One of Universal Studios Florida’s most enduring oddities is about to take a bow, at least for a while. Universal Orlando will temporarily shut down the long-running Horror Make-Up Show starting May 12 as the theater undergoes a full reimagining. Annual Passholders have been invited to snag limited reserved seating from May 4 through May 10, a short goodbye tour before the lights go out. A revamped version is slated to return later in 2026, but Universal has not shared details on what is changing or exactly when the show will be back.
The Horror Make-Up Show has been around since Universal Studios Florida opened in 1990, and it has always been more about rubber and corn syrup than roller coasters. According to its attraction listing on Universal Orlando, the show walks guests through classic, practical, and prosthetic effects used in horror films. Over the decades, the live presentation has mixed movie clips, audience volunteers, and hands-on demonstrations to break down how on-screen scares actually get made.
What Universal announced
Universal first shared the news directly with its Annual Passholders, and local media quickly spread the word. FOX 35 Orlando reported that the show will go dark on May 12, 2026. In the meantime, the park is offering passholders reserved seating on a first-come, first-served basis for performances between May 4 and May 10, giving longtime fans one last shot at the current version before construction crews move in.
Why fans care
For a lot of regulars, the Horror Make-Up Show is a comfort stop, not just a time-killer between headliners. It is one of the park’s longest-running live attractions and a lower-key break from the screen-heavy blockbusters that dominate the rest of the park. Theme park watchers note that the closure fits a broader refresh across the resort. Coverage from sites like Attraction Insight and refurbishment trackers at WDWNT points to a pattern of Universal steadily updating older shows and attractions.
Anyone planning a trip in early May should treat that passholder window as the best, and possibly last, chance to catch the current incarnation of the show. Universal has not committed to a reopening date beyond saying it will be later in 2026, and reporting so far has been light on specifics. Outlets such as Laughing Place suggest keeping an eye on Universal’s official channels for the formal unveiling of whatever horror-filled makeover comes next.
