competitive positioning in Southern California tourism. Retail leaders should prioritize inventory agility, timed merchandising, and promotional alignment with passholder windows to capture incremental spend during these concentrated activations.